Best movie martial arts fights of all time?
January 18, 2011 11:44 PM Subscribe
What are the best movie martial arts fights of all time?
The final battle in Drunken Master 2 always leaves me in awe. (The axe gang one isn't bad either.)
Then there's Tony Jaa's ridiculous restaurant tracking shot from The Protector, and that cringeworthy exercise in arm-snapping at the end.
If you had to make a list of the top, say, five movie martial arts fight scenes, what would be on it? (Clips, please.)
And anyone who says this one will be shown the door.)
The final battle in Drunken Master 2 always leaves me in awe. (The axe gang one isn't bad either.)
Then there's Tony Jaa's ridiculous restaurant tracking shot from The Protector, and that cringeworthy exercise in arm-snapping at the end.
If you had to make a list of the top, say, five movie martial arts fight scenes, what would be on it? (Clips, please.)
And anyone who says this one will be shown the door.)
Pretty much anything in Fist of Legend. My favorites would be the "practice" fight and the final battle. (Spoilers, obviously.)
posted by kmz at 12:16 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by kmz at 12:16 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ah, such a great question. My first thought was, "that Steadi shot from the Protector!" But of course you've seen it. You may not have seen some behind the scenes info for it (from another YT video's description or, even better, from the operator himself).
Another fantastic scene from what I feel is an unfairly bashed movie is the first village fight from Kung Fu Hustle. Overlooking the movie as a whole (which for sure drops off in the second half), this is a beautifully choreographed, emotionally transfixing scene (hidden martial arts shifus! variable frame rates!).
Of course, if you want some classic, subtle, evocative fight sequences, look no further than Kurosawa. Hidden Fortress, anyone?
posted by therewolf at 12:21 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another fantastic scene from what I feel is an unfairly bashed movie is the first village fight from Kung Fu Hustle. Overlooking the movie as a whole (which for sure drops off in the second half), this is a beautifully choreographed, emotionally transfixing scene (hidden martial arts shifus! variable frame rates!).
Of course, if you want some classic, subtle, evocative fight sequences, look no further than Kurosawa. Hidden Fortress, anyone?
posted by therewolf at 12:21 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
The side-scrolling hammer fight in Oldboy.
posted by zippy at 12:56 AM on January 19, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by zippy at 12:56 AM on January 19, 2011 [6 favorites]
I've always been partial to the fight scenes from Fearless Hyena 2...there is some really really amazing stuff in that movie...
posted by jnnla at 1:05 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by jnnla at 1:05 AM on January 19, 2011
You've already got #1 – the primacy of the Jackie Chan vs. Low Wai-kwong finale to Legend of Drunken Master can't even be contested. So, on to 2-5...
Even the warm-up before Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris Way of the Dragon fight is legendary. Plus, kitten!
Jackie's final fight with Brad Allan in Gorgeous is amazing because it's just Jackie and a member of his fight team showing what they can do — and Jackie is 45 (my age now!)
Both from Fist of Legend: Jet Li's modern kung fu vs. Chin Siu Ho's classic style and then vs. Billy Chow's Thai kickboxing.
posted by nicwolff at 1:15 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Even the warm-up before Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris Way of the Dragon fight is legendary. Plus, kitten!
Jackie's final fight with Brad Allan in Gorgeous is amazing because it's just Jackie and a member of his fight team showing what they can do — and Jackie is 45 (my age now!)
Both from Fist of Legend: Jet Li's modern kung fu vs. Chin Siu Ho's classic style and then vs. Billy Chow's Thai kickboxing.
posted by nicwolff at 1:15 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Jet Li had some pretty interesting fights in Fearless, and Jackie Chan's fights in Nemesis (the first one against the ringer, where he loses, then the final one, after the training montage, were quite good, as I recall).
The best fight I can recall , however, I saw while living in China, watching a random movie on TV. I have no idea what the name was, but at some point, the hero is humiliated by the villain, and the villain, ahem, severs all of the hero's tendons or somesuch, then absconds with the hero's mother. The hero recovers and seeks out vengeance. Part one of the vengeance seeking is getting through the alley to the main fight. For this, he is wearing something like twenty swords (think Matrix and the Morpheus rescue scene with "swords. lots of swords"). The alley is filled with henchmen, and the hero, for whatever reason, blindfolds himself, then lays waste to the entire alley, killing something like 100 men.
