MY MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE/DVD PICKS part 3

Please be sure to check out "parts 1 & 2" for more of the martial art movies I think you should have in your collection.  Alright here are some more movies and DVD's:

1. IP MAN 1 & 2: dir. Wilson Yip starring Donnie Yen as the legendary teacher Ip Man who brought the martial art of Wing Chun to the public.  Ip Man is also known as the teacher of  iconic martial artist BRUCE LEE.  This movies takes his story from before the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930's up to Ip Man's relocation to Hong Kong in the 1950's where he meets the child who will become Bruce Lee.  The fight scenes in both films are incredible, and Part 2 co-starring Sammo Hung, is also a very good story.  Like a lot of Asian Bio-Pics it has a tendency to become a bit maudlin, but overall this is an enjoyable series and good for the entire family.
2. KILL ZONE or SPL: dir. Wilson Yip starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam.  This is an intriguing story about police vs a gangster - Hong Kong style.  It is interesting to see Sammo as a ruthless gangster with a soft spot for his family.  Each of the supporting characters are allowed to shine so to speak and couple of them really chew up the scenery.  But the main thing about this movie is the fight scenes capping it off with one of the best screen fight I have seen: Donnie vs Sammo.  Though Hong Kong style - it is "realistic" as both combatants feel the effects of the fight especially when it comes to it's incredible conclusion.  I highly - HIGHLY recommend this movie.  Maybe not for the wives and girl-friends, but a movie night with the fellows, especially if you are martial arts practitioners....Yeah, this is a DVD to watch.
3. MUSA the WARRIOR: dir Kim Seong Soo:  This is an odyssey of sorts as a convoy of Korean soldiers escorting diplomats and slaves to make peace with the Emperor of China in the late 14th century.  They have to battle fierce desert of Northern China as well as Mongols since they interfered with a Mongol convoy.  It's a dramatic, fierce battle as the Korean's try to find their way back home.  It's a good story, good acting an interesting fight scenes.

I also give an  “Honorable Mention” to Shinturo Katsu’s ZATOICHI film series.  You can pick almost any of them and you will thoroughly enjoy them.  I think there must be, what about 100 of them?  My favorite was "Zatoichi meets Godzilla".  No, seriously there’s about 25 or so and they are all enjoyable.  “Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo” is especially enjoyable watching the by-play between Katsu and Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.  You know they must have had some fun on that set. 

Also there’s

·        MASTER KILLER – (1978) starring Gordon Liu

·        EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN – (1977) dir: Lau Kar-Leung

·        YES, MADAM – (1985) starring Michelle Yeoh,Cynthia Rothrock

·        KING BOXER (5 Fingers of Death) – (1971) starring Lo Lieh: This is the film that is credited for starting the “martial arts craze” in the U.S.

Okay, that’s about it, I think.  Those are the films I believe would be a great way to start a martial arts video collection.  What do you think?  What movies would you tell someone to start off their collection with, and why? 
Talk it over, and then lemme know.
Till next time....

MY MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE/DVD PICKS part 2

Please check out "part 1" for the first batch of movies.  Alright, here are some more of my favorite martial arts movies and why:

1. POLICE STORY (1985) dir/starring Jackie Chan:  I had the privilege of watching this when it premiered in ‘86 at the NYC film festival.  I thought it this would be the film to “sell” Jacky Chan to the U.S.  Originally I did not think of this film as a martial arts movie.  The main character is a martial artist and there are believable reasons for his fight scenes and the approach to the fights.  But the martial arts are not the main focus of the movie.  In fact you could remove the martial fights and it would still be a good cop film.
2. YOJIMBO/SANJURO – dir: Akira Kurasawa, starring Toshiro Mifune:  I put these films together because I think they make one great film.  Mifune and Kurasawa changed the Japanese film industry with his portrayal of a dirty, scruffy, sarcastic ronin.  Mifune reminds me of how a samurai may have been portrayed if Raymond Chandler wrote them.  Watch for the final fight scene in the end of Sanjuro the duel between Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai –hooo man!
3. VOLCANO HIGH - dir: Kim Tae-gyun; this is a good martial arts fantasy that takes place in a High School.  New student vs bullies, established cliques and an "evil" administration.  There are two versions of this movie, the original Korean availabe with sub-titles or the MTV dubbed version using the voice talent of ANDRE 3000, BIG BOI, SNOOP DOG and other rock, hip hop stars.
4. IRON MONKEY (1993) dir: Woo Ping Yuen, starring Donnie Yen: Story, Acting, direction, this is a damn good movie.  Though purist will not like the wirework, this is the same director who did the wire work in the MATRIX.  Watch this film and you will see why I believe Hollywood is wasting Donnie Yen.  If he’s reading this “Donnie, do a independent feature – this way you can retain control and showcase your talents!”  Watch this movie and then try to disagree with me.
5.  WHEN TAE KWON DO STRIKES/ STING OF THE DRAGON MASTERS (1973) dir: Huang Feng, starring Jhoon Rhee / Angela Mao:  This is actually the same movie, the distributor at one time changed the name to reach the bigger audience by putting the word “Dragon” in the title.  Before she was Bruce Lee’s tragic little sister in “Enter the Dragon”, Ms. Mao had a career as one of Hong Kong’s top female fighting stars. Here she is in top form with…”Jhoon Rhee”!  The story is about the Korean rebellion against Japanese rule.  I think it’s good because of Ms. Mao’s performance and Master Rhee’s final fight scenes.  The fact that the villains are played by Chinese stuntman (including Sammo Hung) unfamiliar with proper use of Japanese weapons does detract from it, but you’ll soon ignore that.
6.  STORM RIDERS (1998) dir. Wai Keung Lau, starring Sonny Chiba, Ekin Chang and Aaron Kwok: Anime combined with video games meets Star Wars! – That’s the best way to describe this movie.  The action is combined with special effects in such a way that it all works.  The story is wonderful; Sonny Chiba is a classical villain in every sense of the word (Darth Vader watch out!)  Aaron Kwok is the tortured anti-hero that I think they wanted “Anakin Skywalker” to be.  If you like animae, if you like video games, if you like comic books and martial arts….this movie was made for you.  The other two films made by this production team (A Man Called Hero and the Duel) suffered from over-production.  But STORM RIDERS …hooo baby
7. FIST OF LEGEND (1997) dir. Gordon Chan, starring Jet Li:  This is the movie for martial arts purist.  No wirework, very little special effects.  It is actually a remake of Bruce Lee’s “Fist of Fury (Chinese Connection)”.  Though Bruce played the main character as a little off, Jet plays him as a traditional, straightforward hero.  Though I liked Bruce’s psychotic performance better, this movie is still great.  The opening fights in the college were what made me purchase the tape.

