Favorite Martial Arts Movies

[Chance]

My wife was watching me play a video game the other day, and while geeking out on nerd lineage, I made a comment to the effect of, "...Which is a carbon copy of Van Damme from 'Bloodsport'."

"I've never seen 'Bloodsport'."

*pauses game* "You've never seen 'Bloodsport'?"

"Nope."

"What about Bruce Lee? You've seen some of his movies, right?"

"...."

"...."

"...."

"We have some things to watch literally right now."

After making her sit through 'Bloodsport' and 'Enter the Dragon', she found herself intrigued by actual fight choreography. She's pretty much only known the "EVERYTHING IS SHAKY CAM!!1!" fight scenes Hollywood has been putting out the past few decades, and wasn't really aware "martial arts" was basically its own genre of film.

I've discovered there's a wealth of old-school kung fu flicks, as well as plenty of new-school movies from places like Malaysia and Thailand, on Netflix and Prime, many of which I've never seen. So I was curious what folks here would recommend as some of the "must see" martial arts films.

Already watched or added to the list: 'Ong-bak', 'The Raid: Redemption', 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'The Matrix', 'Supercop', and 'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'.

What others should we add?

[JSGlock34]

https://i.imgflip.com/1oxd96.jpg

[Default.mp3]

I quite enjoyed all the Ip Man (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_Man_(film_series)) movies with Donnie Yen (well, 1 through 3, anyway, haven't yet gotten around to the 4th). Nothing deep, but good entertainment; FWIW, Ip Man was Bruce Lee's sifu, and Donnie Yen, like Jet Li and Jackie Chan, is a legend in the martial arts movie scene.

Hero (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_(2002_film)) isn't a martial arts movie, per se, but as a wuxia movie, it definitely had a lot of choreography. One of my favorite movies in general, good viewing IMO for anyone that likes a good flick, martial arts or not. It also had the very highly anticipated fight scene between Jet Li and Donnie Yen.

Fearless (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearless_(2006_film)) was suppose to be Jet Li's last dedicated martial arts movie, IIRC, when it released, decently good.

I rather enjoyed Warrior (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_(2011_film)), although it does have a decent amount of quick cuts and some minor shakey cam.

The Grandmaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grandmaster_(film)) is another one that's pretty good, definitely the product of an auteur, so a very talky epic and many slow scenes, but has some good action in it. A very different take on Ip Man.

Police Story (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Story_(1985_film)) is probably one of Jackie Chan's greatest action movies, so it's a classic.

[Zincwarrior]

Not a movie but Ali vs. Smokin Joe fight One...

[Bigghoss]

I don't think they count as martial arts movies but I love how pretty much everything Chuck Norris is in, at the very end he gets rid of his gun and kicks the the shit out of the head bad guy. I think it happened in most episodes of Walker: Texas Ranger too. It's so cheesy in the best way, it fits in perfectly with his movies.

I'm not much into martial arts movies but I'm always down to watch Bloodsport. Always.

[olstyn]

Hero (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_(2002_film)) isn't a martial arts movie, per se, but as a wuxia movie, it definitely had a lot of choreography. One of my favorite movies in general, good viewing IMO for anyone that likes a good flick, martial arts or not. It also had the very highly anticipated fight scene between Jet Li and Donnie Yen.

House of Flying Daggers is another great one in this vein.

[AMC]

Enter the Dragon, The Big Boss, Fists of Fury for Bruce Lee. Was always a fan of "The Big Brawl" for Jackie Chan.

Jet Li has a number of great films. Shaolin Temple, Fist of Legend, Bodyguard from Beijing.

I did enjoy Donny Yens Ip Man series as well.

Bloodsport should be purged from the memory of mankind. Can't think of a better example of terrible 80's action films. Should only be preserved as an example of what not to do.

[Navin Johnson]

Equal Impact

[45dotACP]

If the Drunken Master isn't on this list you ought to add it to the queue. I remember really liking one that had Jackie Chan and who I later came to realize was kickboxer "Benny the Jet"

[Chain]

AMC pretty harsh words about Bloodsport; what kind of movie were you expecting?

But to the thread topic, in addition to the movies mentioned thus far, gotta add Best of the Best and Mortal Kombat to the list.

