what is your best movie related to the martial arts [Archive]

arif

04-20-2004, 02:42 PM

I have watched many films related to the martial arts.Bruce lee, Jackie Chan... But the one which I think the best is "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon" of Ang Lee. Whenever I watch the fighting scenes of the film, I think to myself that " oh yeah, that is the art itself".
And the one coming after this film could be "the Last Samurai" from Tom Crouse if it didn't make that silly American propagandism. And you? What is your best movie related to the martial arts?

John Boswell

04-20-2004, 03:13 PM

arif

04-20-2004, 03:23 PM

the seven samurai , I've heard of it yet have not watched. as to kill bill , it was a disaster

paw

04-20-2004, 03:37 PM

"The Seven Samurai" was Akira Kurosawa.

I don't have one best film....there are several that I greatly enjoy.

In no particular order from China, HK or Japan:

"Hero" (2002)
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
"Drunken Master II" .... Jacky Chan
"Dragons Forever" .... Jacky Chan, Samo Hung, Yuen Biao
"Pedicab Driver" .... Samo Hung
"Fist of Legend" .... Jet Li
"Bodyguard from Beijing" ... Jet Li
"Wing Chung" ..... Michelle Yeoh
"The Seven Samurai"
"Yojimbo"
"Bride with White Hair"
"Ashes of Time"

.... better stop now.

Regards,

Paul

mantis

04-20-2004, 04:02 PM

Yojimbo is great. So is seven samurai.

I would have to say that any Samurai film by Kurosawa is great.
Star Wars was inspired by the Kurosawa film The Hidden Fortress.

The Zatoichi films are also some of my favorites.
The Baby Cart Assassin series was real good.
Shogun was a classic. It's out on DVD now. Recently, I liked The Last Samurai. I didn't get the feeling it was a propaganda film though.

Ian Williams

04-20-2004, 06:03 PM

I'm not sure how any serious martial artist can find the "john woo" wire fighting stuff enjoyable.. if I see another wire fight (ala CTHD, I'm going to spew)

shihonage

04-20-2004, 06:22 PM

http://www.speakeasy.org/~shihonage/glimmerthrow.gif

Doka

04-20-2004, 06:27 PM

" The Seven Samuari"

I can't tell you who made this, but it's very authentic and made in Japan by famous japanese actors and martial artists. I'll also put it another way: It was made in black and white over 30 years ago, its in japanese with subtitles.... and it still retails for over $40 bucks. It's a CLASSIC!

Hi John

Seven Samurai is creditted to Akira Kurosawa; written by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni; directed by Akira Kurosawa; and Prudiced by Sojiro Motoki. The film was made 50 years ago, it's half century this year!!!

The lead was played by Toshiro Mifune. Incidentally, he is the subject of one of Steven Seagals wild claims:

During this time, Seagal occasionally choreographed fight scenes in movies and coached such stars as Sean Connery and Toshiro Mifune.

LOL! :freaky:

Doka

04-20-2004, 06:34 PM

I'm not sure how any serious martial artist can find the "john woo" wire fighting stuff enjoyable.. if I see another wire fight (ala CTHD, I'm going to spew)

See "The Belly Of The Beast" with Steven Seagal. Man, he has put on weight!!!

The whole thing is so bad it's funny, with the worst wire work!!! We laughed so hard all the way through, especially when he cuts an arrow in two with a katana.....length ways!!! :D The double for spin kicks is amusing too! He suddenly loses 30 lbs and the camera only shows from the shoulders down!!!

It is so bad it is worth watching!!! ;)

:ai:

Largo

04-20-2004, 07:55 PM

Bloodsport
kickboxer (I love the "kick the tree" scene)
The One
Blind Fury
Red Shadow (funky japanese ninja flick. )
Gohatto

gasman

04-20-2004, 07:56 PM

I'm a big Jackie Chan fan:
"snake in the eagles shadow"
"the young master"
"drunken master"

Older Hong Kong films often feature loooooong paired katas that are rarely found in the newer productions. One of my favourites is one called "Iron Monkey" which features 10 minute long duels with all kinds of fancy weapons, including the three section staff. Some of the sequences run uncut for several minutes. Imagine if they make one mistake, they must shoot the entire thing all over again!
(Not to be confused with the Jet Li remake, although I enjoy his films as well)

Noel

04-20-2004, 08:08 PM

Gotta go with Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" here. Although, having done iai, there is one sequence in the Lone Wolf series that is absolutely awesome in going from nothing to action to noto in less time than it takes to watch it.

