Kung Fu Espresso!!

[mickey]

Greetings,

This thread is for those who occasionally need a pick me up, a recharging of the batteries, or a second wind.

Post up you favorite fight scenes. Don't forget to number them so that others can easily locate and get their fix.

I have to kick things off with The Pops and two other fantastic actor/choreographers:

1- Pedicab Driver (w/Sammo Hung)

www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B921DCD4CAF68AE4&playnext=1&v=OOEqFODP2wg

2- Drunken Master 2 (w/Jackie Chan)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=duTPLsgHzBs

(mods: If this takes off please make sticky)

[mickey]

3- From "They Live"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsZpdUUdd3I


4- The Streetfighter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvaoEmCozXY

[Jimbo]

mickey:
I can't go on youtube on my home computer; is the clip from They Live the one between Roddy Piper and the other guy in the alley? I remember that was a funny (and long) fight. They Live was a great film.

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

Yes it is.

There is some talk on the net about the scene being much longer than what it was. Some say that it was 15 minutes long.


mickey

[mickey]

5- Charles Bronson "Hard Times": Bronson vs Tessier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzhKHNgBAZ4

6- Charles Bronson "Hard Times" final fight scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_waMlYRs0&feature=fvw

[mickey]

7- Lion vs Lion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUH5BMLDPEg&playnext=1&list=PLF51683D9508410AF

8- Holy Robe of Shaolin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKX5ZIqQe3Q

9- Buddhist Fist (Lohan Chuan):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Lyzb7v16Y

[Jimbo]

Here's some, I'm not listing them in any particular order of favorites:

10 - Wheels on Meals (Jackie Chan vs. Benny "The Jet" Urquidez)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6eC-BAsVdQ

11 - The Prodigal Son (Yuen Biao vs. Frankie Chan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XkBxCEOGjQ&feature=related

12 - The Kid From Kwangtung

One of only(?) two movies that Hwang Jang-Lee appeared in at Shaw Brothers. This is the whole movie, but key fight scenes are at:

34:00 (Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Unicorn Chan & others)

53:30 (Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Yen Shi-Kwan)

104:40 (Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Kuan Hai-Shan, Yuen Tak, and Kuan Feng)

109:15 (Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Wang Yue & Chiang Chin)

114:45 (Training scenes: Yen Shi-Kwan & Wang Yue; Chiang Chin & Yeung Pan-Pan)

1:20:20 (Lead-up & end fight; Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Yen Shi-Kwan; Wang Yue, Chiang Chin & Yeung Pan-Pan vs. Hwang Jang-Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR_r3-DBAo0

13 - Flash Point (Donnie Yen vs. Collin Chou)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSv9EHXPd1c

[Jimbo]

Some more:

14 - Iron Angels (Moon Lee vs. Yukari Oshima)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fTZ73AU9tU

15 - Iron Angels 3 (these films show why Moon Lee was criminally underrated compared to the other female screen MA actresses)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_qgxCIR3o

16 - Legend of the 7 Monks (from 3:30 in, it's possibly the longest, tiring non-stop fight scene ever shot in one take).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bo9maukcSA

17 - Undisputed 3 (Scott Adkins vs. Marko Zaror)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENMTemjErjQ&feature=related

18 - Disciples of Shaolin (w/Fu Sheng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGD6ouM45jg

[Jimbo]

19 - Martial Club (Gordon Liu vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7bi9MsKMuw

20 - Rebellious Reign (Jimmy Lee, Kwon Young-Moon, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INBPEpGro18&feature=related

21 - The Victim (Leung Kar-Yan vs. Chang Yi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDRyljCDY94

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

Check links 10 and 12. They don't seem to be working.


mickey

[Jimbo]

mickey:
That's strange. During my break at work, those links were working, though I can't check on this computer. I'll have to check them on Tuesday. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Jimbo]

22 - The Magnificent Ruffians (Kuo Chui and Chiang Sheng vs. Lu Feng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAKyOq7RuzA&feature=related

23 - Warriors Two (Sammo Hung, Casanova Wong, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GITVliHf3lI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti1IpI6mfS4&feature=related

24 - Operation Scorpio (Kim Won-Jin; TKD vs. Silat {?})

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxZzZ0sod-w

If anymore links aren't working, I'll fix 'em. Had to do it the hard way...wrote them down & copied them, so mistakes are possible. :)

[Jimbo]

Fixed #'s 10, 12, and 16.

25 - Encounter of the Spooky Kind (Sammo Hung, "shen-da"-style fights)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeU54DzsYyU

26 - The Master Strikes (Casanova Wong, Ching Siu-Tung, & Meng Yuan-Wen vs. Yen Shi-Kuan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSei6myXOhk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5bs_oqrMhE&feature=related

[mickey]

27- Torn Curtain (Hitchc@ck)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzCY1J2DWiQ&feature=related


28-Shaolin vs Lama: Sung Yung Chi vs Chang Shan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJDp4eLcPlI


29- Shaolin vs Lama: Chang Shan vs Peng Kong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK6zC3Bs92U&feature=related


30- Seven Steps of Kung Fu:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8L_V1lwFbU&feature=related

[Jimbo]

31 - Eastern Condors (Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Yuen Wah, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNpXarIr74c


32 - Hand of Death ("Flashlegs" Tan Tao-Liang vs. James Tien)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKictnNWHIs


33 - The Outlaw Brothers (Yukari Oshima & Frankie Chan vs. Mark Houghton & Jeff Falcon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzCM6zSngkQ


34 - Thundering Mantis (Leung Kar-Yan vs. Eddie Ko)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynsuaBPDFvo


mickey:

Check number 28; it's coming up as number 27...

[Hebrew Hammer]

Hey Guys,
Doesn't look like you're getting a lot of response here but I'm enjoying quite a few of the links. And they are inspirational and entertaining.

[Lucas]

This is a cool thread! I'll contribute when I get a chance from home.

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

Thank you for the notice. I'll fix it when I get home.

mickey

[mickey]

35- Robotrix: A very unique cross genre film, sci fi/p@rn/martial arts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbd4sAxy8Ec


36- Close Escape Final Fight Scene (Yukari Oshima, Tai Wai)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fflvRG0Lr-k&feature=related


37- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Final Showdown (Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXldafIl5DQ


38- Once upon a Time in the West (Showdown) Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyvzfyqYm_s


39- Burning Ambition (one of the most intense fight scenes ever because it involves a family) Yukari Oshina, Hui Ying Hung...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhXs-YcDWj4&feature=related


40- Leg Fighters Final scene Tan Tao Liang, Peng Kang, Hsia Kuang Li

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHkqIcOHj1k

[Jimbo]

41 - Queen Boxer (w/Chia Ling, a.k.a., Judy Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrftumqoQFo


42 - Legend of a Fighter (Leung Kar-Yan vs. Yasuaki Kurata)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGGOQmoaYwA


43 - Fearless Hyena (Jackie Chan vs. Yen Shi-Kuan & his 3 henchmen {Peng Kang, etc.})

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFTZFrppXxI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3An8zf3-hPU&feature=related


44 - The Woman Avenger (Hsia Kuang-Li vs. Peng Kang)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HONZ6IzCT3Y


45 - The Lady is the Boss (Lau Kar-Leung & Gordon Liu vs. Wang Lung-Wei & Sun Chien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8OhVOBa7U


46 - Mr. Vampire (Lam Ching-Ying & Chin Siu-Ho vs. Yuen Wah)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8jSa3sTs9o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_nnVmz-Wtk


47 - Knockabout (Sammo Hung & Yuen Biao vs. Lau Kar-Wing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV3LRA29ptE


Hi, mickey:
I'm wondering if this thread might attract more participation if it was renamed, maybe to something like "Great Movie Fights!" or something like that. This is a fun thread.

[Jimbo]

48 - Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris (superkicker John Liu vs. Meng Yuan-Wen, Tino Wong, Dan Schwarz, and Roger Paschy in a collection of scenes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7WxPapoBNo


49 - Rob Roy (Liam Neeson vs. Tim Roth)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27M5KWI_q50


50 - Game of Death 2 (Tong Lung, a.k.a., Kim Tae-Chung vs. Casanova Wong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlV9pnvN-ms


51 - Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth (Bruce Li a.k.a. Ho Chung-Tao vs. Chiu Chi-Ling)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w7n7QKtQAk

[mickey]

52- Shaolin Plot (Final Fight)- Chen Sing, Casanova Wong, James Tien, Sammo Hung, .... (Side note: Chen Sing was one of the few actors who threw a back thrust kick in choreography. His kicking ability, in my opinion, was greatly underestimated).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgpd5hJQn2c


53-Tiger in a Cage 2- One of the more important films for Donnie Yen Fans. It is this film that introduces Donnie's use of the dramatic with his fight scenes. In doing so he introduces aspects to characters that dialogue alone does not justify. He introduces us to the warrior, the killer, the hero, the heartless, the sentimental and so on. And he achieves this through the silences and through the bearing of the characters: not at all out of line with Peking Opera. But Donnie achieves this famously and it is beautiful.

Donnie Yen vs Michael Woods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZGZUL_gruM&feature=related

Donnie Yen vs John Salvatti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEe52nPeevk

Donnie Yen vs Robin Shou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IoFABgJi9U&feature=related

[mickey]

A new name for this thread, Jimbo? I don't know.

The name "Kung Fu Espresso" came from an idea that never took root (much like this thread). In NYC there was once a store on 43rd Street between 8th and 9th avenues called "The 43rd Chamber." They sold kung fu movies almost exclusively. People went out of their way to provide them with stuff from their personal collections so they could sell to other collectors and patrons, as well as keep them in business. It had a good run until people started to get greedy. Well, there was always a group of people that was there almost all of the time, taking up space (it was a very small store). I suggested the idea of having a coffee shop that would show kung fu movies continuously. It would have premieres and retrospectives. This was before Starbucks hit the city. The guys did not have the heart to take the pearl I gave them and run with it. This thread is somewhat representative of what it could have been like had they listened.

mickey

[Jimbo]

Cool, mickey. I was not aware of the meaning this thread's title has for you. That sounds to me like you had a very cool idea.


54 - Drunken Tai Chi (Donnie Yen vs. Wong Tao & Yuen Hsin-Yi)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW6uI6IH4L8&feature=related


Donnie's first movie. Oddly enough, there's seems to be a lot of people who think of Donnie as a "new-school" star, when in reality he's a veteran old-schooler who's been making movies for nearly 30 years (Drunken Tai Chi dates from approximately 1983).

[PalmStriker]

#55:D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYdl9DX25Rc&feature=related

[mickey]

Welcome, Palmstriker.

You forgot to number your entry.

Jimbo,

You are most welcome to use my idea. Just break me off a chunk every now and then. Considering the spike in views since I posted that idea, somebody is really thinking about it.

mickey

[mickey]

56- Circle of Iron (David Carradine as Chang Sha)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EU2vOsvxTg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

57- Kill The Golden Goose (Ed Parker sets up a hit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEiDQAPBp_0

58- James Lew in 18 Fingers of Death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A1QfhiMQ0c

59- Jet Li in Lethal Weapon 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adnXzutxWcQ

[mickey]

60- By the Sword (Eric Roberts, F. Murray Abraham) This is a decent movie that slipped under the radar. the story is centered around the sport of fencing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCcFSsnp8OQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKqExGy_SlM&feature=related

[Jimbo]

A former colleague of mine, Heidi Runyan, was a fencing champion, and she was one of the extras in By The Sword, in the fencing academy scenes. Though I wasn't able to identify her in any of those shots.

