Favorite Martial Artists and Film(s)?

[Capnmad]

I just got done watching "The Protector" with Tony Jaa, and it was killer. Sure the storytelling/emotional conveyance might have used some work, but the fight scenes? Sweet Mother of Ju-Jitsu! ...well, muay thai, actually... But damn, they were awesome...

Anyway, got to thinking, what are your favorite martial arts films and favorite martial artists?

I know I have to get a copy of "A Touch of Zen" -- supposed to be a classic, never saw it... But what are your faves?

 

[falcon]

I have a couple of favorites. I think my first one has to be Enter the Dragon. I don't think anyone has anything on Master Lee! My second is probably Ther Perfect Weapon with Jeff Speakman. Now a lot of you may disagree but I picked that one mostly because I am biased. He studies trhe same style of matial art that I do (American Kenpo) and he now teaches his own variations of it, somewhere out in California, I believe. I was also a big fan of the Kung Fu tv show when I was a kid and used to watch them with my dad all the time. Steven Segall has to be given a little credit for his movies. While I agree that storylines are stupid most of the time, the fight scenes are cool and Steven Segall, doing Aikido, looks pretty darn good. Just my opinion anyway.

Falcon

Of course, my all time favorite above all else would be Edmond Parker. Don't know who he is? Look him up.

 

[Dussicar]

Snake and crane: The arts of thwe shaolin with Jackie Chan is one of my favourites. Followed closely by Fearless Hyena. Even though the guy didn't know a lick of martial arts back then (he was trained as a Kabuki actor and picked up martial arts as a skill later), he is still one of the most physical actors of any generation.

I also like Bloodsport. Not because it's so good, mind you, but because it's so god aweful cheesy, that you can't help but love it.

Jean Claude Van Damme does the best impersonation of a broken chainsaw I have ever heard.🙄

 

[RobAce]

My favorite is kinda of a parody movie I think....or just a typical 80's flick.

The Last Dragon.

From 1985, starring Taimak as Leroy, the GODDESS that is Vanity as the love interest, and my favorite...
Julius Carry as Sho'Nuff!!

Great movie.....my favorite.

Rob

 

[Snail Shell]

The Quest, 1995.

Typical Jean-Claude Van Damme movie, but it accurately portrays many different martial arts from all over the world.

Oh, and Kill Bill. 😀

Snail Shell

 

[AffectionateDan]

The Greatest Martial Arts Motion Picture Of All Time!

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist 🙄

(if you don't get it, if feel sad for you)

Seriously, though, I guess right off the top of my head I'd go with 'House of Flying Daggers'. Of course, the classic, Bruce Lee's 'The Big Boss' (aka 'Fists of Fury'). Jackie Chan's 'Rumble in the Bronx' and 'Legend of the Drunken Master'. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' was also pretty kickass. I'm sure there are a plethora of others I'm not thinking of at the moment, but those come immediately to mind.

 

[P[a]pi]

Donnie Yen - Flash Point, SPL (Killzone in U.S.), Dragon Tiger Gate

Wu Jing - Fatal Contact, Invisible Target

Tony Jaa - Tom-Yum-Goong (The Protector in U.S.), Ong-Bak

Bruce Lee - Way of the Dragon

Jackie Chan - Police Story 1, Drunken Master (the 2nd one)

City of Violence - South Korean movie showing off taekwondo, the 2 main characters do it plus the villian's body guards



I collect martial arts movies and I think I have a pretty good collection. I own a lot more martial arts DVDs than I have listed above. The above movies are just good starters in my opinion.

 

[maniactickler]

Anything with Bruce Lee

 

[C.K. Storyteller]

I love Kung Fu Hustle, which is a Stephen Chow movie. Might not be the best strictly martial arts movie, but its fantastic nonetheless.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

"Enter the Dragon" is still the all-time greatest.

"Who Am I" from Jackie Chan has some amazing sequences.

"Hero" from Jet Li is absolutely mind-blowing!

And for something totally goofy....."Shaloin Soccer". Along the same lines of "Kung Fu Hustle".


Drew

 

[AffectionateDan]

And who could forget "Big Trouble In Little China"?

 

[cloudgazer2k]

it's not your typical martial arts movie, but Equilibrium will always be my top action flick. however, when it comes to favorite martial artist, i'll have to go with a man that has always been an inspiration to me. his name is Manoel dos Reis Machado, also known as Maestre Bimba.

 

[subZer0]

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist 🙄

(if you don't get it, if feel sad for you)

I second that one. An insanely funny film. Wee-ooo-wee-ooo-wee-ooo!!!

 

[milagros317]

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) because of the fine scenes of Zhang Ziyi's bare soles.

 

[NMKamikaze]

My favorite martial artists are Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Wesley Snipes.

My favorite movies are Jet Li's Fearless, both Kill Bill movies, and all three Blade movies.

 

[natural tickler]

I don't know if any of you watches these, but they are from the Wu-Tang collection

Mystery of Chessboxing

36 Chambers

 

[Capnmad]

I don't know if any of you watches these, but they are from the Wu-Tang collection

Mystery of Chessboxing

36 Chambers

LOL! -- When I first asked, I'd also just picked up "The 36 Chambers of Shaolin" with audio commentary by the RZA, natch... 🙂

"Enter the Fist" is just so damned weird/funny, it's classic.

I don't know who I'd put on top -- for sheer skill, dedication to his art, and speed, it's gotta' be Bruce Lee.

Jackie Chan was extremely creative and found his niche with the comedy angle...

Tony Jaa I love because in the traditions of those previous, no wire-fu is used, no harnesses, and the visceral nature comes out. Tony uses his whole body for momentum and can be a human wrecking ball, like in the opening move in the opening scene of "The Protector". Of his contemporaries like Jet Li and such, I put Tony on top -- but among Lee, Chan, and Jaa, it's a tough call, but always stylish to go classic, so I'll say "Lee".

I hope Tony moves up soon and gets hooked up with some other directors/cinematographers... I loved "Ong-Bak", and "The Protector" was pretty good, but a couple combat scenes I would have edited differently -- like the one against the capoeira opponent, they'd slow-mo what's essentially just splashing in water, and you have to ask, "Why?" And some choices, if you engage your brain to any degree, wrecks it. Like, "Why does a criminal syndicate have a cadre of young thugs on bikes and rollerblades stashed throughout the city of Sydney that can be summoned for combat at the sound of a steamwhistle? And why on Earth do they think that fluorescent tube lightbulbs are their best choice of weapon?"

But largely, I overlook this sort of thing because of the conceit endemic in many martial arts movies that serves us all to neglect: "If this guy is messing up your criminal syndicate, why send more martial artists after him? To see if he can still win? Why not send guys with guns? Lots of them. Sharpshooters that can pick him off at a distance."

I'm reminded of the scene in one of the Indiana Jones movies where the guy comes out flashing scimitars and doing all these flourishes and stuff, and then Indy just takes out his pistol, fires and kills him...

But then, we wouldn't get to see the heights of bare-handed ass-kickery, I guess...

Oh well... Carry on! 🙂