MitchMZ

04-20-2004, 08:54 PM

I would have to say The Last Samurai and Seven Samurai spark my interests the most. In fact, The Last Samurai motivated to me to check out what Aikido and Ninjutsu were. What they are practicing in these films probably shouldnt be called Aikido...but Aikido is very close in its techniques. (Ah, those cool throws and locks.) As far as Kung Fu movies go; anything starring Bruce Lee is very hard to beat. This sounds strange but I also like the original Lethal Weapon a lot because of the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu scene near the end.

Michael Hackett

04-20-2004, 10:38 PM

Any Kurasawa film is worth watching, with "Ran" right up on top. I still get a kick out of Seagal Sensei's suwari in "Hard to Kill", and plan to buy "Last Samurai" when it comes out on DVD. "Kill Bill Volume 2" is much better than the first edition - far less cartoonish and the stuntwork is far better.

gscheel

04-20-2004, 10:52 PM

quote: The lead was played by Toshiro Mifune. Incidentally, he is the subject of one of Steven Seagals wild claims:

quote: During this time, Seagal occasionally choreographed fight scenes in movies and coached such stars as Sean Connery and Toshiro Mifune.

Hi Mark:
I'd like to point out that this is not such a wild claim .... there was a movie a while back called The Challenge (also distributed as Sword of the Ninja) staring Scott Glen and Toshiro Mifune which Steven Seagal did indeed choreograph the fight scenes and served as technical advisor.

Gary

Joezer M.

04-21-2004, 01:29 AM

Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai"
Btw, can I list animes too? You know like Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto etc.?

Joezer

batemanb

04-21-2004, 01:54 AM

Kurosawa's Sanjuro, the sequel to Yojimbo, I enjoyed it more than the first. I have to admit that I did enjoy The Last Samurai, mainly because of Ken Watanabe, who steals the film totally, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, the one who gives Cruise a good beating with the bokken :). Look out for "Twighlight Samurai" out now starring Sanada, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new version of Zatoichi starring Takeshi Kitano, just waiting for the DVD to come out.

"The Yakuza" starring Bob Mitchum and Ken Takakura is a good one too, but my favourite is probably the original Highlander.

Ask me next week and I'll probably give a completely different set of answers;)

Rgds

Bryan

Benjie Lu

04-21-2004, 02:14 AM

George S. Ledyard

04-21-2004, 02:40 AM

Agreed, he did some fight choreography before he went to Hollywood. So it is not really a wild claim. Some are pretty wild but this one is true.

Yes, he did advise on the Challenge but Mifune's real sword instructor was Sugino sensei of the Katori Shinto Ryu. Sugino was the technical advisor for many of the Mifune films directed by Kurosawa, including the Seven Samurai.

My two favorites are: The Seven Samurai and Chushingura (the story if the 47 Ronin; the color version by Inagaki)

The Samurai Trilogy starring Mifune again (the story of Miyamoto Musashi) is also high on the list.

And never forget, Sword of Doom with Tetsuya Nakadai. Truly a cult film.

Am waiting for the upcoming remake of Zatoichi withTakeshi! The trailer shows great promise.

batemanb

04-21-2004, 02:47 AM

The Samurai Trilogy starring Mifune again (the story of Miyamoto Musashi) is also high on the list.

I can't believe that I missed that off of my list! :eek: Based on an excellent book too (Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa)

Last year NHK dramatised the book in some 40 or 50 episodes. I am currently enjoying them as I slowly wade through the pile of videos provided by my father in-law.

justinm

04-21-2004, 03:55 AM

I always liked "Silent Flute" (also called Circle of Iron), with David Carradine. I believe it was partially written by Bruce Lee, but he died before he could play the role, so David Carradine stepped in. For someone that grew up with "Kung Fu" on TV, I think that was better casting anyway.

A story about the journey, not the destination.

I never hear anyone mention it but the rare occasions it appears on TV it always reminds me about why I started aikido.

Charles Hill

04-21-2004, 06:21 AM

Am waiting for the upcoming remake of Zatoichi withTakeshi!

