Film Junk Poll: What is the Best Martial Arts Movie?
In honour of Ninja Assassin, this week’s poll is a battle royale between some of the best martial arts masterpieces of all time. I am by no means an expert in the genre, but I think I’ve got a lot of the classics covered as options (and it just so happens that I’ve actually seen most of them). Of course, feel free to berate me for overlooking various other kung fu flicks, as there are certainly plenty more to choose from. Cast a vote for your favourite martial arts movie, and then tell us why you picked it in the comments below!
Comments (34)
Seven Samurai? Good film but I’m going for a nostalgia pick here – and Bruce Lee’s wooden acting – Enter the Dragon.
Bullshit Mr Handman!
Posted by el1sdf on November 27th, 2009Seven Samurai isn’t really a martial arts movie, not in the accepted sense. It predates the accepted beginnings of the martial arts film era. It’ll come down to between ETD and CTHD but it should be ETD because it really set the mold for all films to follow.
Posted by Maopheus on November 27th, 2009I think Sean deliberately omitted my favorite: Hero. Sean, you have offended my family and you have offended Shaolin Temple. Ha ha.
I like Hero because in the end, the hero sacrifices himself for what he believes to be the greater good, forcing us to look at the villain under a different light.
It’s too bad Bruce Lee never lived to infuse martial arts movies with a philosophical angle.
Posted by Reed Farrington on November 27th, 2009ETD for me too; when it came out it rewrote the book on what a martial arts film should be.
Posted by Paul Andrews on November 27th, 2009WHERE THE FUCK IS BLOODSPORT!?!
Posted by aspioaokassodsøkasdkøl on November 27th, 2009I’m with Reed. Hero should definitely be on the list. Yeah the story’s cool and the fight between Jet Li and Donnie Yen is AMAZING…but it’s such a technically great film as well. Zhang Yimou’s cinematography and use of colour makes it total eye-candy on many levels.
Posted by Bryronic on November 27th, 2009Hero shmeero, Enter the Dragon is a real martial arts movie. There hasn’t been a fun flick out of China since Hong Kong was given back to the communists.
Posted by Mrespony on November 27th, 2009For the record, both Hero and Bloodsport made my short list along with Magnificent Butcher, Shaolin Master Killer and Shaolin Soccer!
Posted by Sean on November 27th, 2009The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Martial Arts Masterpiece, hands down.
Posted by Primal on November 27th, 2009Redbelt
Posted by Jon S. on November 27th, 2009I agree with Primal, 36th Chamber of Shaolin should be on the list and nearing the top of it. Also 7th Samurai is more of a chambara/samuri picture, totally different that the usual martial arts type deal, but maybe that is splitting hairs in a broad poll like this.
I’m also very much impartial to COME DRINK WITH ME and A Touch of Zen are classics of the genre, both of which CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON riffs/steals/homages/embelishes upon.
Posted by kurt on November 27th, 2009(AND RED BELT RULES). Most underrated film of the past couple years.
Posted by kurt on November 27th, 2009(Oops, that is SEVEN SAMURAI two posts above, not 7th Samurai!)
Posted by kurt on November 27th, 2009I don’t really think of Seven Samurai as a martial arts film, so I’ll go with Enter the Dragon, which is awesome!
I did not find Ninja Assassin all that good, I’d rather just go back and watch one of the old 80’s ninja movies. However it was great to see Sho Kosugi again! Loved that guy when I was a kid!
Posted by KeithTalent on November 27th, 2009I realize the poll can only be so long, but how about a couple of Jet Li’s older flicks???
-Once Upon a Time in China
-The Bodyguard from Beijing
-My Father is a Hero
These are EXCELLENT films that could easily be listed in the poll.
Posted by Daemon on November 27th, 2009doh… The post asks for your favorite film, while the poll asks for best film. I voted for the wrong film.
Posted by Colleeny on November 27th, 2009What about “Yip Man”? Donnie Yen was amazing!
agree with kurt: Redbelt – very underrated!
Posted by wagu on November 27th, 2009yeah, seven samurai should not be a martial arts film. it’s my favorite in the list, but i didn’t vote for it since it’s more of just “action” or “samurai movie”
Posted by joe on November 27th, 2009Bloodsport REALLY is missing, Sean. Best martial arts movie ever, hands down! Bolo as Chong Li, man, BOLO!!! Ultimate badass!
Posted by Kasper on November 27th, 2009Ahum dear webmaster.. The list is not complete?? BLOODSPORT is nr. 1.
Posted by MGL on November 28th, 2009Kung Pow: Enter The Fist!
Posted by Tommy on November 28th, 2009I like Game of Death quite a bit, but I understand why you would not put it on the poll after you chose the picture!
Posted by Henrik on November 28th, 2009When many people ask for a movie on the poll that isn’t there, why don’t you guys put it there?
Posted by asdsad on November 28th, 2009Ditto to #5. Blood Sport should absolutely be on this list. kumite! kumite!
Posted by Andrew on November 28th, 2009Awesome Kurt, it’s one of those movies I wish more people have seen more.