The final fight, however, is even more absurd/spectacular. The hero's mother is standing on the top of a tower made out of footstools, a noose around her neck. The villain attacks the hero, and throughout the fight, the villain smashes stool after stool, threatening to topple the tower, and kill the mother. Each time the tower seems about to fall, the hero kicks discarded stools back into the tower, or restacks the tower into ever more precarious shapes. It was a good deal of fun to watch, though, sadly, I have no idea what the film was called.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:48 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
The best fight I can recall , however, I saw while living in China, watching a random movie on TV. I have no idea what the name was, but at some point, the hero is humiliated by the villain, and the villain, ahem, severs all of the hero's tendons or somesuch, then absconds with the hero's mother. The hero recovers and seeks out vengeance. Part one of the vengeance seeking is getting through the alley to the main fight. For this, he is wearing something like twenty swords (think Matrix and the Morpheus rescue scene with "swords. lots of swords"). The alley is filled with henchmen, and the hero, for whatever reason, blindfolds himself, then lays waste to the entire alley, killing something like 100 men.
The final fight, however, is even more absurd/spectacular. The hero's mother is standing on the top of a tower made out of footstools, a noose around her neck. The villain attacks the hero, and throughout the fight, the villain smashes stool after stool, threatening to topple the tower, and kill the mother. Each time the tower seems about to fall, the hero kicks discarded stools back into the tower, or restacks the tower into ever more precarious shapes. It was a good deal of fun to watch, though, sadly, I have no idea what the film was called.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:48 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Shit, nicwolf is right, Gorgeous is the name of the film with Jackie Chan I was thinking of (though I could swear it was called Nemesis).
I'm also partial to the Jet Li fights in Kiss of the Dragon, though they could be called a touch excessive (singlehandedly beating down the entire police class?). The fight towards the end, against the two brothers, though, I like because of its attention to the set, and how it's used in the fight.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:01 AM on January 19, 2011
I'm also partial to the Jet Li fights in Kiss of the Dragon, though they could be called a touch excessive (singlehandedly beating down the entire police class?). The fight towards the end, against the two brothers, though, I like because of its attention to the set, and how it's used in the fight.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:01 AM on January 19, 2011
There's some spectacular set-piece style fights (with bits of the scenery flying around, smashing into things and whatnot) in Once Upon a Time in China: 1, 2.
posted by juv3nal at 2:22 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by juv3nal at 2:22 AM on January 19, 2011
Hard for me to choose, but pretty much the whole movie Chocolate is awesome.
posted by DisreputableDog at 3:15 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DisreputableDog at 3:15 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ghidorah, that movie is Fong Sai Yuk 2, with Jet Li! The whole movie seems to be on youtube, in highly crappy quality.
posted by people? I ain't people! at 3:45 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by people? I ain't people! at 3:45 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
I haven't actually seen the movie it's from, but this Chainsaw Fight is one of the most awesome fight clips I've seen.
posted by WhackyparseThis at 4:27 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by WhackyparseThis at 4:27 AM on January 19, 2011
They Live. 30 minutes worth of fighting, plopped into the middle of the movie for no damn good reason, other than to watch a pro wrestler take on a street brawler. Not certain if it fits your criteria of martial arts, tho.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:49 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:49 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
I love the rooftop fight scene from Jackie Chan's Who Am I?
posted by MegoSteve at 4:53 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by MegoSteve at 4:53 AM on January 19, 2011
Donnie Yen, playing Ip Man, fights 10 people
posted by Comrade_robot at 4:57 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Comrade_robot at 4:57 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
people? I ain't people, that's exactly it. Hell, I don't think I even knew who Jet Li was back then (shame on me). I remember more now: It's vaguely Hamlet-esque. The bad guy seizes control of Jet Li's father's criminal gang or some such. The gang members are all Jet Li's blood brothers, so he blindfolds himself so he won't see who he's killing (thus, I guess, absolving him of guilt for killing his former companions).
posted by Ghidorah at 5:00 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 5:00 AM on January 19, 2011
Duel to the Death's final fight is pretty good and a welcome capstone to the sheer level of monks vs ninjas vs exploding ninjas vs ninjas that turn into naked women and so on fights that populate the rest of this (awesome) movie.
Then there is the final fight at the end of Turkish Star Wars.
And to round out a trio of verge-of-professional fight scenes, Ryan vs Dorkman: Lightsaber Duels.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:04 AM on January 19, 2011
Then there is the final fight at the end of Turkish Star Wars.
And to round out a trio of verge-of-professional fight scenes, Ryan vs Dorkman: Lightsaber Duels.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:04 AM on January 19, 2011
One of my favorites (and favorite HK action flicks of all time) is the end fight from The Hitman.
