warlike arts movies have been a mainstay of cinema since at least the mid-1970s . All the creative thinker - blow choreographed action and high - flying stunts are sure the main reason people have total to enjoy them , but it ’s not the only one . The truly memorable ones are full of history , humor , oddball characters , and , specially in old films , the hilariously cheap dubbed dialogue . It all summate up to a pic niche that often makes for the perfect piece of music of Sunday afternoon amusement . So if you ever discover yourself in the mood for some truehearted and furious martial artwork mayhem , consult this lean for some most iconic masterpieces the genre has to extend .
10. Ong-Bak (2003)
Thai martial prowess guru Tony Jaa ’s phenomenal skills are nothing curt of striking inOng - Bak , which would probably be a fairly forgettable motion picture if it were n’t for all the jaw - dropping action at law episode . In taking on the Thai underworld to retrieve a slip statue foreland , Jaa show a busload of imaginative charge and devastating elbow / knee combo , all without using any of the wires or pulleys commonly engage for many Chinese martial artistic creation moving picture . If anything , you should see this flick for no other ground than theStreet Fighter - suitable flaming spin kick he deliver to finish off one of the unnumerable hood he dispatches .
9. Drunken Master (1978)
This picture is largely considered to be the vehicle that launched Jackie Chan ’s vocation . After the Golden Harvest production studio total to the decision that they did n’t wantJackie Chanto be market as the next Bruce Lee , they engage theater director Yuen Woo - ping to create the first - ever film portray the fabled drunken kung fu fighting elan .
It was Yuen Woo - ping ’s father , Yuen Xiao - tian who in the beginning taught Jackie the art of sottish fisticuffs , and he also encounter the role of the homeless beggar turned teacher in the movie . uncalled-for to say , there ’s enough slapstick clowning in this kung fu flip to break your funny ivory .
8. Bloodsport (1988)
Many people who have seen this gem from the ’ 80s probably are n’t aware that Frank Dux — the case play byJean Claude Van Damme — is a real - life person .
Bloodsportis all about a mystic cloak-and-dagger soldierly fine art tournament known as the Kumite . Only the world ’s most lethal fighters can compete in it , and match are permitted to be play out to the destruction . Action picture show raw sienna everywhere will tell you its one of the greatest film of all time , not least of all for stellar performances from Van Damme and peck popping Bolo Yeung . But , according to Wikipedia , the accuracy of many of the actual - life Dux ’s title have been widely quarrel , including his martial arts background , fighting in the “ Kumite , ” and anterior military table service . TheLos Angeles Timesalso discovered that the establishment that allegedly staged the Kumite was found to have the same address as Dux ’s house . And to top it all off the trophy he claims to have won for his victory was purchase by him at a local trophy computer storage .
7. Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
Now a renowned cult classic , Five Deadly Venomsis the archetype we all envision when we think of those cheesy , nickname kung fu pic occupy with lash - snap reasoned effects and laughable dialog . But if you ever see the picture show in its aboriginal Mandarin speech communication , you ’ll probably find that , in addition to the superb fight choreography , it ’s also got a swell story with all sorts of interesting characters and secret plan turn .
6. Ip Man (2008)
Supposedly a film based on the life story of one of Bruce Lee ’s fabled wing Chun teachers , Ip Manfollows the news report of an one and only martial creative person who was living as a teacher during World War II . To say that Ip Man ’s kung fu is strong would be the understatement of a lifetime . You ca n’t even put into word just how badly he destroys everyone who challenges him in this movie , without so much as breaking a sweat . Even after his body has been severely weaken from malnutrition , Ip Man still manages to take out 10 seasoned scrapper as if they were a bunch of frail - corporate guests on theAntiques Roadshow . But , in all sincerity , this movie has a lot of compelling , history - rich narration element to go along with devastating natural action .
5. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
This is one of the genuine genre classic . The thirty-sixth Chamber of Shaolintells the storey of a student whose parent are murdered by Manchu invaders . To take his retaliation , the student steels himself and undergoes transformative martial arts training inside the legendary Shaolin Temple . The motion picture became famous for its ‘ immortal ’ fight scene , where one man takes on an regular army of lance - wielding soldiers using only his bare hands and a few Chinese lantern . Fun fact , this is the movie referenced by the Wu - Tang Clan in the championship of their debut studio apartment albumEnter the Wu - Tang ( 36 Chambers ) .
4. Hero (2002)
Director Zhang Yimou spared no disbursement with the production ofHero . This beautiful tale of love and retaliation lead Jet Li and is ground on the chronicle of Jing Ke ’s blackwash endeavour on the King of Quin in 227 BC . At the time of its release , Herowas the most expensive Taiwanese movie ever made , and it certainly looks as though it was . In improver to the gorgeously choreographed fight vista , the costume and set design are of the highest caliber . Seriously , this movie looks so pretty you ’ll feel obligate not to blink while watch out .
3. The Raid: Redemption (2011)
AfterThe Raid : Redemptioncame out in 2011 , it was apparent that the bar for martial arts activity flick had been raised to a new point . Director Gareth Evans dishes out an adrenaline - fuel , extremist - violent shiver drive that all takes seat within the confines of a dilapidated apartment building controlled by a powerful offense lord .
There is n’t too much of a plot of ground to be found here . But the action is just so damn toothsome it does n’t count if it ’s lack in substance .
2. 13 Assassins (2010)
In13 Assassins , a pocket-sized bit of heroes must fight against impossible betting odds to free the people of the land from the clutches of a uncivilised ruler . The film is terrifically entertaining with great visuals , sound , and a noteworthy 45 - hour struggle chronological succession at the closing that ’s full howling swordplay and imaginative substance of killing people . But despite the fable - similar nature of the story , the picture never seems unbelievable , largely due to the first-class use of practical effects and merge CGI . Hollywood action directors should study this film and note the way it still manages to focus on the story amid all the intense fighting . If you ’re a fan of Akira Kurosawa movies likeThe Seven Samurai , you owe it to yourself to see this flick .
1. Enter The Dragon (1973)
Released only six day after Bruce Lee ’s release , figure the Dragonforever enshrined his reputation as the grandmaster of martial arts motion picture . put down the Dragonis seminal in every respect , marking the first time a major Hollywood studio - plump for a soldierly arts film and opening the room access to a world of Formosan movie theatre that had persist closed , to all but a few , for so long .
This is the flick that delimit martial art picture show for the whole of the Western world . It managed to bridge over the gap between Eastern and westerly picture palace , while at the same prison term bring up Bruce Lee to the pinnacle of global fame . The fact thatBruce Leedied only mean solar day before the picture show ’s loss imbued it with an almost supernatural factor . As if the hearing were witness a man at the absolute height of what a human being was open of reach . And if that sound just a tad la-di-da , it ’s all mighty , because few could make the argument that it is n’t true .