61 - Dragons Forever (Jackie, Sammo, Yuen Biao, Billy Chow, Yuen Wah, & the Jackie/Benny "The Jet" rematch)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khWcczhXgKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYTvpcP2YJQ&feature=related


62 - The Odd Couple (Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Wing, & Leung Kar-Yan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO0YEVCHRqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaJfJVebGcU&feature=related

63 - My Young Auntie (Epic fights with Lau Kar-Leung, Hsiao Hou, Hui Ying-Hung, Wang Lung-Wei, Kwon Young-Moon, Tang Wei-Cheng, Yuen Tak, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1yJsyIRY1M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6C-5rsTAXE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTgyCmXlgc&feature=related

64 - Shaolin Martial Arts (training & final fight, w/Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Wang Lung-Wei, Leung Kar-Yan, Feng Ke-An and Chiang Tao)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aNNugw4JrE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiC2zMwzliM&feature=related

[Jimbo]

65 - Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin, actually doubled by Bong Soo Han)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRnra0KRnDk


66 - Marlowe (James Garner vs. Bruce Lee...well, not technically a "fight," but worth noting, nonetheless)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxfPxZhhkqc


67 - Yellow-Faced Tiger, a.k.a., Slaughter in San Francisco (Wong Tao vs Chuck Norris...not a great fight, but another curiosity piece; Wong Tao's first movie, and Norris's acting is more expressive here than in most of his own movies, even though the fight itself doesn't 'flow' very well. This movie was one of those 'guilty pleasures,' so awful it's fun to watch).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtbf8_oc9M0

[mickey]

68- The Sentimental Swordsman. Ti Ling starring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n7QdtCWnYA

69- Return of the Sentimental Swordsman. Ti Lung and Fu Sheng starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ0KCnOQ72A&feature=related

70- Evil Brain From Outer Space. Ken Itsui starring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiPNfCnxz2g&feature=related

71- That Man in Istanbul. Hort Bucholzz, Klaus Kinski starring. This was a really good spy movie from the 1960's. Very Hard to find.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hNjiXO3FVc&feature=related

72-Hercules Unchained. Steve Reeves starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDVLmiGtllk&feature=related

[mickey]

73- Superargo vs Diabolicus (Trailer) Ken Woods starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWYe0JkJdHk

74- Superargo and the Faceless Giants Ken Woods, Guy Madison starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xof1ehdUaTg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mKqjC82IqU

Entrees 73 and 74 form the source template for Enter the Dragon. I am the FIRST person to mention this. The ideas stolen from this two flicks include:

73 a-The opening fight scene

b- The Braithwaite discussion

c- The underground fight scene and imprisonment

74 a- Underground Prisoners Escaping and Fighting their way out

b- The overhead body lift used by Bolo

c - Bruce Lee Fighting a villain with an edged weapon

d- Jumping into a tree

e- Use of Kidnapping

These two movies are worth getting just to see the similarities. I did not list them all. One can see similarities to ETD with just the trailer to Superargo and Diabolicus. Once you have you will understand why Clouse and Weintraub did not have a significant hit after ETD.

[Jimbo]

75 - Return of the Tiger (Paul Smith vs. Chang Yi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz3mCatqhuw

Paul Smith is more remembered for his roles in Midnight Express, Popeye, Red Sonja, and Maverick (w/Mel Gibson & Jodie Foster). The main fight is actually between Smith and Ho Chung-Tao/Bruce Li, which comes right after this, but I couldn't find any clips on youtube that show that complete fight. My guess is that Smith's character was inspired by The Six Million Dollar Man and The Incredible Hulk TV series which were popular at the time, probably in Taiwan, too, where Return of the Tiger was filmed.

76 - The Loot (David Chiang & Hsu Shao-Chiang vs. Phillip Ko and Lily Li)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR8kLebvSf8


mickey, I can see the influences that #'s 73 and 74 had on ETD. Also, as has been mentioned many times, Dr. No is known to be a big influence as well.

But I really believe the reason Clouse/Weintraub never had another hit after ETD is because they kept trying to recapture the 'magic' of Bruce Lee, which was impossible. The reason that ETD was such a success was because of BL, not Clouse or Weintraub. After BL, it was the chemistry between the characters and dialogue. But replace BL with any other actor/performer, and it would have flopped. Supposedly, Clouse had directed an earlier film that impressed BL enough to want him as a director, but Clouse has shown himself to be very limited.

[Jimbo]

77 - Hell's Wind Staff (end fight; Meng Hai, Meng Yuan-Wen & Kwon Young-Moon vs. Hwang Jang Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbcb6q1Hf2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z0wK3kA1Ac&feature=related


78 - The Young Master

(Hwang In-Shik unleashed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PMhkUH8ARU


(Hwang In-Shik vs. Jackie Chan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8Cg0wxMyc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apMrwJPVq3o


Number 78, as well as Dragon Lord and a few other films, shows that Hwang In-Shik was far better than he was allowed to show in Way of the Dragon, where he was squashed by Chuck Norris and then by Bruce Lee. If BL's choreography had allowed Hwang to really show off his stuff, Hwang and BL could have potentially created one of the greatest fight scenes; almost certainly the best of BL's fight scenes.

[mickey]

79) Peking Opera

Mad Skills here: Beijing Opera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB-p3Fi_6i4

San Cha Kou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NH8w3kGaoc&feature=related


Beijing Opera: A Monkey King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VOCDFIW4xg&feature=related

[mickey]

80- Blade: Opening Scene, Wesley Snipes starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0mx0dBXkw4

81- This is the fighting movie that could have been. It is the Pepsi commercial with Beyonce, Pink and Britney Spears. Beyonce has the same weapons that the late Woody Strode had in Spartacus, a very beautiful homage to a great person and a great film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jkygJ_QNo

[mickey]

81- For a Few Dollars More, Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Clief, Gian Maria Volonte:

Final Duel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-rFT-uHm4w&playnext=1&list=PL0AB5994FEFA77974

Final Duel with Ensemble Concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xPxMAhMRfk&feature=related

[Jimbo]

82 - Lone Wolf & Cub (various scenes w/ Tomisaburo Wakayama)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_LmrcD938s


83 - Heroes Two (Fu Sheng, Chen Kuan-Tai, Lau Kar-Wing, Lee Hoi- San, Zhu Mu, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2TkNcz0oOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18JCHUhBRdg&feature=related


84 - Hapkido (demo scene, w/ Hwang In-Shik, Angela Mao, Sammo Hung, Ji Han-Jae, and Carter Wong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utFzMgOWQBE&feature=related

[Jimbo]

85 - Shaolin Temple (1982; Jet Li's four-season training sequence, filmed at Shaw Brothers Studios)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTIm8b9Rft8

[Jimbo]

86 - When Tae Kwon Do Strikes (Jhoon Rhee and Angela Mao vs. Hwang In-Shik)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQqE24wKIMg

When TKD Strikes was the only movie appearance of Jhoon Rhee, a well-known TKD pioneer in the U.S., who was often referred to as "The Father of TKD in America."

87 - The Association (Byong Yu vs. Hwang In-Shik)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4aZx4OcszI&feature=related

Byong Yu was a famous Tang Soo Do (or TKD?) teacher and tournament competitor in the U.S. in the 1970s; he competed against many well-known U.S. fighters of the time, like Joe Lewis, etc. He had many well-known students, including Donnie Williams and Jennifer Garner. This was also Byong Yu's only movie.

88 - Dragon Lord (Jackie Chan and Huo Hsing vs. Hwang In-Shik)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPTiyPF2iiE&feature=related

[mickey]

The following two have the same opening score:

89- My Kung fu 12 Kicks, Opening Credits (Bruce Liang, Ku Feng, starring)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXWeLAwoy4

90- Monkey Fist Floating Snake, Opening Credits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQp1-iIS0Bk

[Jimbo]

Number 91 has the same opening music; it's from the soundtrack of Day of Anger.

91 - The Invincible Armour (opening credits, w/ Hwang Jang Lee. Clip also includes John Liu, Lee Hoi-San and a young Yuen Biao)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q81p5a4893k

end fight: John Liu and Tino Wong vs. Hwang Jang Lee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg0YA5nb5kU&feature=related

[mickey]

And speaking of Day of Anger.


92- It was the inspiration to 7 Commandments of Kung fu (Chang Yi, JacK Long):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZw-kZZdaC8

[Jimbo]

93 - Sun Dragon (Final fight; Carl Scott & Billy Chong vs. Louis Neglia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh-JmxoFN3I


Carl Scott is a student of Kenpo legend Steve Sanders (Steve Muhammad), and he appeared in only a few movies. He was considered one of the better Western MA-ists to appear in Chinese films.

Louis Neglia was a kickboxing champion from the New York area, and Sun Dragon was his only(?) acting appearance in a movie.

Billy Chong, a.k.a., Willy Dozan, was one of the most physically-gifted and charismatic MA movie performers, but was himself in only a few movies in HK/Taiwan. He made many more in his native Indonesia and Malaysia.

Sun Dragon's story mainly takes place in Arizona, but only a couple of shots were done there, at the Grand Canyon. The vast majority was shot in Taiwan, doubling for Arizona, including this end fight. Sun Dragon was ultra low-budget, and had some of the worst (and weirdest) English dubbing ever, but was fun and the fights are mostly good.

[Jimbo]

94 - Lady Snowblood (trailer, w/ Meiko Kaji. This film was clearly the main inspiration for Kill Bill Vol. 1)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMlONL-BR2M

[mickey]

95- The Executioner, Sonny Chiba starring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDYW5DRZqdI&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99LQQhsLXWs&feature=related

[mickey]

96- Chinese Hercules, Chan Wai Man, Yang Sze. This movie was like a Chinese version of On the Waterfront.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssKWdeZV5s8&feature=related

97- The Quiet Man, John Wayne, Victor Mclaglen starring. A fun watch that never gets old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bm0RIs-VJU

[mickey]

98- Spartacus, Kirk Doulgas, Woody Strode starring. According to the autobiography by Woody Strode, "Goal Dust", the following fight scene was 15 minutes long and included empty hand fighting. Most of it, obviously, was cut. I do not know if they ever restored it. It would definitely be worth seeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5W8NpyYI0M&playnext=1&list=PL541AF117A0156346

[mickey]

99- The following were the inspiration to the outtakes the Jackie would use at the end of his movies. They are from Cannonball Run And Cannonball Run II:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ5QpdM3B30&feature=related

[mickey]

100- Ong Bak 3, Tony Jaa starring. I thing Tony Jaa was successful in portraying a spiritual transformation in the character he portrayed. I enjoyed the fight choreography:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Ulk-vLgO8

[Jimbo]

101 - Iron Angels 2 (Moon Lee vs. Yuen Tak)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAVuZryKzFc

[Jimbo]

102 - The Magnificent Butcher

(Kwan Tak-Hing vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEvn1ASYWgk&feature=related

(Sammo Hung vs. Feng Hark-On and Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmQP23RXU0&feature=related

(Sammo Hung vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yamrWfX6rY8&feature=related

[Jimbo]

103 - Yes Madam (end fight. Michelle Yeoh vs. Chung Fa; Cynthia Rothrock vs. D!ck Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz-4WIFhA6U&feature=related

One of Michelle Yeoh's first films (I believe it was her 2nd). Cynthia Rothrock's first, and probably best onscreen performance. I particularly liked how, although Michelle Yeoh wasn't a "traditionally-trained" MAist, that she had an onscreen intensity when she was young that made her performance particularly convincing.

[Jimbo]

104 - So Close (Vickie Zhao Wei and Karen Mok vs. Yasuaki Kurata)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBLq1ei8PsE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB0xBlTx2D4&feature=related


105 - The Iron-Fisted Monk (Sammo Hung, Chen Sing, Fung Hark-On, Dean Shek, etc., end fight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92qMtf9SOOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXk5vtB6I9Q&feature=related


106 - Marco Polo, a.k.a., The 4 Assassins (end fight, featuring Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Kuo Chui, Tang Yen-Tsan, Wang Lung-Wei, Leung Kar-Yan, Gordon Liu, and featuring Richard Harrison)

*fighting begins @ approx. 8:00*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgf12eWqMVo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxme47EOZXc&feature=related

[mickey]

107- The Master Strikes, End fight scene (Ti Lung, Chan Wai Man). This is considered by many to be Part II of the Kung Fu Instructor. What makes this scene so great is that is is performed by outstanding martial artists who happen to be great actors as well. The acting by Chan Wai Man is outstanding here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rl4_LuV9jw


108- Savate (aka The Fighter) Olivier Gruner. I don't know what happened to his MA movie career. He seemed to disappear just as people were finally learning how to pronounce his name. His second movie Nemesis, is essential viewing for Terminator fans as it fits in seamlessly with the Terminator saga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyy3wzTePzg


109- The Eagle Killer. end Fight (Hwang Jang Lee, John Chang) This flick almost totally ruined my interest in Chinese MA. Hwang Jang Lee played a villain who also happened to be ghay. His character established the terms of the student/teacher relationship when he tied Chang's character to the "bench" in the brothel. It totally freaked me out because it had me thinking that that was what all masters did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwrTViZZ9WA

[Jimbo]

mickey,
What I remember of The Eagle's Killer was that Hwang Jang Lee's villain played a very cruel trick on John Chang's character by putting him in that bad situation with some g@y kung fu bodybuilders(?). Not necessarily that Hwang's character was g@y himself. Anyway, that was my impression.

