Just wanted to know what people think are the greatest martial arts films of all-time, and why. You can choose from the classics, new stuff, cartoons, animated films, etc. Just explain why you feel your choices are the greatest.
I have to say that in my opinion, the very best animated martial arts film I've ever seen is Ninja Scroll. The action is great, story is pretty good, and the overall animation is something to behold.
For live action, there's a movie that I saw as a child one sunday afternoon (when martial arts movies played regularly in the 80's). It's the one that captured my young imagination and got me really interested in martial arts. I don't remember the name, but maybe someone more knowledgable than I am in this field could help me out. It's about 5 shaolin monks who each have a fighting style modelled after an animal. If I remember correctly, one was modelled after a snake, and would literally slither like one. Another was a crane, another a tiger, another I think was a frog, and I can't remember what the last one was. I'm thinking he was modelled after a monkey, but I'm not sure. Maybe it was a lizard... In any case, this was my favorite because it got me started.
There was another one where the fighters would jump up into the trees... Great stuff for 70's movies.
My mother's favorite was one called "The One-Armed Swordsman". I've never seen or heard of this one outside of what my mother has told me, so I don't know what to think about it...
my favorite would have to be "Enter the Dragon" starring Bruce Lee. i know sierradaddy, 'big surprise' huh? the fights are well choreagraphed and Bruce Lee just shines. it's my favorite and a must-see for any fan of martial arts films.
i would like to mention two other films that i feel are underrated: i really liked "The Hunted". not the recent one with tommy lee jones, but an older one from the 90's with christopher lambert. i'm still waiting for a dvd release of this one as my vhs is wearing thin. it's not the most jaw-dropping martial arts film but there's some cool swordfighting in the end. and i think "iron monkey" is a pretty cool movie as well. again, nothing spectacular. it's your standard kung-fu fly-by-wire film, but still a good one to see.
sierradaddy, i've seen all or part of the 5 monks film you mentioned. i think. i'll do some digging and if i find out more i'll let you know. if anyone else knows please don't hesitate to share.
Enter The Dragon would be at the top of my list, but another person who I really enjoy watching in action, though I think he goes largely unrecognized for his martial arts skills, is Wesley Snipes. He shows off a bit in Demolition Man and a LOT in Blade, and gets a move or two in on half a dozen other flicks. The man's got talent!
If you want to go with recent films, then I'll add Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. That one was good. Also, I enjoyed The One... Must've been because of it's matrix feel...
Saw Iron Monkey, liked it a lot also! Of course, I've enjoyed Enter the Dragon as well. For Jackie Chan movies, I saw one of his earlier films. I think it was called The Laughing Hyena. Was there a guy named Sonny Chiba who made kung-fu films? I don't know if I've ever seen anything from him, but for some reason I know his name...
I have nothing to list from Van Damne, and the Karate Kid isn't even worth mentioning here, even though I enjoyed it as a kid. It had some good lines... "He gave him the body bag!! Yeah!!"
and "Finish him!!". Also, of course, the standard and popular "Wax on, wax off" The fact that Ralph Macchio was performing karate kinda bothered me... Oh well......
Can't think of anymore films... Someone help me out...!!
sean: snipes is fun to watch. thanks for mentioning him. he deserves to be on our list. i know he dispatches foes with martial arts but i would love to see him in a more pure martial arts style film. i think he would really shine.
sierradaddy: i like crouching tiger, hidden dragon. i hated "the one" until i saw it just because of the title (little too matrix-like) and the fact that he turned down the W. bros. to be in reloaded/revolutions because they wouldn't give him enough money. but i'm a fan of jet li and after seeing the movie i acquitted him of his misdeeds. have you seen him in "kiss of the dragon"? i know it's not a pure martial arts film, but jet li puts on quite a show of skill.
i forgot all about (until i replied to sean's other thread) "the perfect weapon" starring Jeff Speakman. excellent fight scenes. Jeff Speakman is "blink and you'll miss it" quick.