I'll have some more movies next time....

MY MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE/DVD PICKS

It's the holiday season, folks are out buying gifts and wonder what to get that martial artist on their list.    Well, this is my list of favorite martial art films and why..  Check it out, tell me what you think.  Talk it over with your friends, students and so on.  Then tell me what films you think should be there; or make up your own list.  This should be fun.  Let the discussion begin….NOW:

1. THE BIG BOSS (Fist of Fury-1971)/FIST OF FURY (Chinese Connection-1972): dir Lo Wei, starring Bruce Lee:  I believe these two films are essential for understanding martial arts film genre and Bruce lee’s magic.  They are, in my opinion, his best work, with FIST OF FURY (Chinese Connection) being the best.  The story is excellent; Bruce shows a range that is not present in his other films.  He even has a love scene or a “tender moment” with his lady.  Yes they do kiss!!!!  And of course, Bruce plays his character as a “psycho”; Bruce does the slow built up rage better than anyone before or since.  Also, I like the fights scenes in this film because Bruce actually gets hit by his opponents.  He’s not exactly superman as he is in his other films.  He’s more like…Captain Marvel.

*Quick Note to parents:  There is nudity in all 4 of Bruce Lee’s movies.  It may be quick, but it’s there. 

2. SNAKE IN THE EAGLES SHADOW (1978) dir: Woo Ping Yuen, starring Jackie Chan:  This is actually the movie that introduced me to Jackie Chan.  My good buddy Stan Orzel, who recently did an excellent documentary on the making of Jet Li’s latest movie HERO; and I were projectionist in Syracuse University. One of the things we had to do was screen the movies before we showed them to make sure there were no tears, ripped sprocket holes and so on.  So on a Friday afternoon we put the film in the projector and were incredibly surprised.  At first we thought it was just going to be another “Kung Fu film”.  But then we saw this scene: the “Old Master” runs up a wall, chased by the Villain.  Jackie tries to follow, but can’t.  He steps back out of frame like he was going to build up more speed, but instead gets a ladder…   That was when we realized there was something special happening with this actor.  Jackie successfully created this formula of pathos, comedy, action and lovable characters, not unlike Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.  We saw it first in this movie
3. BRIDE WITH THE WHITE HAIR I & II (1993) dir: Ronny Yu, starring Brigitte Lin:  This is the one martial arts movie that guys can watch with their girlfriends, a “couple's” martial arts movie!  Ronny Yu who also helmed the “Chucky" movies (Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky…) creates a fantasy world filled with a lot of great action, and an interesting love story.  Great for a guy to introduce martial arts movies to his girl friend.
4. SWORD OF DOOM (1966) dir: Kihachi Okamoto, starring Tatsuya Nakadai / Toshiro Mifune: A very dark movie, but Nakadai has a remarkably intense performance as sociopath samurai, one who’s mastered an “evil style” of sword fighting!   He is extremely magnetic, using subtle eye movements, barely discernable mouth twitches, and an eerie stare; yeah he can scare the devil out of you.  I still maintain that DeNiro, Joe Pesci and the rest want to see this film to see how to portray a sociopath; and one we will root for!  *Note, Mifune’s role is barely a cameo appearance, but it is quite pivotal to the film.  *Quick note: watch for the scene where Nakadai’s character takes on an entire fencing school.  The choreography is incredible, camerawork is great and his movements are absolutely poetic.
5. LEGEND OF NEW SHAOLIN (1994) starring Jet Li & Tse Mui; this is actually the first Jet Li film I ever saw in its entirety.  Watching Jet and the Tse Mui, who plays his young son, is a fun movie to watch.  It has a great story, great fight scenes and of course some comedy as well.  Some of the stunts and fights have to be seen to be believed. This is the film that made me say I have to keep my eye on this guy.  The chemistry between Jet and Tse is incredible.

I'll have more films next time.....