How about the old Zatoichi films?! They get a double vote as they strongly influenced Bruce Lee.

Did anyone see Iron and Silk? As a movie, it was just ok, but it is very enjoyable for those studying the martial arts.

Charles Hill

paw

04-21-2004, 06:35 AM

Ian,

I'm not sure how any serious martial artist can find the "john woo" wire fighting stuff enjoyable..

It's not a "John Woo" thing, it's an HK thing. Woo has made very few martial arts films, actually. He's best known for "A Better Tomorrow" (and sequels), "The Killer", "Hard Boiled" and "A Bullet in the Head".

Wire work and "bullet time" are here to stay. The impact of "The Matrix" on action films in general and fight choreography specifically is huge. It's hard to see a film that doesn't have them. Maybe there will be a return to more "real" choreography at some point in the future.

BTW, everyone who mentioned Zatoichi might be interested in checking out "The Duellists". The sword choreography is quite good and the story is top notch.

Joezer,
Btw, can I list animes too?
Sure. But if you say "Ranma 1/2" you're in trouble!

Justin,

Carradine was fantastic in "Kill Bill vol. 2" I don't believe he's ever delivered a finer performance.

batemanb

04-21-2004, 07:20 AM

Ian,
BTW, everyone who mentioned Zatoichi might be interested in checking out "The Duellists". The sword choreography is quite good and the story is top notch..

One of my favourite films of all times. Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel are just wonderful in this. As Paul says, good fights and a good story.

Carradine was fantastic in "Kill Bill vol. 2" I don't believe he's ever delivered a finer performance.

I actually like Carradine in most things, call me soft, but I' m partial to his character in "Kung Fu The Legend Continues". Haven't seen either of the Bill's yet, but hope to catch the first one this weekend.

Chad Sloman

04-21-2004, 07:25 AM

Got to agree with most everybody--Seven Samurai probably being my favorite, but The Hidden Fortress is definitely worth checking out for the yari duel alone. Recently, loved kill bill and the last samurai. Big fan of the zatoichi series and the lone wolf and cub series. I'm a big fan of historical epics though, Braveheart, Last of the Mohicans, and Rob Roy which has some pretty good sword dueling. I used to like Steven Seagal movies but they just keep getting crappier and crappier, getting nearly as bad as Van Damme movies. I just hope Hollywood keeps making big budget MA flicks like Crouching Tiger, Last Samurai and Kill Bill.

Dunn

04-21-2004, 08:40 AM

As far as anime goes, Hajime no Ippo is the best I have seen. While it is about boxing, a lot of the principles and inner-dialogue apply to the little I know about Aikido, too. Courage, timing, selflessness, hard training, etc. Not to mention the fight scenes have so much character build-up beforehand you really enjoy them.

There are 76 episodes of it and two mini-movies. It is difficult for me to watch even one episode without getting goosebumps or an adrenaline rush.

Bronson

04-21-2004, 09:28 AM

I always liked "Silent Flute" (also called Circle of Iron), with David Carradine.

One of my favorites...always stay up and watch it when it's on no matter how late it is.

Did anyone see Iron and Silk?

Iron and Silk is right at the top of my list. Another movie about the process...not a single fight in the whole thing.

And of course any Kurousawa film I've ever seen has been awesome.

I hate to admit it but I was impressed by the two guys in "Crippled Masters". One has no legs and the other no arms yet they kick ass all over the place.

Bronson

p.s. If you like way over the top, bad kung fu movies try to find Ricky O (some times The Story of Ricky). Ridiculously gory. One guy uses his own intestines to strangle somebody. Another guy ties the severed tendons in his wrist back together using his other hand and teeth and then continues fighting :freaky:

aikidoc

04-21-2004, 10:49 AM

Although the movie and dialogue were hokey, I liked the scenes in the Billy Jack movies. Of course I was doing taekwando at the time.

kensparrow

04-21-2004, 12:10 PM

For kung fu movies I always loved "Master Killer".

j0nharris

04-21-2004, 12:41 PM

Am waiting for the upcoming remake of Zatoichi withTakeshi! The trailer shows great promise.

