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....