Also the bamboo-stilts fight from IIRC Once Upon a Time in China.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:55 AM on January 19, 2011
Also the bamboo-stilts fight from IIRC Once Upon a Time in China.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:55 AM on January 19, 2011
The sequence in Bruce Lee's Game Of Death where he enters a multi story pagoda where on each level there is an adversary he must fight using a different discipline. ( The film was never finished)
from the Wiki: Although the pagoda was supposed to have five floors, complete scenes were only shot for three of the floors: the "Palace of the Tiger," where Lee faced Inosanto; the "Palace of the Dragon", where he fought Ji Han Jae; and the final floor, where he fought Abdul-Jabbar. Hapkido master Hwang In-Shik was slated to play the guardian of the first floor, a master of a kick-oriented style, while Bruce's longtime student and good friend Taky Kimura was asked to play the guardian of the second floor, a stylist of praying mantis kung fu.
The goal of the film's plot was to showcase Lee's beliefs regarding the principles of martial arts. As each martial artist is defeated (including Lee's allies), the flaws in their fighting style are revealed. Some, like Dan Inosanto's character, rely too much on fixed patterns of offensive and defensive techniques, while others lack economy of motion. Lee defeats his opponents by having a fighting style that involves fluid movement, unpredictability, and an eclectic blend of techniques. His dialogue often includes references on their weaknesses.
posted by Gungho at 6:29 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
from the Wiki: Although the pagoda was supposed to have five floors, complete scenes were only shot for three of the floors: the "Palace of the Tiger," where Lee faced Inosanto; the "Palace of the Dragon", where he fought Ji Han Jae; and the final floor, where he fought Abdul-Jabbar. Hapkido master Hwang In-Shik was slated to play the guardian of the first floor, a master of a kick-oriented style, while Bruce's longtime student and good friend Taky Kimura was asked to play the guardian of the second floor, a stylist of praying mantis kung fu.
The goal of the film's plot was to showcase Lee's beliefs regarding the principles of martial arts. As each martial artist is defeated (including Lee's allies), the flaws in their fighting style are revealed. Some, like Dan Inosanto's character, rely too much on fixed patterns of offensive and defensive techniques, while others lack economy of motion. Lee defeats his opponents by having a fighting style that involves fluid movement, unpredictability, and an eclectic blend of techniques. His dialogue often includes references on their weaknesses.
posted by Gungho at 6:29 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
No love for Iron Monkey? There's some excellent fights in that. The one that sticks out is the fight on top of the burning poles.
posted by arcticseal at 6:33 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by arcticseal at 6:33 AM on January 19, 2011
Sorry, folks, but I have to nominate the fight in the villa lobby from the second Matrix movie.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:09 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:09 AM on January 19, 2011
The "Burly Brawl" from The Matrix:Reloaded (where Neo fights a hundred Agent Smiths) is an all-time favorite of mine. Yeah, yeah, Matrix haters gonna hate. :)
I would also nominate both the Michelle Yeoh/Xiang Xi fights from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
posted by DWRoelands at 7:27 AM on January 19, 2011
I would also nominate both the Michelle Yeoh/Xiang Xi fights from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
posted by DWRoelands at 7:27 AM on January 19, 2011
+1 to Ip Man, those two movies (Ip Man and Ip Man 2) are some of the best martial arts movies I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot...
posted by AngryLlama at 7:33 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by AngryLlama at 7:33 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Jet Li's Hero had some pretty spectacular fight scenes. But it was the cinematography, not the actual fighting that blue me away. Somehow the director had captured exactly that "magical" grandeur of martial arts that anime & manga show so vividly & that live action so often lacks. It's really amazing. Totally over the top & lightyears beyond what other people have tried to show.
posted by Ys at 7:45 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Ys at 7:45 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Nth-ing Fearless.
Also: the climactic fight in Drunken Master II (US title: Legend of Drunken Master). Took them a month to film, I read.
posted by Joe Beese at 7:59 AM on January 19, 2011
Also: the climactic fight in Drunken Master II (US title: Legend of Drunken Master). Took them a month to film, I read.
posted by Joe Beese at 7:59 AM on January 19, 2011
I think the Zhang Yi Mou wuxia films (Hero and House of Flying Daggers) have some beautiful fight scenes, but I am going to agree with Ys that really impressive aspect of those scenes lie in the cinematography moreso the choreography (not to imply that is a bad thing). Of the two I would say that house of flying daggers was slightly more impressive as far as cool stuff goes.