[Totem Polar]

Don’t let the trailer fool you—there is a dope knife scene, and some good fights


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCtxyS5JZ6A

I might get flamed for this one, but this is classic 80s stuff, before the 80s got old and fat:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiQi0WvS6Sc

Beautiful cinematography:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLpZ_5bHmo8

Quentin at his homage best:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kSuas6mRpk

You need some old-school, eg.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQMNllz6aE0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81jCPIag4KA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Icsg0O3jk

And that’s just stuff that was super-popular in the USA.
:cool:

[orionz06]

I rather enjoyed Warrior (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_(2011_film)), although it does have a decent amount of quick cuts and some minor shakey cam.


A little corny at times, but I really dig this movie for some reason. It was filmed in Pittsburgh and one of the first things to happen at our new hockey arena. I knew a few people who did work for it too.

[Andy T]

The Hunted is an excellent, relatively recent, martial arts film. The martial art is primarily based on Sayoc Kali.

[cornstalker]

As cheesy as it is, Enter the Dragon will always be my favorite.

[ER_STL]

https://media.tenor.com/images/025991cd5e09d1e8c29e5439b42477d1/tenor.gif

-or-

https://i2.wp.com/www.thatmomentin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/john-carpenter-on-the-rocks-big-trouble-in-little-china-remake-1.jpeg?resize=450%2C300&ssl=1

[JAD]

There is no greater movie about the art of Ching Ching Pow than Hardboiled.

[Balisong]

https://media.tenor.com/images/025991cd5e09d1e8c29e5439b42477d1/tenor.gif

-or-

https://i2.wp.com/www.thatmomentin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/john-carpenter-on-the-rocks-big-trouble-in-little-china-remake-1.jpeg?resize=450%2C300&ssl=1

This is today's internet winner.

OP, you've got some great ones listed there. Another great Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) flick is The Protector, or Tom Yum depending on who the distributor is. That movie plus the 1st Ong Bak are Tony's best stuff. The Raid Redemption is also phenomenal for hand to hand with weapons and guns as well as empty handed.

As Er Stl stated, The Last Dragon and Big Trouble in Little China are must views, especially when you want to laugh your ass off.

An old school Kung Fu flick I always loved was 5 Element Ninjas, or sometimes called Super Ninjas. Revenge of the Ninja was a great 80s ninja flick with a young Ernie Reyes Jr. If you can find Drive, starting Mark Dacascos, that's one of my all time favorite MA flicks. The movie itself of course is pretty dumb, but the fight scenes are among some of the best ever. It also stars Brittany Murphy. A very unique movie also starring Dacascos is Brotherhood of the Wolf. It's a strange French movie, but beautiful cinematography and some great fight scenes. Dacascos is also in a good capoeira movie called Only the Strong.

One last recommendation is a movie from maybe 10 years ago called The Man with the Iron Fist. Definitely an homage to old school kung fu, starring Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, and several staples of Asian action movies. Believe Tarantino was a producer of it. Let us know what you think of our suggestions if you watch them.


ETA: Thanks a lot, now I wanna watch some MA movies.

[rd62]

Any recommendations for a few suitable to watch with my boys 11 and 7? I.e. fighting ok, the language of a Steven Segal movie would not be. Its been so long since I watched some of these I can recall the details on some of the language and suitability. They are in karate now and looking at BJJ soon, so I think they'd enjoy it. They've liked the old and new Karate Kid movies.

[dgg9]

I quite enjoyed all the Ip Man (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_Man_(film_series)) movies with Donnie Yen (well, 1 through 3, anyway, haven't yet gotten around to the 4th).

#4 has some excellent fight scenes. The finale (vs Scott Adkins) is I think the best of the series. No wire-fu at all. Ip Man series has always been realistic about size and strength differences.

[JSGlock34]

Can't think of a better example of terrible 80's action films.
Challenge accepted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ilaJquzaQc&list=PLEc_ZDct2lz2OkNB6X_ofl_W2PD2ichxB

[AMC]

Challenge accepted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ilaJquzaQc&list=PLEc_ZDct2lz2OkNB6X_ofl_W2PD2ichxB

How about "Gymkata"?

[TCB]

Legendary Weapons of China (the final fight scene is amazing), 36th Chamber of Shaolin (hands down the best training scenes ever filmed and an overall great movie), The 5 Venoms (just super rad) are some of my top favorites. Pretty much anything from the Shaw Brothers Studio from the late 60’s through the 80’s is worth a watch. The Golden Harvest stuff is ok and there are some standouts but any of the other major HK Kung Fu Studios of the classic era don’t hold a candle to the Shaw Brothers quality. The Shaw’s had the best cameras, directors, sets, costumes and arguably actors / artists out there. You pretty much can’t go wrong with any Shaw movie with Shaolin in the title...