I'm a little worried about the re-make. In the trailer, the narration says something along the lines of Zatoichi trying to uphold the samurai ways,
when in all of his movies he refers to himself as a lowly gangster, the type of person, who in his words, should be ashamed to show his face to the sun.

Admittedly, he performs acts of charity throughout, but I think maybe they're dumbing down the plot, afraid that Americans will know what samurai values are, but whose eyes will glaze over if he starts in on the ways of the "brotherhood".

Yes, I've watched way too many of the movies, too, and have started picking them up on DVD! :cool:

And I'll be very upset if the new version is dubbed, and not in Japanese with subtitles. For years, the only copy of Drunken Master II -my all time favorite, with the big fight under the train - that we owned was a vhs in Cantonese with Mandarin subtitles, or maybe it was the other way around... . Though I've never found out why Jackie Chan cut the last scene when he re-released it in English a few years ago.

Doka

04-21-2004, 01:12 PM

Hi Mark:
I'd like to point out that this is not such a wild claim .... there was a movie a while back called The Challenge (also distributed as Sword of the Ninja) staring Scott Glen and Toshiro Mifune which Steven Seagal did indeed choreograph the fight scenes and served as technical advisor.

Gary

Hi Gary

He may well have choreographed some scenes, but "coached" - as in teach - Toshiro Mifune?????

:freaky:

Fred Calef III

04-21-2004, 06:33 PM

Impressive fight scenes:
1) Drunken Master II
2) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
3) The Last Samurai

Most philosophical:
1) Seven Samurai (haven't seen other Kurosawa except Ran)
2) The Karate Kid (I)

I can +feel+ the giggle with Karate Kid, but consider (roughly quoting):
"Why do you train in karate?" , "So I can learn not to fight."
"Karate is not here (fist). Karate is not here (head). Karate is here (heart)."
"Do you have a black belt?" , "Yes. JC Penny. $7.95!"

It wonder if anyone will ever do a pure aikido movie (with no guns)? Or are movies anti-thetical to aikido in general (too much bragging and showing off)?

Fred Calef III
Fairbanks, AK

DGLinden

04-21-2004, 06:57 PM

Hands down, it's Big Trouble in Little China, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and then Remo Williams.

All others are way too serious except for a couple XXX-rated Martial Art films I saw in Viet nam and Yojimbo.

paw

04-21-2004, 08:22 PM

Hands down, it's Big Trouble in Little China

Good Call!

When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."

:D

Regards,

Paul

Bronson

04-21-2004, 09:10 PM

Hands down, it's Big Trouble in Little China, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and then Remo Williams.

Ah crap! I forgot about BTILC and Remo Williams....jeez, I can't believe I did that :drool:

Bronson

gasman

04-21-2004, 09:14 PM

REMO unarmed and dangerous!!!! absolute classic!

also went to see Takesshi Kitano's "Zatoichi": GO AND SEE IT IN THE CINEMA!

most wicked!

Abasan

04-22-2004, 01:25 AM

Wow! Seems the american market is not short on a lot of martial art movies. Tai Chi Master, Iron Monkey, Fist of Legend, Swordmaster 2, Iron & Silk are all great movies! And the One had real great fight scenes, so much so I was tempted to learn Pa Kua immediately. Can't say much for kill bill though... Last samurai was ok I guess. I love the sword work in Yojimbo. Oh man... I have dreams about that one.

But you want to see a real martial arts movie, where the props draw a very thin line with the real thing? Look no further. Ong Bak from Thailand is what you guys should look for. Its kickboxing (or Thai Boxing to be honest) at its best. None of that Bloodsport thingey...

batemanb

04-22-2004, 01:41 AM

Hands down, it's Big Trouble in Little China.

A total classic and cool as hell.

Another one of those on my all time list, that mysteriously gets forgotten when I have to actually think of the list.

deepsoup

04-22-2004, 07:04 AM

As far as anime goes, Hajime no Ippo is the best I have seen. While it is about boxing, a lot of the principles and inner-dialogue apply to the little I know about Aikido, too. Courage, timing, selflessness, hard training, etc. Not to mention the fight scenes have so much character build-up beforehand you really enjoy them.

I recommended this film before, and left to the sound of my own footsteps, but here goes again:

Its nothing to do with martial arts, I'm afraid, but if courage and inner dialogue are of interest to you, "Touching the Void" is untouchable! :)

Sean
x

kensparrow

04-22-2004, 12:02 PM

Hands down, it's Big Trouble in Little China, .