Beyond that I want to emphatically third Ip Man, and I am going to give a plus to AngryLlama because now I know about the sequel.
Also Jackie Chan's Police Story movies are usually pretty entertaining, and he does at least 3 ridiculous stunts in each of them, they never got much attention over here, but it was a huge franchise in China.
posted by BobbyDigital at 8:46 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Beyond that I want to emphatically third Ip Man, and I am going to give a plus to AngryLlama because now I know about the sequel.
Also Jackie Chan's Police Story movies are usually pretty entertaining, and he does at least 3 ridiculous stunts in each of them, they never got much attention over here, but it was a huge franchise in China.
posted by BobbyDigital at 8:46 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Finally, my area of expertise. I can't do clips, cause I'm at work. But here we go.
The final weapons fight sequence from Legendary Weapons of China (dir. Lau Kar Leung). It's the prototype for the Michelle Yeoh vs Zhang Ziyi grab-every-weapon-you-can-reach throwdown from Crouching Tiger.
Just about anything from Magnificent Butcher w/ Sammo Hung, but highest points to Yuen Biao and the Monkey-Up-A-Pole technique guy, midway through the movie.
People who practice Wing Chun say that the best fight in the history of film is Yuen Biao vs Sammo Hung on top of the table in Prodigal Son (this may be different now that Ip Man is around).
The opening fights in Fearless (Kung Fu vs Boxing, Tai Chi Broadsword vs Fencing, Spear vs Cavalry Lance) are totally solid - the whole movie is really worth a watch.
For my money, though, the best fight ever committed to celluloid is Jet Li vs Donnie Yen in the end of Once Upon A Time In China. It takes place in a warehouse filled with bamboo scaffolding, and throughout the ten or fifteen minutes of fighting, the two of them go through every possible permutation of two bodies attacking and defending in three-dimensional space. It's a master class of physicality in the cinema.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:56 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
The final weapons fight sequence from Legendary Weapons of China (dir. Lau Kar Leung). It's the prototype for the Michelle Yeoh vs Zhang Ziyi grab-every-weapon-you-can-reach throwdown from Crouching Tiger.
Just about anything from Magnificent Butcher w/ Sammo Hung, but highest points to Yuen Biao and the Monkey-Up-A-Pole technique guy, midway through the movie.
People who practice Wing Chun say that the best fight in the history of film is Yuen Biao vs Sammo Hung on top of the table in Prodigal Son (this may be different now that Ip Man is around).
The opening fights in Fearless (Kung Fu vs Boxing, Tai Chi Broadsword vs Fencing, Spear vs Cavalry Lance) are totally solid - the whole movie is really worth a watch.
For my money, though, the best fight ever committed to celluloid is Jet Li vs Donnie Yen in the end of Once Upon A Time In China. It takes place in a warehouse filled with bamboo scaffolding, and throughout the ten or fifteen minutes of fighting, the two of them go through every possible permutation of two bodies attacking and defending in three-dimensional space. It's a master class of physicality in the cinema.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:56 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Hal C On: nicwolff means that Chan was 45 when that fight was filmed.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:57 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:57 AM on January 19, 2011
The fights in Redbelt are all good, but the finale is amazing. No (apparent) effects, all "true to life". Under appreciated Mamet. Chiwetel Ejiofor makes the film and must have done many of the sequences himself.
posted by bonehead at 9:05 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 9:05 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding AngryLlama about the IP man movies. I have watched lots of MA movies, but these are beautifully choreographed
Others on my list would be (in that order):
1. Some fights from the 5 venoms
2. Tai chi Boxer 1 - a little known movie starring Jacky Wu. The fight scenes where he takes on different masters in a seven storied building reminded me of Enter the Dragon
3. Mad Monkey Kungfu has some good fight scenes, especially the climax
4. Drunken Master - the scenes starring "Thunder Leg" Hwang Jang Lee are superb
5. Magnificent Butcher starring one of my favorite MA - Sammo Hung
6. Fist of the White Lotus has some really good fights
6. Knockabout - Yuen Biao is too good in this
All clips are available on youtube (I checked them), so you should have some good time watching these
posted by theobserver at 9:40 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Others on my list would be (in that order):
1. Some fights from the 5 venoms
2. Tai chi Boxer 1 - a little known movie starring Jacky Wu. The fight scenes where he takes on different masters in a seven storied building reminded me of Enter the Dragon
3. Mad Monkey Kungfu has some good fight scenes, especially the climax
4. Drunken Master - the scenes starring "Thunder Leg" Hwang Jang Lee are superb
5. Magnificent Butcher starring one of my favorite MA - Sammo Hung
6. Fist of the White Lotus has some really good fights
6. Knockabout - Yuen Biao is too good in this
All clips are available on youtube (I checked them), so you should have some good time watching these
posted by theobserver at 9:40 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh man, yeah, just about anything with Hwang Jang Lee is magical.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 9:46 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 9:46 AM on January 19, 2011
IMO the can't-touch-the-ground fight on top of a crowd between Sibelle Hu, Jet Li, and Josephine Siao is an excellent combination of the swoopy wire work style, buffooneriffic comedy, and straight up kung-fu. Starts here and continues in part 4.
