What is your favorate martial arts film and why? And what is your opinion on some of the Japanese films like "The Seven Samurai" or classic Samurai films? We will also be reviewing current martial releases and want to know you opinions too.

I turned Sensei's Scott Kelly, Scott Hager, and Tom Wilder on to "The Challenge", with Scott Glenn and Toshiro Mifune for the first time today. I had not watched it in several years. It is OK as a movie, and the waza is passable (Steve Seagal was the technical advisor, before he became FAMOUS).

It was one of the first movies that I saw where I could recognize Aikido waza being used. It has a nice "big fight finale", but gets a little stretchy for the brain cells when fledging Aikidoka Glenn becomes an overnight badass and swordsman. What da heck, it is Hollywood. It was the first time seeing the movie since we were in Osaka, and it brought back memories from wandering the streets there looking for the Seishin Kai Hombu.

So many to choose from.....hmm..I always quite liked the first two "Best of the Best"
films, primarily because of Philip Rhee's (playing Tommy Lee)speed and kicking ability.

Hi Christopher,

Well my favorite movies include:

Jet Li's "Tai Chi Master" for intense insane action, and Jet Li's "Fist of Legend" in which I believe he uses unique responses against every attack in the film.

Regarding the Seven Samauri, it is an unquestionable masterpiece. I belive it shows a more honest view of actual sword combat for most participants, and it is an incredible study in strategy.

On the whole the Japanese often use incredible cinematography in their films. Photographing incredible beauty.

Among the Janpanese efforts of renown, the entire Lone Wolf and Cub series and versions.

But the list is so incredible.

How about starting with that incredible American Martial Artist, James Cagney in his very early "Blood on the Sun", where he uses his Judo training (and a big assist from the Neisei community in the camps) to create the earliest martial masterpiece.

Then for sheer fun why not Jackie Chan's series of movies, or Bruce Lee's movies. Or why not the entire series of kung fu flics with a lot of popcorn too.

I'm a big MA movie fan.

Keep those ninja and chops flying!

Victor Smith

Allright I'm going to go a little old school here but for my money nothing could touch

"Kill or Be Killed"
and
"Kill and Kill Again"

Starring south african martial artist
James Ryan

The absolute worst acting of any martial arts film(except maybe No Surrender, No Retreat or whatever), but great hard core karate fights. Also its based in a perfect world where even the mailman knows karate.

All for now!

Scott

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kempoman:
Allright I'm going to go a little old school here but for my money nothing could touch

"Kill or Be Killed"
and
"Kill and Kill Again"

Starring south african martial artist
James Ryan

The absolute worst acting of any martial arts film(except maybe No Surrender, No Retreat or whatever), but great hard core karate fights. Also its based in a perfect world where even the mailman knows karate.

All for now!

Scott[/QUOTE]

Just seen Rush Hour 2 with Jackie Chan. Some great action and also it is hilarious, well worth the price of admission.

Let's see-
"Fist of Legend" w/Jet Li. Great film, I especially like the way Li switches styles throughout the film.

"Legend of Drunken Master" (originally Drunken Master 2) w/Jackie Chan. Good fight scenes, funny stuff- Chan in his prime.

"Rapid Fire" w/Brandon Lee. The boy knew his stuff, some great fights.

Of course, I love just about any older HK kung fu film- more for the unintentional humor then the fights.

Can't stand the American Kickboxing movies (Chuck Norris is/was a great fighter, but made lame movies).

That's just my 2 cents.

With the acceptance of Crouching Tiger as a quality "kung fu film", the doors are soon to be opened wide to an enormous influx of Hong Kong features with quality in the action performance that hopefully will put to rest the horrible and laughable "chop socky" films from the '70's. Just saw Iron Monkey this weekend and although it was filmed in 1993, the action and fighting sequences, better than Crouching Tiger, are great and although subtitled, was translated very well and with a great sense of humor. Very funny dialogue.Go see it!
George Yanase

My vote is for "Five Deadly Venoms" Chaing Sheng, Lu Feng, Wei Pai, Sun Shein, Lo Meng, and Kuo Chui.

Each an expert in his own leathal combat style: The Centipede, The Sanke, The Scorpion, The Lizard and The Toad.

This is one of my all time favorite kung fu flicks.

Oh, man. My brothers, you have all been deprived, it seems to me. Akira Kurosawa was by far the finest director of eastern films, but his work was not and should not be categorized in with Martial Arts films. 3 very good martial arts films are: Last Hurrah for Chivalry with Damian Lau, Shaolin Kids with Jet Li, and Master Killer with Gordon Liu (or Enter the 36 Chambers). These are films which are hot on action, drama, and less on fluff like the horrible story we'd all like to forget (Crouching....)