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Chinese martial arts films in Asia are very popular even now, although the peak of fame came in the 80s and 90s. Despite the fact that actors and stuntmen know how to fight all over the world, nowhere else is it done like in China. It is not surprising that the best films in this genre are shot in this country. Ten of the most-most – in the list of our today’s selection.
10 Killer Power (2010)
Killer Power is, if you like, Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the entourage of Ancient China. Asian superstars Michelle Yeoh and Jung Woo Sun play an ordinary married couple, each unaware that the spouse is a world-class killer. Replacing firearms and bombs with a glittering sword, aerial combat and fantastical effects, the beautifully balanced story finds time for humor and a romantic ending. It is the brainchild of Taiwanese director Su Chao-Ping (Silk) and master of the genre John Woo.
At the beginning, an incredibly quick acquaintance with the heroes of the film and a backstory that is guaranteed to plunge unprepared viewers into approx. Fear not, most of the villains – and they are all bad in this film – will be revealed over the next two hours, along with an incredibly twisted story.
9. Way of the Dragon (1972)
Martial artist Tang Lung (Bruce Lee) travels from Hong Kong to Rome to help family friend Chen (Nora Miao), whose Chinese restaurant is being attacked by gangsters who are trying to get her land. “Way of the Dragon” is remembered exclusively for the final fight at the Colosseum between Lee and Chuck Norris (then the holder of countless US and world karate championships). This is the film that many say shows the best action scenes in history. No fancy camera work, no trickery. Only two guys at the peak of their strength, who beat each other beautifully.
8. Fist of Legend (1994)
Chinese martial arts student Chen Zhen (Jet Li) is studying in Kyoto, Japan when he learns that his mentor has died fighting Ryuichi Akutagawa (Jackson Liu). When Chen returns to mourn his murdered master, he finds that the Japanese are persecuting his people. Returning home to Japanese-occupied Shanghai in 1937, Chen challenges Ryuichi and easily defeats him. The fame of his martial arts prowess encourages new students to learn from him, which makes his teacher’s son Huo Tin-An (Chin Siu Ho) jealous.
Things get worse and worse when Chen is framed for the murder, leading to disastrous clashes with an evil Japanese general.
Jet Li stars in what is arguably his best work in this classic martial arts film; the fight scenes are incredible and Lee was incredibly fast when he was in his prime. Even though there are action scenes in the movie every few minutes, it also has a compelling story with characters you care about.
7. Drunken Master (1978)
Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master is amazing. Here are collected the most unusual and exciting fights that you have ever seen. Filmed in 1994 but not widely seen in North America until now, it is considered one of his two or three best works, according to those who have seen most of Chan’s 80+ films.
6. Enter the Dragon (1973)
When the world premiere of Enter the Dragon took place in Hong Kong on July 26, 1973, the city was still struggling to cope with the death of its star, Bruce Lee, who had died less than a week earlier.
Lee started his career as a child in Hong Kong and then moved to the US to create his own Jeet Kune Do martial arts system and star in television shows such as The Green Hornet. Upon his return to Hong Kong, he directed three martial arts films: The Big Boss, Fist of Fury and Way of the Dragon, all of which broke box office records.
Enter the Dragon, the first martial arts film produced by a Hollywood studio, was to be its international breakthrough. After a huge publicity push, the film was released in the US on August 19, 1973. It became a hit, earning over US$90 million on an $850 budget. It also succeeded in making Li a legend all over the world, and he joined the ranks of too soon departed stars such as American actor James Dean and Chinese silent film actress Ruan Lingyu, whom film fans and critics still admire to this day.
5. Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
The film is about a teenager who is magically sent to feudal China to help save the Monkey King from imprisonment by a wily and evil warlord. Along the way, he enlists the help of a drunken kung fu master (Jackie Chan) and a mysterious monk (Jet Li). They also get help from an orphaned girl who is trying to kill the warlord. An unusual, sometimes naive film, replete with signature Chinese-style fight scenes.
4. Hero (2002)
The film begins, like many folk legends, with the narrator in front of the throne of an imperious ruler. The narrator is the Nameless One (Jet Li) who comes to the imperial court of the terrible King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming). Qin dreams of uniting all the warring kingdoms of China under his rule, but we are immediately made to understand that his plans to end the war “were soaked in the blood of his enemies.” Three assassins swore to get even with him: Broken Sword (Tony Leung), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Long Sky (Donnie Yen). Now the Nameless One comes and claims that he killed all three. He wants to become a valuable servant of the king and receive a reward.
3. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
AD 859, China’s vanishing Tang Dynasty is in conflict with rebel groups, most notably the mysterious House of Flying Daggers. Tang Dynasty captains Leo (Lau) and Jin (Kaneshiro) are accused of capturing the House’s new leader and suspect that the young dancer at the Peony Pavilion, the blind girl Mei (Zhang), may be their key to success. Not only does this movie showcase some of the best action scenes in history, but it also tells an amazing story that is fun to watch.
2. Fearless (2006)
Jet Li’s “Fearless” is the story of Huo Yuanjia, who is fascinated by the ancient Chinese martial art of wushu and hopes that his father, a martial artist, will teach him how to fight. But he refuses because his son has asthma and is afraid he won’t be strong enough. One day, young Yuanjia secretly watches his father fight in a duel at a local championship and sees his father holding himself back from delivering the final (but potentially fatal) blow. The enemy recovers and wins. Ho, shamed by his father’s “weakness”, one day vows to become a great fighter who never loses and who brings honor to his family.
1. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon by Ang Lee is the most moving martial arts film ever made. This excited even the hardened audience at the show in Cannes. There are scenes at the beginning of the film that involve chasing rooftops, and when the characters run up the walls and impossibly jump from one house to another, the critics applauded, which they rarely do during screenings, and their applause was due to the amazing grace of the production.
The fight scenes in a combat movie are like songs and dances in a musical: the choreography of the scenes in Crouching Tiger was designed by Yuen Wo-Ping, whose work includes The Matrix, and who understands that form is more important than content in this genre.