The main thing I’ve learned after watching a ton of classic Kung Fu movies? Never trust a Manchu...

[Caballoflaco]

Can’t believe nobody has mentioned any Sonny Chiba movies, he is a genius of Karate.

The Street Fighter is a classic.


https://youtu.be/ssr_uAPmAE0

[randyho]

... Big Trouble in Little China are must views, especially when you want to laugh your ass off.

+ 1 for BTILC (https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1236926745?playlistId=tt0090728&ref_=tt_ov_vi)
I find myself jumping into rooms, "HAAAAa!," regularly, still.

[Shawn Dodson]

Kentucky Fried Movie, A Fistful of Yen...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DIrOJH8uwim4&ved=2ahUKEwiMuvfSuI_rAhVCKH0KHYAKCQUQwqsBMAJ6BAgFE A0&usg=AOvVaw1yz6UiRg5NU0Bbka8_BIWI

[Redhat]

I'll add some:

The Perfect Weapon - Kenpo movie starring Jeff Speakman.

Here Comes the Boom - Kevin James does MMA. Very funny.

Never Back Down 3(?) - Michael Jai White. The scene where he demonstrates classic karate vs MMA is pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e5HOyKQB0E

[Balisong]

I'll add some:

The Perfect Weapon - Kenpo movie starring Jeff Speakman.

Here Comes the Boom - Kevin James does MMA. Very funny.

Never Back Down 3(?) - Michael Jai White. The scene where he demonstrates classic karate vs MMA is pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e5HOyKQB0E

I love the Perfect Weapon!!! Although none of the kenpo practitioners I've known (and that's a lot) fight like that haha.

[Redhat]

The Warrior Within (1976) - My favorite martial arts documentary

[FrankinCA]

Favorites...
The Hunted, not strictly martial arts but good knife skills
Arte Grande “High Art”
Game of Death
Enter the Dragon
The Raid

[AMC]

+ 1 for BTILC (https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1236926745?playlistId=tt0090728&ref_=tt_ov_vi)
I find myself jumping into rooms, "HAAAAa!," regularly, still.

"Everybody relax....I'm here."

"Are you crazy? Is that your problem?"

"Hey....you never know till you try!"

One of the most quotable Kurt Russell films ever....

[AMC]

I wasn't much of a Sonny Chiba fan, but my buddies and I would head to the Kokusai theater in Japan town in SF every weekend to see some great old Chanbara films. The Musashi Trilogy, Sword of Doom, the old Zatoichi films, Shinobi No Mono. Good times. I miss that place.

[Hot Sauce]

Armor of God is IMO some of Jackie Chan's best work.

[Robert Mitchum]

Not a Marital arts movie but I love this part.
Stacy Keach: Col. Vincent Kane
The Ninth Configuration (1980)

Cutshaw escapes the castle and visits a bar. A biker gang recognizes Cutshaw from news reports and brutalize him. A waitress (Linda Tuero, who was married to Blatty at the time) contacts the hospital, and Kane arrives to retrieve him. Kane humbles himself to the bikers to extricate Cutshaw, but the bikers are disgusted by his behavior. The gang attempt to rape Cutshaw, causing Kane to snap and kill most of the bikers with his bare hands.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYbQ6B4wsLo

[BrassSlapper]

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist is still one of my all-time favorites. And Kung Fu Hustle!

[Rex G]

Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.

[Gun Mutt]

The scene that started my martial arts journey...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEblkFG2Uw

[randyho]

"Everybody relax....I'm here."

"Are you crazy? Is that your problem?"

"Hey....you never know till you try!"

One of the most quotable Kurt Russell films ever....

It occurs to me that we may have ventured beyond the op's intended scope... gloriously.

[peterb]

A favorite silly scene-- Michelle Yeoh defends a tray of tofu.(start at 0.55)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YmggFzaoUM

[JAD]

https://youtu.be/pm-wrGcOLc8

[Chance]

There is no greater movie about the art of Ching Ching Pow than Hardboiled.

Wow. This movie is like discovering the knobs go up to 11.

[Wondering Beard]

Wow. This movie is like discovering the knobs go up to 11.

Then, "The Killer" is next for you.

[DMF13]

"The Karate Kid" (1984)

Solely because if you were a straight pre-teen/teen male in 1984 Elisabeth Shue was just about the hottest girl in TV and movies.

I also was a huge fan of the TV show "Call to Glory," and it would would have been great without her (well at least the first half of the series, last half sucked), but having her in it was an added bonus.