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

Up until that time Hwang's character never accepted the guy as his student. It was only after that time, at the end fight scene, that he called the guy his student.

mickey

[Jimbo]

110 - Duel of the Seven Tigers (opening credits: featuring Cliff Lok, Lee Koon-Hung, Chiu Chi-Ling, Chan Sau-Chung, Sin Lan-Yuk, Yang Pan-Pan, Han Ying-Chieh, and Phillip Ko)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzew-baftHQ


111 - The 7 Grandmasters (Jack Long vs. Corey Yuen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Iu0Ab3qzg

(end fight; Li Yi-Min vs. Alan Hsu (a.k.a., Hsu Chung-Hsin. Also featuring Jack Long)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKsMg0kcX8Y&feature=related

[Jimbo]

112 - The Boxer Rebellion (featuring Chi Kuan-Chun, Fu Sheng, Richard Harrison, Hu Chin, Wang Lung-Wei, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLDArzFbehE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ncpoce7viM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcmq3gw-Trk&feature=related

[wenshu]

113. Kiss of the Dragon: Jet Li vs. Cyril Raffaelli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3A8RAJD0NE)

[Jimbo]

Cool choices, wenshu!

I will mention that Rob Roy was #49 on this thread.

Kiss of the Dragon was one of Jet's best non-Chinese films, IMO.

[wenshu]

Thanks, fixed.

114. The Master, Jet Li (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSlJobPL4WI)

115. Born to Defence Jet vs Paulo Tocha (I think) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPumnV3cDEI)

Born to Defence Jet vs.Kurt Roland Petersson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l8zmYHipuk&feature=related)

116. Dance of the Drunk Mantis: Simon Yuen vs. Hwang Jang Lee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2UVGsIShgI)

Hwang Jang Lee vs. Yuen Shun-Yee (skip to 30:00 for final fight)
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjA2ODg3ODQ0.html

[wenshu]

117.Fist Of the White Lotus intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0YhUl0kdHo&feature=related)

Fist of the White Lotus: Gordon Liu vs. Lo Lieh fight # 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcJ9yxyKlaQ)

fight # 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y_ZJ60yrmk&feature=related)

118. Emperor of the North (trailer) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3QlXk8Ex4Q)
Posted for the epic final fight between Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin.

119. V for Vendetta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLqEWDo1VQk)

The only thing you and I have in common Mr. Cready, is we're both about to die.

How do you supposed that's gonna happen?

With my hands around your neck.

[mickey]

Greetings wenshu,

I was going to put up Emperor of The North a few weeks ago but could not find the epic fight scene. You, like jimbo, made some good choices.

mickey

[Jimbo]

120 - The Lama Avenger (end fight. Ho Chung-Tao -- a.k.a., Bruce Li -- and Chien Yueh-Sheng vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72oq8QZ_xbY


Also:
Edited # 111 (7 Grand Masters) to include the Jack Long vs. Corey Yuen weapons fight.

[wenshu]

121. The Bourne Ultimatum
Matt Damon vs Joey Anash in a little Jeff Imada Kali/JKD action (Seems I transposed Dan Insonato and Jeff Imada)
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4676294/bourne_ultimatum_jason_vs_desh_fight_scene/

122. The Hunted
Benicio Del Toro vs. Tommy Lee Jones more FMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1izw6ZsPSp0

123. Danny The Dog
Jet Li vs various.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKsequazoIc

Jet is not shy about using doubles in his movies, and it is rather obvious in this sequence. However 0:18-0:21 !!!!!!!!!!!

124. Snatch, Mickey (Brad Pitt) vs Gorgeous George (Adam Fogerty)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG_Nwp0wZc0

Mickey's final bout (kind of a crappy remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT_pS_4OO7E

Fixed all my retarded numbering and listed fight scenes from a single production under one listing.

[Jimbo]

Hi, wenshu.
For me personally, I am listing fights or other types of scenes from a single movie under that one entry. I believe mickey's been doing this from the beginning. IMO, it makes things easier to track.

As you see, in my last post, I decided to add another fight to a previously listed movie without adding another entry number. I still may decide to add some fight(s) to other previous entries that I've already listed. Often, the scene(s) I pick first are the ones that stand out (to me) most about the film, or the best I can find on it.

[mickey]

125- Bad Day at Black Rock. Spencer Tracey vs Ernest Borgnine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhUBH6gpXV8

126- Key Witness. Dennis Hopper, Jeffrey Hunter, Johnny Nash (I can see clearly now the rain has gone....). With this entry, go to about 14:00 for the lead in. The movie is a real gem. The director was innovative with his camera work. Scenes where one might catch the reflection of the camera in the window were addressed by removing the windows altogether. It is strange to see windowless cars in this flick. The film also starred the late Frankie Silvera as a cop (he is the guy leaving at the end). He is someone I believe was assassinated as a result of his involvement in the civil rights movement. His cause of death: "electrical accident".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDXfgsVBTPE

wenshu, I like to keep the fight scenes good. If the movie has only one good fight scene, that is all I am going with.

[Jimbo]

127 - Fist of Legend

(Yasuaki Kurata vs. Jet Li)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p2YmjZ6FRY&feature=related

(Jet Li & Chin Siu-Ho vs. Billy Chow)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w1NLFBHBRw

[Jimbo]

128 - Paper Marriage (Sammo Hung vs. Billy Chow)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdN1O2NRNSk

(end fight; Sammo Hung & Billy Chow vs. D!ck Wei; w/Maggie Cheung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocLM0maJLJQ&feature=related


129 - Kill Zone, a.k.a., Sha Po Lang (Donnie Yen vs. Wu Jing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZs48lJXhxM

(Donnie Yen vs. Sammo Hung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-zE2YFp7lU&feature=related

[Jimbo]

130 - Ninja in the Dragon's Den

(Hiroyuki Sanada vs. Conan Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYCXQ0ZIv1k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtKLK5Hf27Y&feature=related

(Hiroyuki Sanada & Conan Lee vs. Hwang Jang Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XlxbB9FO7k

[Jimbo]

131 - Tiger on Beat

(end fight; Chow Yun-Fat, Conan Lee, Gordon Liu, Hsu Shao-Chiang, end fight. W/ Nina Li Chi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrZuHwJRAxM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju0UG_lF_14&NR=1

[mickey]

132- Blood on The Sun. James Cagney, Jack Halloran. This fight scene holds up to the point where it looks contemporary, given the popularity of MMA. No stuntmen were involved. I think Jack Halloran was Cagney's real life Judo instructor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlejMy9zLdI

[Jimbo]

mickey,
Agreed on the Blood on the Sun fight. I had remembered this fight, but had forgotten the title of the film. It does still stand up today. I always thought that Sanshiro Sugata (a.k.a., Judo Saga), as good as it was, would have been much better if the judo scenes had been like this one.

[Jimbo]

133 - Lucky Stars Go Places (Andy Lau & Sammo Hung vs. Tetsuya Matsui)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMP9idvn-98

[Jimbo]

134 - Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (end fight; Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan & Yuen Biao vs. Yasuaki Kurata, Richard Norton & Chung Fa)

*Actual end fight begins @ approx. 8:55*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDsdl9GAaAo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL4RgDPYwiY&NR=1

[Jimbo]

135 - Last Hurrah for Chivalry (Damian Lau & Wei Pai vs. Chien Yueh-Sheng & Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhVYEKXr9xI&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTXIvAbgocA&NR=1

136 - 5 Element Ninjas (end fight; Cheng Tien-Chi, Wang Li, Chu Ko, etc., vs. Chan Wai-Man)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrvot3v6um4

137 - Heroes of the East (Gordon Liu vs. Yasuaki Kurata)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqJUrKV6Fa8

[Jimbo]

138 - My Father is a Hero (end fight; Jet Li and Xie Miao vs. Yu Rong-Guang, Ken Lo and Collin Chou)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSHBNfMkJ5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYiNp8seaLU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_oaL63VHzM

139 - Crystal Fist (starring Billy Chong)

(opening credits)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGx6LtpVc5k&feature=related

(end fight: Billy Chong vs. Chu Tieh-Ho)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyG5-ILuuLo

140 - Legendary Weapons of China (end fight; Lau Kar-Leung vs. Lau Kar-Wing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUFxO05P-14

[Jimbo]

141 - Two Fists Against the Law (end fight; Alan Hsu and ? vs. Hwang Jang-Lee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu27FforfDg&feature=related

[Jimbo]

142 - Winners and Sinners (end fight; Sammo Hung, D!ck Wei, Chan Lung, Chung Fa, James Tien, Charlie Chin, Fung Hark-On, Shan Kuai, Righard Ng).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HfeYUZhfoY


143 - Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (finale; Hwang Jang-Lee vs. Tino Wong & Eddie Ko).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nClr26EErbg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuP2n4hjGIo&NR=1


144 - Death Duel of Kung Fu

(John Liu vs. Chung Fa & ?).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL7oDsucA-8

(John Liu & Wong Tao vs. Han Ying).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCUCpgrwoaA&feature=related


Edit to add:
I have added the end fight to #128 (Paper Marriage). Filmed at the Edmonton Mall.

[Jimbo]

145 - Executioner From Shaolin (opening scene; Lo Lieh vs. Lee Hoi-San. Lo Lieh plays Pai Mei/Bak Mei, the white eyebrow priest, which would become one of his best roles).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41j8fDU97_Y

[Jimbo]

146 - Heart of Dragon (end fight; Jackie Chan vs. D!ck Wei, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCHCpGhgr5w


147 - My Lucky Stars (end fight; Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Wing, D!ck Wei, Sybelle Hu, Michiko Nishiwaki, Yuen Biao, Lam Ching-Ying, Charlie Chin, Richard Ng, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0UZ3h-Au0M&feature=related

[Jimbo]

148 - Mystery of Chess Boxing (Jack Long & Li Yi-Min vs. Mark Long, playing the original Ghost-Faced Killer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8JX6ce0DTU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYBFDQJPPwQ&NR=1


149 - Righting Wrongs

(Cynthia Rothrock vs. Karen Sheperd)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpM6eByMCfk

(Cynthia Rothrock & Yuen Biao vs. Melvin Wong).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytmWFtpt44U

[Jimbo]

150 - Struggle Through Death (end fight, w/John Liu)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VZSzppKSz4


151 - Dance of Death (starring Angela Mao)

(opening credits)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELQdtV3NSfw

(Angela Mao vs. Chia Kai, with Wang Tai-Lang & Hsu Bu-Liao)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS5q3Vmn0is


152 - Enter the Fat Dragon (starring Sammo Hung)

(opening credits)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIPHTAXBUo&feature=related

(end fight: Sammo Hung vs. Lee Hoi-San, Leung Kar-Yan, and ?) I always thought it weird that they chose to put Lee Hoi-San in blackface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR-GPbc-A9s

[Jimbo]

153 - Kung Fu Executioner (opening credits w/Billy Chong & Carl Scott)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yf49yxOlrA&feature=related


154 - The Man From Nowhere (final battle and knife fight; Won Bin vs. Thanayong Wongtrakul) WARNING: some offensive language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LooQRJcYI


155 - The Miracle Fighters (Yuen Yat-Chor vs. Yuen Shun-Yee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NASpVWHwP7o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VwKCnjv6So

[Jimbo]

156 - The Royal Warriors (a.k.a., In The Line of Duty). (Michelle Yeoh vs. Pai Ying. Co-starring Hiroyuki Sanada).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDjkj6KzpZ0

[Jimbo]

157 - No Retreat No Surrender (Jean-Claude Van Damme vs. Kurt McKinney, Pete "Sugarfoot" Cunningham. etc.) Also featuring Tong Lung, a.k.a., Kim Tae-Chung (Game of Death II) as "Bruce Lee's ghost."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LIp4ioPjOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9_kC8gGW78&feature=related

158 - No Retreat No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (Loren Avedon & Keith Vitali vs. Mark Russo & Rion Hunter)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVooqbXQZZ0

#157 was Van Damme's first U.S. film, and director Corey Yuen's first American movie. Mostly notable because, although Van Damme's best movie is JCVD, he was more entertaining here than in any of his later films. Plus the '80s cheesiness of the whole thing. Ditto on the '80s cheesiness for #158.