We support you!
posted by carsonb at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2011
We support you!
posted by carsonb at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2011
I'm ashamed of you all- no one mentioned any Sammo Hung? I couldn't name which of his is the best, but his 3 way fights with Jackie Chan and Yuen Bao in Dragons Forever and his brutal stick fights in Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon are top notch.
Of the HK stars who do more "realistic" fight scenes (no wires, at least) Sammo has consistently delivered throughout his career.
posted by yeloson at 11:47 AM on January 19, 2011
Of the HK stars who do more "realistic" fight scenes (no wires, at least) Sammo has consistently delivered throughout his career.
posted by yeloson at 11:47 AM on January 19, 2011
yeloson: Count me out :) I did mention that he was my favorite!
Shaolin Wooden Men is also a wonderful film to watch, if you are into that "type" of martial arts films. I am not just a fan, but an A/C too!
Thanks for starting this thread - I can now spend all day watching these movies again!
posted by theobserver at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2011
Shaolin Wooden Men is also a wonderful film to watch, if you are into that "type" of martial arts films. I am not just a fan, but an A/C too!
Thanks for starting this thread - I can now spend all day watching these movies again!
posted by theobserver at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2011
yeloson: Everyone who brought up Ip Man mentioned him, technically - but I also had Magnificent Butcher and Prodigal Son :)
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:00 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:00 PM on January 19, 2011
Everyone on here probably already knows this, but just to reiterate - Dragon Dynasty just released a US version of 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, long one of the lost treasures of the Shaw Bros era of HK film... Alexander Fu Sheng in his final film role, and some pretty solid pole fights, as you might imagine.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:09 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:09 PM on January 19, 2011
Recently, I much enjoyed this fracas from 'Ip Man'.
posted by Rufus T. Firefly at 12:16 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Rufus T. Firefly at 12:16 PM on January 19, 2011
First, if you haven't seen the original Drunken Master, you're missing out. Drunken Master 2 is in every way inferior to the first one. That's a testament to how good the original is, not a criticism of the sequel.
Kung Fu Hustle has been mentioned, and I agree, but Shaolin Soccer has not. Think live action Dragonball Z comedy about soccer. The whole movies is like that clip, pretty much.
posted by cmoj at 12:46 PM on January 19, 2011
Kung Fu Hustle has been mentioned, and I agree, but Shaolin Soccer has not. Think live action Dragonball Z comedy about soccer. The whole movies is like that clip, pretty much.
posted by cmoj at 12:46 PM on January 19, 2011
I can't leave without seconding the hammer fight in Old Boy. One long take of a fighter with entirely accurate but superhuman prowess. He adjusts his pacing and technique for different opponents (something a lot of real world professional fighters are incapable of), but also ekes by on pure tough-badassness.
posted by cmoj at 12:54 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by cmoj at 12:54 PM on January 19, 2011
So many good responses already. I really liked Tony Jaa's work in Ong Bak, which hasn't been mentioned. For swordplay there's a bunch of Zatoichi that's gone unmentioned as well.
posted by togdon at 2:03 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by togdon at 2:03 PM on January 19, 2011
Zatoichi in a nutshell -
1) Zatoichi has suddenly unsheathed his sword, and stands in a perfect, motionless stance.
2) Eighteen random things suddenly fall in two - tables, chairs, stairs, buildings, henchmen, the love interest, Godzilla, a Toyota pickup, etc.
3) Zatoichi slowly sheathes his sword and jokes about his blindness with an orphan.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:26 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
1) Zatoichi has suddenly unsheathed his sword, and stands in a perfect, motionless stance.
2) Eighteen random things suddenly fall in two - tables, chairs, stairs, buildings, henchmen, the love interest, Godzilla, a Toyota pickup, etc.