Oh my God! How could I have forgotten about Big Trouble in Little China!

Josh Bisker

04-22-2004, 01:45 PM

If we're expanding from purely asian-martial-arts oriented movies to general martially-oriented ones, I will put in my bid for Conan the Barbarian. Aside from crushing his enemies, seeing them driven before him, and hearing the lamentations of the women, Conan pulls off some astonishingly great combat here. If you're looking for phenominal swordwork, watch Willow. For rapier play, the old Douglass Fairbanks / Basil Rathbone / John Barrymore movies are unbeatable; of course there's Errol Flynn in Captain Blood or the Adventures of Robin Hood, and a GREAT scene or two in Danny Kaye's The Court Jester (with Rathbone as the bad guy).

As far as more traditionally MA themed stuff, Sanjuro and Sword of Doom (which had to have a better title in Japanese) are high high up on my list, as is Jackie Chan's Young Master.

The new Zatoichi is really enjoyably, an interesting and thought-provoking piece. No, it's not dumbed down for American audiences because it was not made for American audiences. Kitano-san is a celebrity in Japan, not Hollywood, and the film was in the rest of the world a while before it hit the States (if it has yet). Anyway, it's really neat and captivating, and his idiosynchratic portrayal of Zatoichi is delightful to watch. I thought the CG blood was a bit hokey, but i've read some interviews where Kitano-san makes some good arguments for it, even the kitch value.

Oh, and: Star Wars? Who wasn't inspired to learn swordwork by the time Return of the Jedi ends? Has anyone EVER been to an aikido seminar that has gone by without a lightsaber joke, or been convinced at some point that the difference between what Sensei is doing and what you're doing is that he's using the force?

PeaceHeather

04-22-2004, 02:16 PM

I oculd recommend the recent "Count of Monte Cristo" for swordwork, and the much older "Three Musketeers" and "Four Musketeers" -- make sure you get the ones starring a ridiculously *young* Michael York as D'Artagnan. Their fights aren't "pretty", and look all the more real and believable because of it. *happysigh*

No idea about aikido in those movies, though.

Oh! Almost forgot -- The Princess Bride. *grin*
Heather

Bronson

04-22-2004, 03:06 PM

Oh! Almost forgot -- The Princess Bride.

Ahhhh, you beat me to it :p

Bronson

PeaceHeather

04-22-2004, 04:35 PM

Sorry.... I guess "my way's not very sportsmanlike." :D

Neil Mick

04-23-2004, 02:21 PM

All of the above-mentioned films are good, but "The Karate Kid" talks most about some of the realities of training ("wash on; wash off"). The others are a little too "fly-wire superhero," sometimes.

Bronson

04-24-2004, 12:37 AM

"So you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?"

Bronson (we should stop now :D )

JessePasley

04-24-2004, 02:47 AM

Wow, I'm a bit dismayed that my two favorite martial arts movies haven't been mentioned at all. First off, any guy my age probably started martial arts after seeing The Karate Kid. I know, that movie gets made fun of a lot, but I think people have forgotten just how great that movie is as it presents several elemental truths of training martial arts: 1) NEVER trust a black clad karate school and 2)hard training always score cool cars and hot babes. I would also recommend Vision Quest. Anyone who says wrestling isn't a martial art should watch this movie and be ready to change their minds. Like Karate Kid, there's a lot of typical 80s filmmaking going on, but it's an inspiring movie.

Some other movies I like:
Lone Wolf and Cub
Rocky (duh)
Yojimbo
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Rob Roy
Fantasy Mission Force (the second worst Jackie Chan film ever made, but good for a drunken chuckle)
Fist of Legend
The Shaolin Temple
Drunken Master II
Ninja Scroll

batemanb

04-24-2004, 09:08 AM

Finally got to see Kill Bill Vol1 this week, thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to Vol 2 in the near future. But better than that, I saw the new Zatoichi film last night, thought it was really excellent. someone above mentions the CGI blood, I had heard about it before, but had forgotten about it until the above post, it wasn`t a thought when I was watching. Kitano is really good in this, and there are a few funny comedic moments too, I recommend this one.