They probably shouldn't have hired such a tall referee in #157. Van Damme is supposed to be a tank, but he and the other fighters are dwarfed next to the ref.

*On a side note, these were two of the movies made for the U.S. market by Hong Kong's Seasonal Film Corp., which also released movies like American Shaolin, No Retreat No Surrender II: Rolling Thunder, King of the Kickboxers, etc., none of which got a major theatrical release like #157. They were the earliest efforts to bring HK "new wave" martial arts action films to the American market. In Asia, many stars, including Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang-Lee, John Liu, Wong Tao, Hiroyuki Sanada, Conan Lee, etc., either got a career boost/increased exposure, or their starts, in Seasonal Films, like:
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
The Secret Rivals
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
etc., etc.

[Jimbo]

159 - A Book of Heroes

(end fight, featuring Laam Sam-Mei, Eugene Thomas, Yukari Oshima, Yasuaki Kurata, Elsa Yeung, David Tao Tai-Wai, David Wu Tai-Wai, etc., etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moKPqEF4okU&feature=related

(friendly "fight" between Yukari Oshima and Laam Sam-Mei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8sjWk5CEZk&feature=related

This was one of the better Taiwanese martial arts/comedies when it came out in 1986, and it still stands up today. IMO, Eugene Thomas was one of the all-time best Westerners in Asian action films; he has been vastly underrated.

*Note: The two guys (male lead in blue and the guy w/the glasses) showing off 'shapes' to each other, I seem to remember them as TV variety show hosts in Taiwan. This movie was the only time I remember them performing anything remotely MA-related.

[Jimbo]

160 - The Fighting King (opening credits & brief dojo scene; Yasuaki Kurate vs. Kane Kosugi. Kane is the son of Sho Kosugi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbwu9NTN99w

[Hebrew Hammer]

159 - A Book of Heroes

(end fight, featuring Laam Sam-Mei, Eugene Thomas, Yukari Oshima, Yasuaki Kurata, Elsa Yeung, David Tao Tai-Wai, David Wu Tai-Wai, etc., etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moKPqEF4okU&feature=related

(friendly "fight" between Yukari Oshima and Laam Sam-Mei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8sjWk5CEZk&feature=related

This was one of the better Taiwanese martial arts/comedies when it came out in 1986, and it still stands up today. IMO, Eugene Thomas was one of the all-time best Westerners in Asian action films; he has been vastly underrated.

*Note: The two guys (male lead in blue and the guy w/the glasses) showing off 'shapes' to each other, I seem to remember them as TV variety show hosts in Taiwan. This movie was the only time I remember them performing anything remotely MA-related.

The Book Of Heroes clip was awesome and quite hilarious. Nice find.

[SimonM]

161 Hope this hasn't already been posted - Twin Warriors - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4kB6KVXWHY

[Jimbo]

The Book Of Heroes clip was awesome and quite hilarious. Nice find.

Glad you liked it, Hebrew Hammer.

162 - Mad Monkey Kung Fu

(training scene; Lau Kar-Leung teaching Hsiao Hou)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eZnQhEyTh0

(end fight; Hsiao Hou & Lau Kar-Leung vs. Lo Lieh)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZw0Mgd7Dps

*edit to add:
Added the link to #162's training scene.

[Jimbo]

163 - Dirty Ho (okay, no jokes about the title, please) :p

(end fight; Gordon Liu and Wang Yue vs. Lo Lieh & co.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33u6ZZz7cJE

[Jimbo]

164 - Dreadnaught (end fight; Kwan Tak-Hing vs. Phillip Ko; Yuen Biao vs. Yuen Shun-Yee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82_iUNBDQng

165 - 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (end fight; w/Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Wang Lung-Wei, Chu Tieh-Ho, Phillip Ko, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRviomGhXUQ

[Jimbo]

166 - The Treasure Hunters (large-scale fights; Gordon Liu, Fu Sheng, Chang Chan-Peng & co. vs. Wang Lung-Wei & Yang Ching-Ching)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMXYuy5rmz8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPY-AV15tio&NR=1

Chang Chan-Peng is Fu Sheng's younger brother, who appeared in only a few movies, prior to Fu Sheng's passing. This was Chan-Peng's first movie, and Fu Sheng's comeback film after suffering serious injuries on the set of The Deadly Breaking Sword about 2 years previous.

[Jimbo]

167 - The Spiritual Boxer (1975). Opening scenes.

Though it actually stars Wang Yue, the opening scenes feature Chen Kuan-Tai and Ti Lung as trainees in "shen da." If memory serves me correctly, this is the only time CKT or TL appear in the movie. The Spiritual Boxer, and Spiritual Boxer Part II, are among the rarest of director Lau Kar-Leung's films. This movie (part 1) was Lau's first full credit as a director, after he split from Chang Cheh, under whom Lau (together with Tang Chia) had worked as martial arts choreographer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX7dhqIKx_k

[Jimbo]

168 - Showdown at the Cotton Mill

(end fight. Chi Kuan-Chun vs. Tan Tao-Liang)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SUpLPnyYuo&feature=related

[Jimbo]

169 - Opium & the Kung Fu Master

(End fight; Ti Lung vs. Chen Kuan-Tai, Phillip Ko, & Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjQssGNU9E0

170 - Shaolin Intruders

(End fight; Derek Yee vs. Phillip Ko)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flv7FMysBMU

[Jimbo]

171 - Fearless Young Boxer (alt. title: Method Man)

(End fight in the barn: Peter Chang vs. Casanova Wong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfxnnoMIpUg

[Jimbo]

172 - Shaolin Prince

(end fight; Ti Lung & Derek Yee vs. Pai Piao)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBPmeefDIEc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuYcaAL25g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkNH8wifTSs&feature=related

IMO, the wirework and other pre-CGI effects and props of these old-school movies far outstrips those in the recent Chinese movies like Crouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers, etc. The more complex choreography only added to the difficulty factor. The skill of the performers and the clear cinematography are almost a lost art in MA films nowadays.

[Jimbo]

173 - The Gang Master

(End fight; Austin Wai & Bruce Leung vs. Pai Piao. Also featuring Chen Kuan-Tai & Ku Feng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBLblXH7CgU

Bruce Leung was at one time the youngest stuntman in HK in the 1960s; he made numerous movies over the decades, and is still active in films today, most familiar to Westerners as the villain in Kung Fu Hustle. Austin Wai is the brother of Kara Hui.

[mickey]

Jimbo,

The honor of the 100th post belonged to you. I had a sense you were waiting. You have contributed so much to this thread.,,,,it really belongs to you, now. If I am to contribute anything, it had BETTER be good. So, here it goes:

174- Carlos Saura's "Carmen" 1983, Tobacco Factory Fight

The violent current of energy flowing in this scene is what is missing from so many of the fighting movies today. The women are totally bringing it through posture, step, and rhythm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6D12QttFXk

Here is one without subtitles but with much better sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-csly3dWYTU


mickey

[Jimbo]

Hey thanks, mickey. Glad to have you back!

I'm not sure I'm worthy. :) Like you and others, I just like to share some favorite scenes from movies I've liked over the years, if I can find them on youtube. Some of these films I hadn't seen in decades. Several of the ones posted have since been removed from youtube, which is esp. unfortunate, since many are rare and exceedingly hard to find.

I agree about the mood of violence in the Carmen clip. It's clear that the dancers have been very well-trained to convey the emotions/intent of their characters to the audience/camera.

175 - The Dragon the Hero (a.k.a., Dragon on Fire)

(John Liu & Tino Wong vs. Phillip Ko. Phillip Ko playing an over-the-top villain who can 'absorb' other fighters' kung fu by merely watching them, thus his constant style-switching, including a form of Shen Da. IMO, this was by far the best movie to be directed by schlockmeister "Godfrey Ho," most of whose movies are far more schlocky than this. Which probably had to do with John Liu's presence in it, and making it worth his time/travel, since at that time Liu lived in Paris)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUX_dKHfbLQ

[Jimbo]

176 - The Protector (Jackie Chan, 1985)

This movie was the fourth effort to bring JC to the U.S. market. Directed by James Glickenhaus, who was a terrible director for JC. It was so bad that JC re-edited and re-shot (or added) some scenes for its release in Asian countries. This clip is the HK reshot version of the end fight, which is vastly better than the original U.S. version. Some of the changes were subtle, others very obvious. The lighting is darker, the angles are better, and the pace is faster and smoother. JC supposedly did this and other reshoots without Glickenhaus's consent, but JC clearly knew FAR more about movies in general and fight scenes in particular than Glickenhaus did.

(Jackie Chan vs. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. Also featuring Roy Chiao. Although Bill Wallace's style of movement still did not mesh very well onscreen with JC, this was as good as the scene was going to get)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD1E71Rql7g&feature=related

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

Thank you fo rthe greeting.

I am actually going through a serious shift. I am letting go of those things that no longer serve me. I have watched KFM forums from afar and saw how it was/is deteriorating. Participation here will be lessened considerably. I no longer have an interest in MA mags either. Same old sh!t. I' will probably be getting a subscription to KFM just to minimize cost. I am hoping that somewhere down the line I don't stop in my tracks and say, "What in the f@ck did I just do?"

Take good care,


mickey

[Jimbo]

Hi Jimbo,

Thank you fo rthe greeting.

I am actually going through a serious shift. I am letting go of those things that no longer serve me. I have watched KFM forums from afar and saw how it was/is deteriorating. Participation here will be lessened considerably. I no longer have an interest in MA mags either. Same old sh!t. I' will probably be getting a subscription to KFM just to minimize cost. I am hoping that somewhere down the line I don't stop in my tracks and say, "What in the f@ck did I just do?"

Take good care,


mickey

I totally see where you're coming from, mickey.

I also have moved away from the MA mags. Although I still like KFM, the one big store that still carried it has closed, and the remaining stores that used to have it no longer carry it...the only MA mags they carry are those MMA rags. So I suppose circumstances have helped me along. I'd long ago stopped buying Black Belt, IKF, etc. And I don't feel like subscribing to a mag, even KFM, at this point. Though I'd probably still buy it in person if it were still available.

As for the forums, I enjoy participating, but keep it fairly limited, too. It hit a REALLY low point around a month ago; I was considering leaving for good, but it has cleaned up considerably, for now. My # of posts don't amount to much anyway; been here since '99 and still have low post numbers. The bulk of my interests now concern other interests and aspects of life besides only MA.

You take care too, and see you around when you check in here.

Jim

[Jimbo]

177 - Master of the Flying Guillotine

(End fight; Jimmy Wang Yu vs. Kam Kong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHRPBQsY1Co

178 - Secret Rivals 2

(End fight; John Liu & Tino Wong vs. Hwang Jang-Lee)

In this sequel, once again the "Northern Leg" must team with a "Southern Fist" against a white-haired villain who can defeat either fighter in a one-on-one fight...in this case, the brother of the villain in part 1. Choreography by the Yuen Clan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-DFvPY6XmY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILbjcB3vlKg

[Jimbo]

179 - The Secret Rivals

(End fight; John Liu & Wang Tao vs Hwang Jang-Lee. I should have put this one before entry #178, but probably didn't because IMO part 2 has noticeably superior choreography - personal bias. :) Though each of these actors had at least one movie credit apiece prior to this, this was the film that really launched their careers. It also popularized the white-haired "Silver Fox" villains that were so prevalent in mid-late 1970s kung fu films)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo519Xa84_k&feature=related

180 - Kid with the Golden Arm

(End fights; featuring Lo Meng, Wei Pai, Kuo Chui, Sun Chien, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmzQGBGH028

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74GW54VqW_w

181 - Two on the Road, a.k.a., Fearless Dragons

(End fight; Phillip Ko & Leung Kar-Yan vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqsCDY2RXb8&feature=related

182 - Gorgeous

(Two fights between Jackie Chan and Brad Allen. The fights in this movie were probably the last of Jackie Chan's great onscreen fights)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTPzh0f18cA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exbNBBhNQEY&feature=related

[wenshu]

182 - Gorgeous

(Two fights between Jackie Chan and Brad Allen. The fights in this movie were probably the last of Jackie Chan's great onscreen fights)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTPzh0f18cA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exbNBBhNQEY&feature=related

183 - Jackie Chan's Who Am I?
Chan vs. Ron Smoorenburg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H53rUZsrhcg&feature=related

Brad Allen doubled in this fight for Ron Smoorenburg because he couldn't get the timing down.

