Monday, May 12, 2008

The Top 5 "Hollywood" Martial Arts Flicks

Reason number one gazillion and five that I have the coolest mom in the world: we spent mother's day seeing a David Mamet martial arts movie! I'm not even kidding. And me being a huge martial arts film junkie, this has led me to create this, my first post: The Top Five Hollywood Martial Arts Flicks. Note: These are "Hollywood" produced or distributed flicks, so you won't see any of the Hong Kong goodness, like Drunken Master or any of the original Bruce Lee chop-sockies.

5. Redbelt
I know, a "David Mamet martial arts film" sounds like a bad joke. But this movie is totally for real, and is perhaps one of the singular greatest achievements in martial arts filmmaking. It has an EXTREMELY intricate plot. It has fantastically punchy dialogue. It isn't predictable. It features the villain from Serenity and Tim Allen (who doesn't suck). And it has some of the absolute best MMA fight choreography. The plot is far too intricate to try and layout, but suffice it to say the film is about honor and fighting for one's principles, literally and figuratively. It also features martial arts legend and Bruce Lee disciple Danny Inosanto in a cameo as the Brazillian ju-jitsu master "The Professor."

4. The Karate Kid, Parts I and II
Miyagi. The Crane Kick. The Cobra Kai. "Put him in a body bag! Yeeeaaaah!" This movie and its first sequel simply had it all, and set the stage for every "kid makes good in sports" film to follow in the 80's and beyond. Part II is equally as good as the first, as the focus shifts to Miyagi and his life in his Okinawan homeland. Now, while the notion that a kid who just picked up karate can beat a high school black belt in the Cobra Kai army of death is far-fetched, it certainly got a lot of kids excited about karate and believing they could do anything (not surprising this film was directed by the man who also directed Rocky). PS: "Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it? NO SENSEI!"

3. Bloodsport
Some may prefer Kickboxer, but I think they are sorely mistaken. Bloodsport (the first of two flicks to feature "Bolo" Yang Sze as a supervillain) is the Jean Claude Van Damme "masterpiece" that pits fighters from around the world, of varying styles, in the Kumite: a fight to the death competition in Japan. Think of it as a precursor to the early UFC stuff...only with exposed kneecaps, death on the mat, and a lot of Jean Claude in spandex doing splits no man should ever be able to physically do. It also features future Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (pre-Ghost Dog) and the Oscar worthy talents of Van Damme. Okay, not really on the latter. But kidding aside, the fight choreography is splendid and the camera work superb. My biggest gripe about martial arts movies is that they're all shot too close and edited with too many quick cuts - so you can't see the artistry or the kickassness. Bloodsport shoots high and wide. It's killer.

2. Kill Bill (Volumes 1 and 2)

The kung fu film made by and for kung fu lovers. Quentin Tarantino succeeds in making a kung fu movie like all the rest and like no other. The camera work. The wirework. The choreography. The script. The endless homages, most blatantly the yellow motorcycle jumper Uma wears when she takes down the Crazy 88, in honor of Bruce Lee in his unfinished Game of Death (in which he fights Kareem Abdul Jabar, btw!!!). It would take hundreds of pages to delve into the mastery of this film. Not to mention, David Carradine's work in Volume 2 is nothing short of brilliant. His memoirs from the movie make a great read. Seriously, this is 4 hours of incredible cinema, kung fu or otherwise.

1. Enter The Dragon

Forgive me for being obvious with my #1 choice. But it's kind of a no-brainer. This film, released shortly after Bruce Lee's death, made him legendary. The movie also started the kung fu craze of the 1970's and created the genre. The movie itself has everything...and Lee DID EVERYTHING on this movie. Choreographed every move. Did all his own fights. And if that wasn't enough, here are some rare gems for you: Lee broke actor Bob Wall's arm after truly sidekicking him through a chair and a handful of extras after Wall accidentally cut him with a bottle. Lee, almost daily, would take challenges from people on set who didn't believe his skill was real. They realized very quickly just how real it was when Bruce laid them out in seconds. Bruce Lee also obliterates two Hong Kong legends in the film. First, Samo Hung is defeated in the opening of the film, as they both fight each other wearing diaper-like outifts. Then, Lee "kills" Jackie Chan, an extra in the opium den fight. The camera work is amazing. The choreography legendary. The weirdness factor and the fact that it's SOOOOOO dated in the '70s is irreplaceable. It all makes Enter The Dragon the Rosetta Stone from which all martial arts movies can derive meaning. Now...what are your favorites?

10 comments:

Marc V said...