3) Zatoichi slowly sheathes his sword and jokes about his blindness with an orphan.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:26 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I gotta vote in on the fight in the trailor in Kill Bill2, though both KB's are packed with good original fights
posted by Redhush at 7:54 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Redhush at 7:54 PM on January 19, 2011
Slap*Happy, there's just a bit more to it than that, though you're not all that far off. On the other hand, the final fight between Zatoichi and the, what, ronin with the sick wife
SPOILER
is pretty snazzy when you see the ronin see the fight before it happens, and he is supremely confident, until Zatoichi changes his grip on his sword, and the confidence completely evaporates, followed by blood, fountains and fountains of CG blood (worst thing about the film).
End SPOILER
posted by Ghidorah at 8:18 PM on January 19, 2011
SPOILER
is pretty snazzy when you see the ronin see the fight before it happens, and he is supremely confident, until Zatoichi changes his grip on his sword, and the confidence completely evaporates, followed by blood, fountains and fountains of CG blood (worst thing about the film).
End SPOILER
posted by Ghidorah at 8:18 PM on January 19, 2011
Bruce Lee has some fantastic fights in Fist of Fury, including taking on a whole dojo with a nunchaku.
The movie Sword of Doom starts with a deadly serious bokken duel and ends with a fight against impossible odds. The youtube clips for this one aren't very good and it's quite worth it to watch the whole thing. If you must, the first few minutes of this clip contains one of the early fights, as well as Moonlight Sanata for some damn reason.
Kill Bill has to be on my list. My two favorites are the showdown at the House of Blue Leaves and the fight in the trailer. The first is a sprawling epic sword fight, while the second is its exact opposite in the form of a cramped dirty sword duel.
Hard Boiled is part of the Hong Kong shoot em-up genre, and it's a matter of personal taste whether that belongs with a martial arts list. The fights in the tea house and the hospital are some of the best of this style of gunplay ever filmed.
Kind of an oddball choice for number 5, but I've always had a soft spot for the fight from The Manchurian Candidate. It's not a technically sophisticated fight like most of the others, but Frank Sinatra totally sells it.
posted by CheshireCat at 8:52 PM on January 19, 2011
The movie Sword of Doom starts with a deadly serious bokken duel and ends with a fight against impossible odds. The youtube clips for this one aren't very good and it's quite worth it to watch the whole thing. If you must, the first few minutes of this clip contains one of the early fights, as well as Moonlight Sanata for some damn reason.
Kill Bill has to be on my list. My two favorites are the showdown at the House of Blue Leaves and the fight in the trailer. The first is a sprawling epic sword fight, while the second is its exact opposite in the form of a cramped dirty sword duel.
Hard Boiled is part of the Hong Kong shoot em-up genre, and it's a matter of personal taste whether that belongs with a martial arts list. The fights in the tea house and the hospital are some of the best of this style of gunplay ever filmed.
Kind of an oddball choice for number 5, but I've always had a soft spot for the fight from The Manchurian Candidate. It's not a technically sophisticated fight like most of the others, but Frank Sinatra totally sells it.
posted by CheshireCat at 8:52 PM on January 19, 2011
Not to mention the fight with the crazy 88 in the first Kill Bill
posted by Redhush at 8:55 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Redhush at 8:55 PM on January 19, 2011
I like the ending fight in Twilight Samurai, though I guess there's more talking than fighting. It starts here.
posted by people? I ain't people! at 12:41 AM on January 20, 2011
posted by people? I ain't people! at 12:41 AM on January 20, 2011
So many good suggestions here but I'd like to add my two penn'orth...
The fight between Jackie Chan and Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez in Wheels on Meals is a particular favourite of mine.
posted by itsjustanalias at 3:51 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
The fight between Jackie Chan and Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez in Wheels on Meals is a particular favourite of mine.
posted by itsjustanalias at 3:51 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Jet Li vs Jet Li in The One. Choreography is good, and he's using a different style for each character.
posted by talldean at 1:58 PM on January 20, 2011
posted by talldean at 1:58 PM on January 20, 2011
In the interest of pushing the boundries of inappropriateness: Spongebob!
posted by Redhush at 4:59 AM on January 21, 2011
posted by Redhush at 4:59 AM on January 21, 2011
Thanks to this thread for introducing me to Ip Man.
In gratitude, I give you this parody.
posted by zippy at 10:48 AM on January 22, 2011
In gratitude, I give you this parody.
posted by zippy at 10:48 AM on January 22, 2011
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"When my time comes, I won't even know it. I'll be too busy lookin' good."
Hell yeah.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:50 PM on January 18, 2011