The sequence starting at 2:53 till 2:57 is obviously Allen (he is about the same height as Chan). Wiki lists incorrectly lists the double as Ken Lo.

[Jimbo]

Good info, wenshu. Although I'd seen that fight many times, I never noticed that Smoorenberg had had any doubling, much less by Brad Allen.


184 - Five Shaolin Masters

(End fight; Fu Sheng vs. Wang Lung-Wei; Ti Lung vs. Tsai Hung; David Chiang vs. Chiang Tao & the twins; Meng Fei vs. Leung Kar-Yan; Chi Kuan-Chun vs. Fung Hark-On)

*fight begins @ around 11:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxIGpRnQRxA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB4JF4OTshI&feature=related

185 - Shaolin Temple a.k.a., Death Chamber (Shaw Brothers)

(End fight, featuring Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Li Yi-Min, Kuo Chui, Tang Yen-Tsan, Wang Lung-Wei, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Wang Ching, Shan Mao, etc.)

*fight begins @ around 2:25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsrbs83cYFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfgGsF8UrD8

[Jimbo]

186 - The South Shaolin Master

(End fight; featuring Chiu Jianguo, et al. Fighting begins @ 19:55)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BxvcH4wMjg

[Jimbo]

187 - Martial Arts of Shaolin

(End fight; Jet Li, Yu Hai, Hu Jianqiang & Wong Chau-Yin vs. Yu Chenghui)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVT8qLJLZM4

This was Jet Li's third movie, and it was a noticeable step up from his first two...Shaolin Temple (not to be confused with Chang Cheh's movie of the same title) and Shaolin Temple 2. This had everything to do with this movie having been directed by Lau Kar-Leung. This movie features all the performers at their physical best, and Jet Li at his physical peak.

[Jimbo]

188 - The Master (a.k.a., Three Evil Masters)

(End fight; Yuen Tak vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

*end fight begins @ around 8:50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS1gLrUlMaI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7JJ-eTXbrg

[Jimbo]

189 - The New Kids in Town

(End fight; Lau Kar-Leung vs. Eddie Maher. Also featuring Chin Siu-Ho & Moon Lee vs. Karel Wong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nETQNxxbCG8&playnext=1&list=PLD27FB551EAD91978

[Jimbo]

190 - Shanghai 13

(End fight. Ti Lung vs. Chan Sing; Cheng Tien-Chi vs. Sonny Yu; Ti Lung vs. Cheng Tien-Chi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvcgIzhSRAY

One of director Cheng Cheh's post-Shaw Brothers productions filmed in Taiwan.

[Jimbo]

191 - The Five Superfighters

End fight; Leung Siu-Hung, Austin Wai, Wu Yuan-Chun, and Hau Chau-Sing vs. Kuan Feng.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMHHt6BkmGQ

Kuan Feng was easily the most underrated kung fu movie villain, or performer period, of the old-school era. In spite of his skills, he was given mostly small roles, some even non-fighting(!). In a few films, like this one, he was allowed to shine. AFAIK, he was a Shaw contract player exclusively, and I don't remember him in any non-Shaw productions. I also don't recall seeing him in any movies after Shaw Bros ended movie production in 1985/86. Besides his excellent movement and regal-type mannerisms, Kuan Feng also had a tendency to make particularly funny, contorted facial expressions when his characters got killed off.

[Jimbo]

192 - The Boxer from the Temple

(End fight; Wu Yuan-Chun vs. Kuan Feng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyfsf1uh_UE

193 - Drunken Dragon (a.k.a., The Exciting Dragon)

(Restaurant fight; Chow Mei-Yee and Suen Kwok-Ming, with Chiang Sheng, vs. thugs. In this scene, Chow Mei-Yee looks a lot like a female Sammo Hung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ARV-PTx6Q

(Phillip Ko vs. Chiang Sheng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADE5zPBlhPQ

(Fight, training sequences, and end fight; Suen Kwok-Ming & Leung Kar-Yan vs. Phillip Ko, Yang Hsiung, etc. Actual end fight begins at approx. 24:15, but the training scenes are fun in themselves. Although Leung Kar-Yan is in a non-fighting role, he practically steals the show as the eccentric old inventor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycq5U0krfR8

[Jimbo]

194 - The New Shaolin Boxers

(opening scenes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pik5yKbk64

(Lead-up to and end fight; Fu Sheng vs. Leung Kar-Yan & Wang Lung-Wei)

*fighting begins @ around 5:20.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNWZDd7jnR0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI2AtA9kWSk

This was probably the first (and is still one of the very few) movies in which Choy Lee Fut was the featured art.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Just what I needed this morning. Thanks Jimbo.

[Jimbo]

Cool. Glad you enjoyed it, HH.

[Jimbo]

195 - Disciples of the 36th Chamber

(Opening scenes; Hsiao Hou vs. Lee Hoi-San, Yuen Qiu, & ?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OUbJHNOoCc


(End fight; featuring Hsiao Hou, Gordon Liu, Lily Li, Pai Piao, Lau Kar-Leung, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do92IxiJlGI&feature=related

This is possibly the last film in which Hsiao Hou got star billing. The end fight is another great example of the large-scale choreography of Lau Kar-Leung; and this was one of the last kung fu epics he made for Shaw Brothers Studios.

[Jimbo]

196 - Shaolin Drunkards

(End fight; Yuen Yat-Chor & Yuen Cheung-Yan vs. Yuen Shun-Yee)

*End fight begins @ approx. 4:50*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTOPBIOdfAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxL34-zzNGI&feature=related

Yuen Woo-Ping directed this film, which is basically a Yuen Family project. It followed on the success of Yuen's The Miracle Fighters (#155). It's a great example of the creativity of the Yuen Family, esp. at a time when new and unique ideas were really flowing for them.

[Jimbo]

197 - The Boxer's Omen

(Kickboxing match; Bolo Yeung vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANmHr_8fqTk

(Kickboxing match, short clip of fight; Phillip Ko vs. Bolo Yeung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKUL6J2nSPw

(White magic vs. black magic finale. Phillip Ko vs. sorcerer. **Not recommended for those who are easily grossed out)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Cxwm99Hnk

The Boxer's Omen was one of those strange Shaw Brothers horror films that dealt with the supernatural and black magic. It was possibly the best of its sub-genre. Although it contains kickboxing scenes, the main thrust of the film were the graphic rituals and pre-CGI "magical" effects. Starring Phillip Ko in one of his few leading roles. He was better known as one of the best kung fu villains of the golden era, as is evident by how many clips he's appeared in, in this thread.

Wang Lung-Wei, another prolific, top-notch movie villain, here departs from his usual roles and becomes the "victim." And Bolo Yeung's role seems reminiscent of his role in Van Damme's Bloodsport, which was made a few years later.

[Jimbo]

198 - Millionaire's Express (a.k.a., Shanghai Express)

(End fight; featuring Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, D!ck Wei, Meng Hai, Hsiao Hou, Wang Lung-Wei, Hwang Jang-Lee, Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Oshima, Richard Norton, Cynthia Rothrock, Chung Fa, Phillip Ko, Lau Kar-Wing, Fan Mei-Sheng, Corey Yuen, etc., etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpylD1PsUs

This movie contained some pretty good fights and some great, nasty stunts, but the fights may have suffered from director Sammo Hung trying to fit too many stars into one movie...then again, it was clearly intended to be an epic ensemble film. An example of 1980s excess, perhaps? Although beautifully shot, none of the fight scenes really stood out too much, for that era (1986). Most of the talent couldn't show off to their full potential. However, the choreography is still better than probably 98% of American or current Chinese MA movie fight scenes. Still, it's a bit of a shame; the one time that Hwang Jang-Lee and Wang Lung-Wei appeared in the same film, they weren't matched against each other.

There were a number of stars (MA and non-MA) in the film who either were not in the end fight scene, or weren't apparent in this clip, including Jimmy Wang Yu, Shek Kin, Chin Siu-Ho, Yuen Wah, Wu Ma, Richard Ng, Bolo Yeung, Yuen Tak, Kenny Bee, Chin Kar-Lok, Rosamund Kwan, Emily Chu, Eric Tsang, Lam Ching-Ying, James Tien, etc., etc.

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

The Millionaire's Express borrowed a page from what the Shaw Brothers used to do. They would have these nonsensical movies where the real plot was to show off their stable of stars. Non martial and martial actors would do walk ons, utter a few lines and then walk off-- never to return (I am sure you have seen one of those). Sammo Hung achieved that with a fighting movie. The eighties were a darkening time for the kung fu film industry and it was movies like this one as well as Shaolin Plot, Hand of Death where we saw MA actors from different studios banding together to keep their vocation alive. It appeared to be a desperate time; yet, it showed what brotherhood is really about-- putting aside differences and working toward a common goal.

The fight scene from Boxer's Omen is still pretty contemporary. The hilarious thing about the scene is the guy who rings the bell. His body posture and facial expression does not change one bit.

mickey

[Jimbo]

Greetings, mickey.

Agreed about the Millionaire's Express being an extension of earlier Shaw (and Golden Harvest) ensemble films. That type of film really took off in HK following the Aces Go Places movies, and Sammo's own Winners and Sinners and the Lucky Stars series. During the early period that I lived in Taiwan, they were releasing tons of HK films with a lot of comedic non-MA actors, teaming with one or two MA actors (usually Sammo and a co-star). There was always one attractive woman (usually a detective) in the group, and they'd all play creepy but harmless frat-house pranks to try to spy her boobs or something. Not much plot if any, but there would usually be a decent to good end fight scene with the villain(s). I actually don't consider these 'MA' movies, but comedies with a little MA in them.

Interesting how, as the '80s progressed after the Shaw era, that some former lead MA stars (like Hsiao Hou, Meng Hai, Yuen Tak, etc.) were demoted onscreen to non-MA support players, or back to being stunt extras. Yes, although the '80s was a good time for HK action films, it marked a deterioration in the careers of many veterans of old-school period KF films. People wanted to see contemporary stories and comedies, and some couldn't make the adjustment very well.

In the Boxer's Omen kickboxing scenes, I dare say that Bolo Yeung looks way better there than in his most famous roles (in the West); Enter the Dragon and Bloodsport.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I agree with you about Bolo. He is known for his no look kung fu. It is refreshing to see him do something different.

199- Water Margin (1990's) : Choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x79289SL9gU

I have never seen this version; but, from the clips shown in the above link, it appears that Yuen Woo Ping still has a lot of wonderful ideas in his head. The period pieces tend serve his talents well.

I took time to look at this thread and, you know what? It is pretty darn good.

200- Kung Fu (Pilot) Temple training sequence. Ark Wong, Kam Yuen Philip Ahn, Keye Luke + others. This happens to be my favorite part of the pilot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQNBSQmXCE


mickey

[Jimbo]

I think that training scene was the best part of the Kung Fu pilot and series. It was a surprisingly good scene for American TV at that time.

201 - Incredible Kung Fu Master

(Sammo Hung vs. Austin Wai @ approx. 5:10. End fight begins @ approx. 11:20. Meng Hai, Chan Lung, Wong Ha, Huang Hsing-Hsiu & Tung Wai vs. Phillip Ko. Tung Wai and Sammo Hung vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOfm3vKMws&feature=related

Tung Wai had only a few starring roles; he's most familiar to Western audiences as Bruce Lee's student at the beginning of Enter the Dragon, and for a supporting role in Hard Boiled. Although he appeared in a number of old-school KF movies, playing both good guys and villains. He still works behind the scenes as an action choreographer.

Austin Wai still appears in movies, most recently in small, non-fighting roles in Donnie Yen's Kill Zone (a.k.a., SPL) and Flash Point.