i don't care for van dam at all. i don't know what it is he does, but it sure ain't all that impressive. i would be scared to death to slap someone like bruce lee or jet li in the face. but not jean claude van dam. i'd slap him and call him a sissy. he may whoop me good but i'm sure i could make a fight of it with him. speaking of jet li, he's one that should have been on that first thread. i feel he's very good, too. i'd even say i consider him one of the best alive today, but again, like jackie chan, i'm not entirely familiar with the man off screen (like i am with bruce lee and chuck norris) so i'm just going by what i've seen onscreen and what i've heard from people talking about him on his film commentaries and interviews. ESPN classic showed "the karate kid" last night and i just couldn't turn it off. i know it's cheesy beyond measure but i just love noriyuki 'pat' morita.
let's see... other good films...
have you seen "the legend of drunken master" with jackie chan? if you're a fan of kung fu movies you really need to see jackie chan in action in this one.
I have seen drunken master. I liked it. Jet Li is awesome. I've enjoyed everything I've seen him in. I'm not too anxious, however, to go rent cradle to the grave.......... DMX is worse than Keanu where stonefaced acting is concerned...
Jeff Speakman is ok. I guess you have to like Kenpo to appreciate him. Isn't that the same style that Steven Segall uses?? It's all about taking the force and momentum of your opponents and using it against them, right?
I didn't enjoy American Ninja at all. Nothing like Shinobi (greatest ninja video game ever...). Never watched a sequel... Stoopid.... Best of the Best?
I remember another movie. There was this guy clothed in white (I think he had white hair and flowing white beard too...). He wasn't really old, if I remember correctly. He was just white-haired. He was awesome. He fought someone, and he just either parried or dodged every attack. When he attacked, the fight was over quick. I wish I could remember what it was... It was pretty good... Maybe it was the Laughing Hyena???
Thanks for adding Snipes. I forgot all about him, but he is definitely worthy. I'd LOVE to see him fight in a traditional style also, but I like what he does now. He just looks really good doing it. He looks well-trained (I know that he's studied kung-fu or some other form of martial arts). I'm anxiously awaiting Blade 3...
Boy, do I need a good classic martial arts marathon right about now.......
steven segall uses aikido. but you got the description of aikido right.
kenpo just doesn't translate well onto the big screen if you're not familiar with it. it's a no nonsense, straightforward streetfighting style. so there's just not enough flash for big budget movies.
"best of the best"? it may be a little cheesy but i really enjoyed it the first time i ever saw it. not that i dislike it now, it just doesn't have that same appeal it did back then. but i will watch it if it's on tv.
now that you brought up "blade" sierradaddy, i have to say that i love seeing wesley snipes with a sword in hand. he's like a walking 'ginsu'.
My favorite is easily "Enter the Dragon". Storyline was great, the martial arts was true to its form, and Bruce Lee kicked some serious ass.
This next one that I like is a little bit out of the genre, but it introduces a possible different type of martial art. I am speaking of the movie "Equilibrium". This movie introduces the "gun kata", which I do know is not a martial art, but still have very similar movements. I had to mention that movie just because the fight sequences in it were outstanding. Although, it isn't martial arts.
"Best of the Best" is a classic in my book, although it is a little cheesy. Philip Rhee, whom starred as Tommy Lee in that movie, is a very excellent martial artist. You really won't see him in any other movies besides the "Best of the Best" series, but he is very graceful in his movements.
Now, everyone is going to kill me for this one, but I must admit that the movie "Kickboxer" and "Bloodsport" are two decent movies. Although, Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in both, I still think that they are decent movies. After those movies, I think that Van Damme went down the tubes.
legend: i liked 'equilibrium'. it even has it's own thread over in the matrix forum, though it's been a long time since it had any activity. i thought it was a very entertaining movie.
I've not seen it yet. I'm waiting for it to become a favourite at blockbuster, or maybe I'll get a copy of it from my sister's boyfriend. He's got EVERYTHING, but he lives in Toronto which is about a day's drive away from me...
I saw it on the shelf at blockbuster, and I thought it should be good, (decent cast in Taye Diggs and Christian Bale), but my girlfriend didn't go for it.... I'm sure some of you know how that goes.........
DMX is worse than Keanu where stonefaced acting is concerned... 