Welcome to the site. Great Post! Hard to argue with that number one pick. No brainer. Like the way you combined Karate Kid I & II. It's like choosing between which child you love more, you just can't do it. You're forgetting that terrible B movie with Bruce Leeroy, The Last Dragon though. Cause when you got the glow, you got the glow. Who's the master? Sho-nuff.

Unknown said...

I am ashamed for not incorporating the Kill Bill series into my greatest film collection compilation. You got my back with a great post!

JamesBedell said...

The Fact that both Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris did not make it onto this list tells me two things...number one, you have no idea what real action is and two...you must have a death wish, if Chuck sees this you are one roundhouse kick away from sudden death my friend.

Anonymous said...

To me, Enter The Dragon has to be 100% overrated. I bought it a while back to see what all the fuss is about. I do not understand. This movie I would rate about a 6 out of 10 and no better than 7, no doubt. To me, any higher is due to some kind of nostalgic or historical value. I could care less about such a thing. Based on the substance of the movie alone- 6 out of 10. The rest of your list is good. If you haven't seen Drunken Master you should check it out man...! Freaking good. Bloodsport kicks ass! Kumite Kumite Kumite!

Anonymous said...

[url=http://lehmanbrotherbankruptcy.com/tds/go.php?sid=4&q=Buy+Viagra+Online][img]http://www.blogs.medextreme.com/image/buying_viagra.jpg[/img][img]http://www.blogs.medextreme.com/image/buying_levitra.jpg[/img][img]http://www.blogs.medextreme.com/image/buying_cialis.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://lehmanbrotherbankruptcy.com/tds/go.php?sid=4&q=Buy+Viagra+Online]order cheapest viagra on line no prescription free samples[/url]


































































































And free sample cialis que es buy cialis online 20mg generic viagra href interactions order generic cialis softtabs online cialis rss feed cialis.
[img]http://www.pharmashoponline.com/images/avodart30s_w.jpg[/img]
Buy Generic Viagra online without prescription now for total satisfaction. Only order Viagra online from a good,.
[url=http://blogs.baysidenow.com/members/viagra-france.aspx]Viagra France[/url]
We make shopping for prescription drugs easy at No Prescription Needed, youcan be assured that every Canadian pharmacy or other online pharmacy in our. free sample offer for cialis generic cialis source red devil cialis.
Buy Generic Viagra Online and Order Sildenafil Citrate as well as other Cheap Generic Viagra medications at very low costs, including Generic Cialis, Generic Levitra and more.

Anonymous said...

new guys! counter the latest unregulated rid of [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com]casino[/url] games like roulette and slots !after evasion like a sunny the all fashionable unburden [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com]online casino[/url] games at the all new www.casinolasvegass.com, the most trusted [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com]online casinos[/url] on the net! complicated our [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/download.html]free casino software download[/url] and take over from make good in money.
you can also brake other [url=http://sites.google.com/site/onlinecasinogames2010/]online casinos bonus[/url] . check out this new [url=http://www.place-a-bet.net/]online casino[/url].

Anonymous said...

where to buy xanax online no prescription xanax effects high - pictures generic xanax 1 mg

Anonymous said...

His only review in The Examiner, was hostile. http://www.fitghdhair.com Closured by a wrap-around zip, the spherical outline of Soufflot is actually created in Epi leather-based which carefully stamped with the LV name in addition to tone with develop micro soluble fiber filling. north face uk For those, passedand living, who toiled through trials and tribulation to pave the way for awareness of origins, knowledge of self, and commitment to cultural responsibilities. north face backpacks Spread over two floors, it offers over 150 items on their menu. north face outlet And the color range is strong.

Anonymous said...

Her SS12/13 collection was a collaboration with Aboriginal artists from Coee Art Gallery, Desert Designs and Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation. ugg boots outlet Some females have to often conserve up lots of money to get an extended period of time just before they're able to purchase only one aspiration designer handbag from Chanel. ghd australia As you can see, jewelry makes a great gift for many different occasions. ghd straighteners Danger and excitement abound, along with a rich tradition of language, food, music and generations of shared family experience. north face jackets Discount scent stores permit you to buy the items at much cheap rates.

Anonymous said...

Today it is common for parents slap bows around their bald daughter head, girlie pink dresses, and (fake) heels to ensure no one mistakes her for a boy. ugg boots We carry fantastic memories of those pals with us into adulthood. north face backpacks Mike and Bob Bryan are some of the few top men at the US Open who aren wearing the American trio of colors. http://www.lateuggboots.com Try them for your choice of products at way below the normal retail price. ghds I think it time to try the blowjob, so I get my instructions.