[Jimbo]

If anyone tried the links to #'s 133, 134, and 140, (Lucky Stars Go Places, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, and Legendary Weapons of China) and found they had been removed, I found them up again on youtube and restored them today. If you want to see them, best to do so ASAP, before they are removed again. And they will be. A lot of clips, esp. from Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers movies, get taken off of youtube on a regular basis.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Links #'s 133, 134, and 140 are sooo 1980.

[Jimbo]

lol! Yeah, the fashions, the music, the hair, the...everything. One thing that still impresses me a lot is the clarity of the cinematography of the '80s-era HK movies (and many from the '70s as well). Much clearer than a lot of the stuff today.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Oh that's a gem, how come I've never heard of this one??? Truly terrible yet entertaining at the same time. I wonder why there aren't more bucked tooth, pot bellied, drunken hero's in our action films?

[Jimbo]

Restored # 10 (Wheels on Meals).

202 - The Men From the Monastery

(End fight; featuring Chen Kuan-Tai, Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Tang Yen-Tsan, Chiang Tao, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io7YTOVDCe4

Although the movie itself was uneven, the end fight was very well-done. These types of fight scenes are now a lost art. In addition, this was one of director Chang Cheh's Shaolin series of movies in which the screen, during part(s) of the end fight, would switch to black-and-white, with flashes of blood-red, to symbolize imminent death for characters. Of course, this technique was copied by Quentin Tarantino for parts of the end fight in Kill Bill vol. 1. Though the effect might look a bit dated, it does enhance the mood of certain scenes a bit more than full-color throughout might have done.

[Jimbo]

203 - The Daredevils (a.k.a., The Magnificent Acrobats)

(Some training and end fight; Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, & Chiang Sheng vs. Wang Li; Sun Chien vs. Chan Shen)

*End fight begins @ approximately 6:45*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnI-xFid5W8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7-rYDr1ow&feature=related

This was one of the more rarely seen of the "Venoms" films. Kuo, Lu, Chiang, and Wang all trained in the same Peking/Beijing Opera school in Taiwan. The Daredevils is unusual in that Lu Feng teams with Kuo Chui and Chiang Sheng as a good guy. Also, Wang Li was normally cast in supporting roles as a good guy or a villain...usually a villain...and this may have been his only time playing the arch-villain. The action is somewhat less refined than in many other "Venoms" films, yet it still has its moments.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I remember Wang Li as the guy who could handle weapons very well, sort of in the tradition of Ku Feng. He looks out of place bare handed.

204- "Killing of the Villains" Shek Kin, Kwan, Tak Hing, others. Though unseen by me, this clip recently popped up on youtube. It is interesting to see how the Northern styles are represented; especially with regard to the kicks. The principles looked relieved to be doing something different from a Wong Fei hung movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7VnQXF19xM

mickey

[Jimbo]

Hey, mickey, it's interesting how the fight scenes in those old HK movies are the Peking/Beijing Opera style adapted to the screen.

205 - The Hot, the Cool, & the Vicious

(Opening credits)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-D9NarRjEI

(End fight; Wong Tao & Tan-Tao-Liang vs. Tommy Lee)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4IsJtPuX4A&feature=related

206 - Fatal Needles vs. Fatal Fists

(End fight; Wong Tao vs. Chang Yi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmNsqWLkKWE&feature=related

[Jimbo]

207 - Lau Brothers Kung Fu Demo

This demo film was made in the late '70s/early '80s. Featuring Gordon Liu (a.k.a., Lau Kar-Fai), Lau Kar-Leung, and Lau Kar-Yung (not to be confused with Lau Kar-Leung's brother, Lau Kar-Wing/Liu Chia-Yung).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PhV4cMRVNI&feature=related

[Jimbo]

208 - Zatoichi #9: The Adventures of Zatoichi

(End fight; starring Shintaro Katsu)

*begins @ approx. 4:10*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXA12IBkaWs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6deN96jxLk

A few years ago, there was an update of the Zatoichi character starring Takeshi Kitano (a.k.a., "Beat Takeshi), but there was only one actor who could truly epitomize the blind swordsman: Shintaro Katsu.

[Jimbo]

209 - Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)

(Opening: starring Shintaro Katsu)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrfY8qozuw

(End fight; Shintaro Katsu vs. Tomisaburo Wakayama)

*Begins @ approx. 8:35*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qq2pTML7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12bUd1i4I8g

Bruce Lee was a fan of samurai films as well as Zatoichi movies (which are technically period Yakuza films, not samurai films). It's clear that these movies had a strong influence on BL in his own style of movie choreography, esp. when he staged himself fighting multiple opponents. Besides that, it's also clear that the Zatoichi character, a humble, wandering master swordsman (although blind), served as BL's inspiration when he originally conceived the wandering Shaolin monk that eventually became Kwai Chang Caine in the Kung Fu TV series.

In this movie's opening title sequence, one can see the influence this also had on director Chang Cheh. Starting in the latter 1960s, Chang would often incorporate opening title sequences with his main actors in a lighted studio (sometimes black with a spotlight, sometimes lit red or another color) to showcase the actors' skills to be shown in the movie. Sometimes fighting multiple opponents, as in this example, or doing a kung fu form. Later on, many other directors (including Lau Kar-Leung) and independent HK/Taiwan studios would themselves be influenced by Chang Cheh's use of the technique for their own kung fu movies. Many Shaw Brothers films of the late '60s/early '70s also lifted soundtrack music used in the Zatoichi films, among many others.

Zatoichi's main opponent in this film is played by Tomisaburo Wakayama, Katsu's older brother in real-life. Wakayama would later go on to portray the wandering anti-hero of the Lone Wolf and Cub movie series.

[Jimbo]

210 - Hard-Boiled

This is a continuous, one-take sequence during the final shootout in a hospital. Note: It's only a portion of the long end battle. This one-shot sequence lasts from about 8 seconds in until approx. 2:50. Other movies have used difficult one-take sequences (most notably Tony Jaa's The Protector, a.k.a., Tom Yum Goong), but the difficulty/complexity of the stunts/explosions, etc., in this scene, interspersed with the convincing acting, puts this sequence on a whole other level. I was unable to locate the entire end battle on youtube. Hard-Boilded was probably the finest 'shoot-em-up' of director John Woo's career. Although it still shows Woo's penchant for guns that (almost) never seem to run out of bullets.

(Choy Yun-Fat & Tony Leung vs. Kuo Chui & others)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OPyoJgV_YY

[Jimbo]

211 - The Kung Fu Instructor

(End fight; Ti Lung & Wong Yue vs. Ku Feng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc8uyoTmo8g

[Jimbo]

212 - Shaolin Mantis

(Training sequence and end fight; David Chiang vs. John Cheung, Tang Wei-Cheng, Hsu Shao-Chiang, & Lau Kar-Wing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06jVws45soc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n79ePL82yV4&feature=related

This movie changed the story of Tanglang quan (Praying Mantis fist) into one of a pro-Ching/Qing spy infiltrating a stronghold of anti-Ching rebels. Thus, the villain is the hero and vice-versa. Obviously, the style demo'd is movie-Mantis, more than an accurate representation of Tanglang quan. David Chiang isn't always convincing as a man developing the abnormal strength levels shown, due to his diminutive stature, but Lau Kar-Leung's direction helped him to play the role well.

John Cheung, the opponent with the tiger fork who faces David Chiang first in the end fights, acted in many Shaw Brothers and independent films in the '70s and '80s. He was also in a few of Jackie Chan's Golden Harvest films (Project A parts 1 & 2, Police Story 2, etc.). He may be most familiar in the West as the long-haired, jacked-up enemy who fought Jason Scott Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

[Jimbo]

213 - Iron-Fisted Eagle's Claw

(Training scene; Bruce Leung vs. Chi Kuan-Chun. This scene is mostly the two of them doing forms, and Bruce Leung's character goofing off while doing so. They have a 'match' @ about 2:45)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l1ZQ8mCBQ4&feature=related

(In this fight scene, Bruce Leung's natural physical speed and precision enhances his comedy. Of course, Chi Kuan-Chun plays it straight, compared to Leung's goofball antics)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtUmIMke9Bk

[Jimbo]

214 - Dragon Fight

(End fight; Jet Li vs. D!ck Wei and others). This was the first time Jet Li filmed a movie in the U.S. (though it's a Chinese movie). It was filmed in 1988.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0zyR0aDG1g&feature=related

215 - The Master (Jet Li)

Not to be confused with the Shaw Brothers movie of the same title. This is another of Jet Li's early movies, filmed in L.A. Although it's often listed as 1992, it was actually filmed in 1989, pre-dating the first Once Upon a Time in China (and the rejuvenation of Jet Li's career) by two years. Like the first three OUATIC movies, The Master was also directed by Tsui Hark.

The villain, played by Jerry Trimble, was a PKA kickboxer. He incorporated kung fu-like movements in the choreo, which was highly unusual for a professional kickboxer. Trimble, along with Benny Urquidez, Pete Cunningham, Billy Chow, Cung Le, etc., was among the few professional full-contact fighters who adapted well to screen fighting.

(Jet Li vs. Jerry Trimble; Yuen Wah vs. kung fu students. Unfortunately, the end of the fight is cut off. Action begins @ 2:25)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEdggglVjs8

[Jimbo]

216 - Iron Dragon Strikes Back

(End fight; Ho Chung-Tao {a.k.a., Bruce Li} vs. Phillip Ko)

This was arguably Ho Chung-Tao's best screen fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1vg2qTas-o

217 - Where's Officer Tuba?

(End fight; Sammo Hung vs. Hwang Jang-Lee; Jackie Cheung vs. Chang Yi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJJyKL8cmk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AUVH3MmYRo&feature=related

David Chiang's character is a ghost who is helping Sammo fight Hwang.

[Jimbo]

218 - King of the Kickboxers

(End fight; Loren Avedon vs. Billy Blanks)

This was another of Hong Kong's Seasonal Film Corp's attempts to bring HK-style action into the American market, which began with the No Retreat No Surrender films (see entry #'s 157 and 158). These movies featured especially corny, bad acting, but at that time few people in the West had seen fight choreo like them...whether good or bad. Listed as a 1991 production, but it may have been filmed earlier. It featured a pre-Tae Bo Billy Blanks as the villain, and was filmed in Thailand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jna8FblC3dA

[Jimbo]

219 - American Shaolin

Sometimes titled King of the Kickboxers II, this was another of Seasonal Films' American movies featuring new wave-style HK MA action. Like No Retreat No Surrender, King of the Kickboxers, etc., American Shaolin also contained a lot of the unintentional comedy that made these Seasonal outings such great guilty pleasures. One thing you can say is these films were entertaining.

During the course of the movie, Reese Madigan actually brought some pretty good acting to his role, esp. compared to the acting in most of Seasonal's other movies aimed at the U.S. market. American Shaolin also featured a young Daniel Dae Kim as one of the Shaolin monks.

(This clip contains both the beginning and end fights. Beginning fight; Reese Madigan vs. Trent Bushey. End fight; Trent Bushey vs. Daniel Dae Kim; Reese Madigan vs. Trent Bushey. The end fight begins @ approx. 3:25)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO3k52AN1iA

[Hebrew Hammer]

What a horrible Karate Kid rip off.

[jethro]

I like the villain's name. Trevor Gotitall.

[Jimbo]

Well, I have to confess that I found American Shaolin more fun than the original Karate Kid. Once again, it's the cornball aspect that makes it fun.

Yeah, Trevor Gotitall had to be one of the great awful names in MA film history. :P

[Jimbo]

220 - The Five Deadly Venoms (a.k.a., The Five Venoms)

This probably should have been entered in earlier. Although all the actors had appeared in minor roles in earlier Chang Cheh-directed films, this was the movie that propelled Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Lo Meng, Sun Chien, and to a lesser extent, Wei Pai, into stardom. It's not as off-the-wall as many of their later efforts, and Venoms came and went throughout the following years. It's also unusual because, like Daredevils, it emphasized empty-hand fighting. With the exception of Lo Meng and Sun Chien, the Venoms were generally known for acrobatics and weapons play.