I’ve noticed that the FJ crew isn’t the greatest place for your Martial arts films fix. Sure we’ll hear them talk about Enter the Dragon because it’s out on BD, talk shit about the terrible acting/story of Tony Jaa’s films rather than the fighting, or even talk about Jackie Chan from time to time, but I’m guessing they just aren’t into the genre much. So let’s help them out.
I kinda agree with all the guys here on saying that Seven Samurai shouldn’t be on the poll, but it doesn’t matter. I like the movie for its story and technical merits and seeing a classic on the list isn’t so bad.
Also agree that Bloodsport should get recognition despite some of the things that date it like playing KARATE CHAMP or even the soundtrack. In a way it was META because there was no UFC-type organizations at the time in popular culture. Personally, I love the soundtrack though.
I’m sure many of the same people who liked Bloodsport would like BEST OF THE BEST. Pop it Tommy, pop it!!! Let’s throw in The Karate Kid for nostalgia.
Others films I’d like to throw out there
Posted by Primal on November 28th, 2009-Master of the Flying Guillotine
-Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms
-Once Upon a Time in China 2
-IP Man/Yip Man
-Shaolin Temple
-Shaolin and Wutang
-Prodigal Son
-Executioners from Shaolin
-Mystery Of Chessboxin
“-IP Man/Yip Man”
Is this a sequel to Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey?
Posted by Henrik on November 29th, 2009Sounds like a lot of you like the old sh*t. Personally, Come Drink With Me doesn’t do it for me. Nor do the Once Upon a Time in China films with Jet Li. Watching the formalized forms of martial arts does not make a film for me.
Primal, for you, it sounds like what it takes for a martial arts film to be good is for the film to simply have “good” martial arts. I like martial arts films that have “emotional” content.
I’d love to hear what some of you guys think of the movies that I review for Killer Imports. Or do you guys think “good” martial arts films don’t get made anymore (with the exception of “Ip Man”)?
Posted by Reed Farrington on November 29th, 2009Give us your top 10 martial arts films Reed!
Posted by Sean on November 29th, 2009lol Henrik, if only.
Reed, I didn’t want to name any films with a lot of “emotional” content like Hero, but thats been mentioned already by you.
There was this article written by Kurt on RowThree about MA films achieving porn status. In terms of many MA films coming out now, all everyone cares about are the fight scenes, so that is what is being made. It’s crazy how forgiving people are when the fighting is good which I am a victim of. I really enjoyed Ong-Bak 2 and its storytelling and emo content is pretty bad, but I thought the film was awesome.
Well the ones I’ve mentioned are “good” as you say, but I can also mention bad MA films that I enjoy too
Posted by Primal on November 29th, 2009Reed…
I think there should be a seperation.
Let’s take for example Enter the Dragon and Hero.
Technically they can both be called martial arts films…
But more precisely Hero is a swordplay/wuxia film, along with Come Drink with Me, A Touch of Zen and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon with have also been mentioned here.
Swordplay/wuxia films are based on tradition of story, characters and moral code that go back for centuries.
A martial arts film like Enter the Dragon exists to watch people kicking the crap out of each other. To watch great practitioners of the arts pull of amazing feats of movement and power.
I love both kind of films. There are some people who only like the “real stuff” and dislike wirework and wuxia. I think they’re fucking idiots.
Posted by TheAllKnowingGod on November 30th, 2009People are forgiving towards martial arts films in terms of story because they offer something you can’t see anywhere else.
There are millions of “actors” out there. But there’s only one Jackie Chan. And I’ll take Jackie going this thing (in his prime) over 99% of serious acting.
Posted by TheAllKnowingGod on November 30th, 2009I am not sure I would classify Seven Samurai as a martial arts movie just because it’s set in Japan.
As brilliant as it is, it’s just not fantastical enough to qualify, unlike Crouching Tiger where enlightened beings can almost fly.
This list is way too short to not be more specific. Not even Once Upon A Time in China? Enter The Dragon over Fist Of Fury? Is this an American thing?
Posted by Big Al on November 30th, 2009Where is everyone getting his or her definition of martial art film from? I thought Seven Samurai was a strange entry as well, but I see it is referred to as a martial arts film elsewhere on the Internet. Yeah, I know, you’re all thinking that all those other sites are wrong as well. Well, if Sean wants to call it a martial arts film, then so be it. I think it certainly qualifies.
I’m not sure if I need to address the questions that arise on every poll about how come such and such a film isn’t on the poll. I think it’s obvious that on a planet with a population of nearly 7 billion that it’s kind of hard to narrow down 10 choices that everyone will be happy with. I think the purpose of the poll is to provide a quick way to see how some popular films fare against each other according to Film Junk readers. I’m surprised that each of the films that Sean selected has at least a portion of the vote.
Despite what I said in the last paragraph, I do find it interesting when people indicate in the comments some of their favorites that are not in the poll. Based on kurt’s recommendation, I’ll have to check out Red Belt.
BTW, looks like the pictured film is going to win the poll again. I think Sean subconsciously knows which film will win.
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 1st, 2009I kinda agree with all the guys here on saying that Seven Samurai shouldn’t be on the poll, but it doesn’t matter. I like the movie for its story and technical merits and seeing a classic on the list isn’t so bad.
Posted by Ermo on January 4th, 2010Leave a Reply