(Opening Scene: includes Lu Feng as "centipede," Wei Pai as "snake," Kuo Chui as "lizard," Sun Chien as "scorpion," and Lo Meng as "toad")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX6EHqcvqyo

(End fight; Chiang Sheng, Wei Pai, Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, and Sun Chien)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2GH-OBg4o0

[Jimbo]

221 - A Fistful of Talons

Billy Chong (a.k.a., Willy Dozan) was an Indonesian star who starred in only a few movies in HK/Taiwan from 1979 to 1983, though he starred/appeared in many films in Indonesia/Malaysia before and after this period. This was his last starring role in HK/Taiwan, although he did make a brief appearance in a later Aces Go Places film around 1989. He remains a star in Indonesia/Malaysia, or at least still was until fairly recently. He had loads of talent and charisma, and it's a shame he wasn't in more HK films. Reportedly, he had tried out for the Wong Fei-Hung role for the first Once Upon A Time in China film, which ultimately went to Jet Li.

The first link is actually a collection of various scenes from the movie. Unfortunately, there are no full clips of the final fight, etc., on youtube yet. I will only say that the lead villain, Hwang In-Shik, did not look as sharp in this film as he did against Jackie Chan in The Young Master and Dragon Lord (see entry #'s 78 and 88). But to be fair, Billy Chong doesn't look as technically sharp as he normally did either, so it's probably Sun Chung's direction. Although it's a much slicker production than Billy's other films were, he wasn't able to show off as many of his skills.

Many in the West would know Hwang In-Shik as the 'karate guy' who both Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee beat down in Way of the Dragon, and as Angela Mao's ally in Hapkido. This was probably Hwang In-Shik's last movie, or at least his last Chinese film. He lives in Toronto and has taught Hapkido there for decades.

If this movie has a Shaw Brothers look and feel to it, it's probably because the director is Sun Chung, and parts of it appear to have been filmed at Shaw Studios, though the bulk of of it was filmed in Taiwan.

(Scene collection: With Billy Chong, Hwang In-Shik, Pai Ying, Liu Hao-Yi, Chiang Tao, Chang Shan, Ma Chin-Ku, Cheng Ki-Ying, Tien Feng, Yang Hsiung, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIF7gPj1kj8

(Here is a bit more to the very end of the final fight. Billy Chong, Liu Hao-Yi...and an eagle...vs. Hwang In-Shik)

http://youtu.be/TS7QcvpWdUg

[Jimbo]

222 - The Tigress of Shaolin

Starring Lau Ka-Yung and Kara Hui. Lau Ka-Yung is the nephew of Lau Kar-Leung and Lau Kar-Wing.

(Training sequences and end fight; Lau Ka-Yung & Kara Hui vs. Chan Dik-Hak & Tong Kam-Tong)

**end fight begins @ approx. 24:25**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwxrxjkmQSU

[mickey]

223- The Invincible Super Chan: Forced to Fight

This flick was an unwelcome introduction to the fantasmagoric aspects of kung fu films to the 42nd audiences in NYC., most of whom were looking for something hardcore serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3d1JDpaZkE


224- The Chinese Mechanic (aka Chinese Dragon), Barry Chan

The promotions that went along with this movie tried to promote Barry Chan as the next Bruce Lee. I remember the marquee saying "Step aside Bruce Lee..." Barry Chan appears more comfortable with the aristocratic sword fighting flicks than he does with unarmed fighting movies. The only exception would be Dragon's Vengeance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkKkyZ5WSM&feature=related

225- Three The Hard Way, Jim Kelly

While on the technical level this scene is not epic, people would still be talking about this scene if this music had originally accompanied it. It takes the viewer into a different zone, pulling the viewer into the protagonist's oppressed reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wtS4APtAS4

226- Hero with 9 Dragon Tattoos, Chen Kuan Tai

Chen Kuan Tai portrays one of the characters from Outlaws of the Marsh (Water Margin). This film may have been his first attempt at "comedy" kung fu. Here it is used to portray the immaturity of the character. The original dialect used was a little distracting for me because Chen's character was called Shihtalong and I did not hear the soft "h" sound in Shih. One thing that was unusual appeared to be Chen Kuan Tai's ability to do a lot of independent films. He did not appear to be locked in to one company by contract.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpFtvuhq66U&feature=related



mickey

[Jimbo]

227 - Buddha's Palm and Dragon Fist (a.k.a., The Roving Heroes)

(End fight; Chi Kuan-Chun & Li Yi-Min vs. Suen Shu-Pao. End fight begins @ approx. 15:00. But there are so many fights in this last third of the movie alone, the entire clip is worth seeing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PY5p-YslM

This movie was one of those independent Taiwan productions that featured even more fighting than the normal old-school KF movie. During Chi Kuan-Chun's post-Shaw Brothers/Chang Cheh period, the movies he was in featured him doing less and less pure Hung Gar-style in his films. Yet he handled it very well indeed. Of course, Li Yi-Min starred in several Taiwan productions after leaving Shaw Bros/Chang Cheh, and seemed to do better in the independent films.

The arch-villain, played by Suen Shu-Pao, was most familiarly seen in movies as the weaselly right-hand lackey to arch-villains, or as a betrayer to heroes, often in non-fighting roles, but got a few chances to play the main bad guy, this being his best. During the golden age of kung fu cinema, it seemed that almost anyone, even those who were usually bit-parters, extras or stuntmen, had an opportunity to have at least one turn in a movie as a leading star, a co-star, or an arch-villain, because the talent pool was so deep at the time.

[Jimbo]

228 - The Crazy Couple

(End fight; Lau Ka-Yung & Dean Shek vs. Lily Li; Lau Ka-Yung & Dean Shek vs. Fung Hark-On)

*end fighting begins @ approx. 15:50)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq497UEaRRs

The lanky Dean Shek acted in HK movies at least since the early '70s, but gained the most fame as the incompetent senior student who bullied Jackie Chan in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. Afterwards, he was cast in many kung fu comedies when they were popular (late '70s/early '80s), often reprising the same types of characters. Though here is one example where he got to be a co-star. His character here can be seen as annoying or funny; I tend to feel the latter, at least in the final fight.

Fung Hark-On (Mandarin: Feng Ke-An) was a veteran of countless KF movies. This was one of those movies where he showed once again that he was indeed arch-villain material, although he usually played lesser roles. In the West and among younger KF movie fans, he may be most recognizable as one of the hired killers in Kung Fu Hustle, and as the Bagua stylist who loses to Donnie Yen in Ip Man 2.

[Jimbo]

I have posted a new link to The Kid From Kwangtung (see entry # 12). This is the entire movie, but I have also listed the points that contain important fight scenes. This was one of, if not the, finest showcases for Hwang Jang-Lee. Hwang is considered by many to be the best kicker in MA cinema history. Not the flashiest, but simply the best, and for good reason. They definitely don't make onscreen KF choreography like these types of movies had anymore.

Yen Shi-Kwan, who plays the monkey/chin na specialist who teaches Wang Yue, may be more recognizable to many in the West as the arch-villains in Jackie Chan's Fearless Hyena (entry #43), The Master Strikes (entry # 26), Iron Monkey with Donnie Yen, and the first Once Upon a Time in China. Although he appeared in a number of old-school movies, starting out as a stunt extra, at least since the early '70s. When he played arch-villains, he was on a level comparable to Hwang Jang-Lee in the movies.

The late Wang Yue, a.k.a., Huang Yu/Wang Yu (not to be confused with Jimmy Wang Yu) first gained fame in Spiritual Boxer (1975), which was probably the first full 'kung fu comedy,' predating Jackie Chan's kung fu comedies by 3 years. He is sometimes criticized as being annoying, or not being skillful enough, but most of the movies he either starred or appeared in were good to very good. I suspect some of the criticism stems from his boyish face, and the fact he was often cast as ne'er-do-wells or conmen. IMO, he displayed a lot more onscreen skills than he was given credit for.

Also, kung fu COMEDY is a very tricky thing. Sometimes it works, and a lot of times it doesn't. Some actors and directors can pull it off better/more consistently than others. For example, this movie has some good comic moments, but it could have done without the hopping corpses scene. And the very last image in the film is downright bizarre, probably one of the weirdest ever, in an era when sudden odd endings were common. Some get angered by it as disrespectful, but just take it for what it is: an oddity probably added for light shock value.

[Jimbo]

229 - Promising Young Boy

(End fight; Collin Chou, {a.k.a., Ngai Sing} vs. Alexander Lo Rei. Also featuring Wong Tao)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNSZCOZlrnw

This Taiwanese film was Collin Chou's first(?) movie. He is probably familiar to Western viewers in many movies, including the last two Matrix movies, Jet Li's Fearless, Donnie Yen's Flash Point, The Forbidden Kingdom, and DOA: Dead or Alive.

Alexander Lo Rei's most famous role was the lead in Shaolin vs. Lama, along with several other Taiwanese Shaolin and ninja films of the '80s.

[Jimbo]

230 - The Crane Fighter

(End fight; Judy Lee {a.k.a., Chia Ling} & Raymond Lui vs. Kam Kong)

*Whole movie; end fight begins @ approx. 121:40*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVYLjPZALoM

231 - Shaolin Chastity Kung Fu (Shaolin Tong Zi Gong)

(End fight; Alexander Lo Rei & others vs. Tang Lung. Also featuring William Yen, Liu Hao-Yi, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO5CgSa5SiU

This was one of the more unusual Taiwanese KF films. The makers chose a large group of kids who were acrobats or Peking/Beijing Opera students to play the orphans. During the course of the movie, there were some scenes where the monks were teaching the kids Tong Zi Gong that some people (mostly Westerners) found morally questionable, but there was no ill intent involed. A lot of the training sequences were designed to look like some old illustrated manuals.

An image from the poster of this film is visible in a scene from the movie Desperately Seeking Susan, which shows Liu Hao-Yi in a pose.

The villain (Tang Lung) is made to seem almost ridiculously invincible.

[Jimbo]

232 - Shaolin Temple Against Lama

Not to be confused with Shaolin vs. Lama, also starring Alexander Lo Rei. This movie clearly had a lower budget. There is under-cranking that speeds up the action, and the shaky camera in the slow-mo shots seemed to have been done intentionally.

The arch-villain, Alan Hsu (a.k.a., Hsu Chung-Hsin) was a veteran of countless KF films, beginning his career as a stunt extra. As an extra, he was visible very briefly in Enter the Dragon as one of Bruce Lee's attackers in the underground caverns, then later as one of 3 guys (with Phillip Ko and Chan Lung) who escorted John Saxon to the 'killing field' to face Bolo. He was originally a Peking/Beijing Opera performer. KF movie fans in the West probably remember him most as the arch-villains in The 7 Grand Masters, Shaolin Ex-Monk (a.k.a., Renegade Monk), and Last Hero in China.

(End fight; Alexander Lo Rei vs. Li Hsiao-Hua; Alexander Lo Rei vs. Alan Hsu)

*fights begin @ approx. 1:35*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-CAXYvmFs4&feature=related

[Jimbo]

233 - Two Toothless Tigers

(Wang Lung-Wei vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9rgfH4sVm0

(Wang Lung-Wei vs. Chung Fa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IrNtjLtgVY

(Sammo Hung and Yuen Shun-Yee vs. Wang Lung-Wei. Note: Unfortunately, I couldn't find the complete end fight on youtube. These two links are the best I could find at the moment. Some of the jumping and flying kicks executed by Wang's character were actually doubled by Cananova Wong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQVFShAgA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awkwQCIs9RM

[Jimbo]

234 - The Inspector Wears Skirts

(End fight; Kara Hui & Cynthia Rothrock vs. Jeff Falcon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vg6dldXRiI

[mickey]

235- Hwang Jang Lee Montage: Though not from any one movie, the editing and fantastic hip hop beat made this an official Kung Fu Espresso entry for the jaded. Dang, it kicks a$$!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8OOlvSBacI&feature=related


mickey

[Jimbo]

236 - Mismatched Couples (1985)

(Donnie Yen in a breakdancing contest. This was his second film)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtwxiCuUtSE&feature=related

[Jimbo]

237 - The Lady Assassin

(Pai Piao vs. Tony Liu-Yung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkYcWQP5aNo

Although Tony Liu Yung was in many HK productions, he was best-known for being the only actor to appear with Bruce Lee in all four of BL's completed martial arts films, including Enter the Dragon, where he fought John Saxon's character. In this film, he plays the arch-villain.

(End fights. With Liu Hsueh-Hua, Tony Liu Yung, Sun Chien, Yuen Tak, Yang Ching-Ching, Kuan Feng, Hsu Shao-Chiang, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRXV2O6u6pA

[Jimbo]

238 - Kim Won-Jin tribute

Although not quite as cool as the Hwang Jang-Lee Montage link posted by mickey, this clip shows some of Kim Won-Jin's excellent kicks. When Operation Scorpio (a.k.a., The Scorpion King, not to be confused with the movie of the same name starring The Rock) came out in 1991, Kim became the last Korean superkicker to enter the HK film industry. The first Korean superkicker to work in HK cinema was Hwang In-Shik, in 1972.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-liwfnWSmQY

[sanjuro_ronin]

You can usually tell the Hapkidp guys from the TKD guys, the Hap guys tend to have their arms out more and have wider spinning kicks.
Good clips guys :D

[mickey]

Greetings,

In keeping with my pledge to bring it:

239- Darker Than Amber-- William Smith, Rod Taylor. This fight scene is a TOTAL assault to the senses and does not let up. Both actors performed their own stunts. And the choreography emphasizes a realism that should put a permanent hush to any MMA vs TCMA thread. :) Interestingly, this movie was directed by Robert Clouse and that tends to give credence to William Smith's statement about being asked to be in Enter the Dragon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aABT-FjR4_M


mickey

[Jimbo]

240 - The Buddha Assassinator

(End fight; Meng Hai vs. Hwang Jang-Lee. With Chin Yuet-San)

Good quality; Mandarin but with no subs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLF9ne1nFa8&feature=related

[Jimbo]

241 - The Armour of God

(End fight; Jackie Chan vs. John Ladalski, Linda Denley, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CpeWh1_5FM&feature=related

Linda Denley was an American karate champion from the 1970s into the '90s. She played one of the four 'Amazons.' She is a Tang Soo Do and TKD stylist and runs her own school in Houston.

John Ladalski is a Jeet Kune Do instructor, which he studied under Dan Inosanto. He appeared in many Hong Kong film productions. In this film, he appeared as one of the 'monks.'

[Jimbo]

242 - The Tattoo Connection

(Clips of the lead-up to and end fights; Jim Kelly vs. Tan Tao-Liang; Tan Tao-Liang & Jim Kelly vs. Chen Sing. Also featuring Bolo Yeung & Chiang Tao)

To my knowledge, this movie featured Jim Kelly's best onscreen fighting performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ATHOn5jMBc

[Jimbo]

243 - The Pedicab Driver

Note: These are different clips from entry #1 by mickey.

(Lau Kar-Leung vs. Sammo Hung)

*Note: the sound is slightly off-kilter in this clip*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK3g7cEIylI

(Lead-up fight; Mok Siu-Chung, Fennie Yuen & Meng Hai vs. Billy Chow & thugs. End fight; Sammo Hung vs. Eddie Maher & Billy Chow; Meng Hai vs. Chung Fa. Also featuring John Sham as the sleazy boss)

*first part of lead-up fight begins @ approx. 8:45. End fight begins @ approx. 18:30*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbmbPyry7kQ&feature=related

Billy Chow was a Canada-based professional kickboxer in the World Karate Association (WKA) in the 1980s. He is among the few world-class professional fighters who successfully made the transition to the silver screen. He appeared in several films with Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jackie Chan, as well as many independent productions. However, most fans in the West associate him as the arch-villain of Fist of Legend.

[Jimbo]

244 - Behind the scenes of 8 Diagram Pole Fighter

An interesting documentary showing Lau Kar-Leung directing the film at Shaw Brothers studios, and also showing a casting tryout in front of Lau. Some footage of Gordon Liu, Phillip Ko, Kara Hui, etc. From approximately 1983. The subtitles are only in Japanese, but it's the best behind-the-scenes footage from Shaw Brothers that I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApVCEzZX3Y8

[Jimbo]

245 - Tan Tao-Liang, Master Kicker

A brief showcase of one of cinema's greatest kickers. One could easily have taken stills from his movies as illustrations for perfect kicking techniques in any older-style (i.e., pre-Olympic style) TKD or Tang Soo Do textbooks. He almost appeared more comfortable with his left leg in the air kicking than in normal posture. Although he did not seem to kick at quite the same level of violent intensity as, say, Hwang Jang-Lee, Tan's amazing control and form are awesome. I often got the impression that Tan was rarely given the opportunity to show as much as he could have; you always wanted to see more of his talents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEGhYC8wf10

[Jimbo]

246 - The Himalayan

This is the entire movie, but the greatest amount of actual fighting comes at the end. Unfortunately, the picture quality is so-so, and the sound is a bit off.

(End fight; Angela Mao & Tan Tao-Liang vs. Chen Sing. Also featuring Sammo Hung, Corey Yuen, Chu Ching, Lee Ka-Ting)

**end fight begins @ approx. 138:30**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boaApLe567o

[Jimbo]

247 - Super Power (alternate title: Super Dragon)

Full movie. Super Power is one of those kung fu comedy-era films that is chock full of fight scenes. IMO, it was one of Billy Chong's better movies. Unfortunately, as in many of his films, Billy Chong's abilities tended to overpower those of the arch-villain, played by Hau Chiu-Sing. One can only imagine if he'd been paired with an arch-villain like Hwang Jang-Lee, Wang Lung-Wei, or Yen Shi-Kwan.

Billy Chong was a great all-around performer, and unlike many great onscreen kickers, he could kick equally well with both legs.

(Training scenes and series of end fights; Billy Chong vs. Chiang Tao, Hau Chiu-Sing, etc.)

**starting @ 103:05; end fights begin @ 109:25**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQNsu_rXz9g&feature=related

[Jimbo]

248 - BKO: Bangkok Knockout

(Part of end fight)

I chose this particular clip because, from about 5:15, Panna Rittikrai, as one of the villains, shows a different style of fighting than the acrobatic styles of the younger performers.

This scene is reminiscent of the end fight scene in The Ming Patriots (a.k.a., Revenge of the Patriots), in which Chang Yi's villain character needed his snuff in order to continue fighting the heroes. In this case, Panna Rittikrai's character has asthma and needs his inhaler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mza7Zi4-rOE

249 - The Ming Patriots

(End fight; Ho Chung-Tao, Judy Lee {a.k.a., Chia Ling}, Roy Chiao, etc., vs. Chang Yi)

For comparison. Unfortunately, image is poor quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSRtpS42nls

[Jimbo]

250 - Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars

(Dojo scene; Sammo Hung vs. Michelle Yeoh)

This is a brief but funny scene. Also featuring Richard Ng. This was one of Michelle Yeoh's very first movie appearances, predating Yes, Madam.
It's her only scene in the movie, as a judo instructor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfxVYdLGE2c&feature=related

[Jimbo]

251 - The Instant Kung Fu Man

Full movie.

(John Liu vs. Hwang Jang-Lee)

**fight begins @ approx. 1:17:25**

(End fight; Yeh Fei-Yang {and John Liu} vs. Hwang Jang-Lee)

**begins @ approx. 1:23:25**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNtYk-3KRA

John Liu and Hwang Jang-Lee appeared together in 5 movies: Secret Rivals, Secret Rivals 2, The Invincible Armour, The Snuff Bottle Connection, and this one, which was their last movie together. In most of his movies, Hwang Jang-Lee tended to dominate the action, whether he played a villain or (rarely) a hero. You tend to watch what he's doing more than his opponents. Among the few screen fighters who could share the screen with HJL without being totally dominated were Jackie Chan and John Liu. John Liu's kicking style worked very well with HJL's
onscreen, although Hwang's kicks looked more powerful and had more 'malicious intent' than Liu's.

During the end fight, it's interesting, as always, to watch HJL's character pick up momentum during the course of the choreography; you can tell when he starts pulling out more of his amazing kick combos, which he makes look so easy.

[Jimbo]

252 - Iron Angels 3

Another scene from this movie (also check out entry # 15), showing why Moon Lee was one of the very best female onscreen fighters. Although she was self-admittedly a dancer who learned some MA for the movies, she conveys power and fiery intensity. She actually comes across as a trained MAist on film, better than a lot of real, experienced MAists and fighters do. IMO, Moon Lee at her best was superior in action scenes to many better-known female action stars, such as Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, and even Angela Mao.

The European villainess who appears in the scene is Dutch fighter/actress Saskia Van Rijswijk, who was the female world Muay Thai champion in the early 1980s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_NIjNstFVc&feature=related

[Jimbo]

253 - Hong Kong Godfather

(End fight; Leung Kar-Yan & Norman Chu {a.k.a., Hsu Shao-Chiang} vs. Wang Lung-Wei & thugs)

*Warning: Extreme violence.*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbLEkSw-gY8

HK Godfather was a very late (circa 1985) Shaw Brothers film, although its look and feel are very different. It came out around the time that Shaw Brothers was wrapping up its movie production.

[Jimbo]

254 - Kickboxer's Tears

(Moon Lee vs. Billy Chow)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Qr-WENrmmbw&feature=endscreen

(Moon Lee vs. Yukari Oshima)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkUoviE7Pc

Moon Lee and Yukari Oshima were among the most intense screen fighters ever. Oshima was a black belt in Goju-ryu karate and had also trained at Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club, yet Moon Lee could match her onscreen move for move. Together they had the best woman vs. woman screen battles (see also entry #14).

[Jimbo]

255 - Shaolin and Wu Tang (whole movie)

(End fight: Gordon Liu vs. Adam Cheng; Gordon Liu & Adam Cheng vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

**end fight begins @ 119:30**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcMMi6GmQ38&feature=related

[Jimbo]

256 - Japan Action Club tribute

(Featuring Sonny Chiba, Etsuko Shiomi, and Hiroyuki Sanada)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztedCMMl68I

Sonny Chiba ... 'nuff said!

In the 1970s, some people considered Etsuko Shiomi as Japan's answer to Angela Mao.

Perhaps the most talented JAC alumni of all, Hiroyuki Sanada made many films in Japan, Hong Kong/Taiwan, China, etc., but is most well-known in the West for beating up Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, and fighting Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3, and his appearance in Lost He also appeared in Danny Boyle's Sunshine. He is a lauded stage actor; he appeared in the role of Fool in the Royal Shakespeare Company's millennium production of King Lear, for which he was awarded an honorary Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.

His films have run the gamut, including: Legend of the 8 Samurai, Roaring Fire, Ninja in the Dragon's Den, The Royal Warriors, Ringu (the original The Ring), The Twilight Samurai, The White Countess, The Promise, and the upcoming 47 Ronin. This is only a small sampling of his filmography. Hiroyuki Sanada's career has certainly gone far beyond the limits of the MA/action movie genre.

[Jimbo]

257 - The Girls of Action Cinema tribute

A great collection featuring, but not limited to:
Michelle Yeoh
Cynthia Rothrock
Cheng Pei-Pei
Yukari Oshima
Etsuko Shiomi
Kara Hui
Moon Lee
Rina Takeda
Jeeja Yanin
Yang Pan-Pan
Michiko Nishiwaki
Sibelle Hu
Zhang Ziyi
Lily Li
Angela Mao
Joyce Godenzi
Cynthia Khan
Yang Ching-Ching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Iv0wbBvW9kA&feature=fvwp

[Jimbo]

258 - Dragon From Russia

(Subway fight; Anthony Houk vs. Sam Wong. Also featuring Sam Hui)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYNFCt0ZMjY

259 - Practice: Dragon From Russia (subway fight)

An extremely clever and well-done recreation of the above fight scene. These guys are highly talented performers, and I'm also very impressed with the camerawork. They've recaptured the '80s HK-style action choreography AND cinematography to a tee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns1vOatYILw

[Jimbo]

260 - Tower of Death (Game of Death 2)

(End fight; Kim Tai-Chung vs. Hwang Jang-Lee. Also featuring Lee Hoi-San)

The late Kim Tai-Chung (1943 - 2011) was best-known for being the 'fighting Bruce Lee double' in the first Game of Death (which actually used a couple of BL doubles, one for acting and the other for fighting), in the fight scenes the real BL obviously didn't do. He also played BL's ghost in No Retreat No Surrender.

In this scene, Kim (named Tong Lung in the credits) is clearly doubled in the acrobatic sequences by Yuen Biao; probably one of the reasons Kim's face is kept in shadow much of the time. That and the fact that he didn't look like BL. His style also bore no resemblance to BL's, as Kim was primarily a Korean TKD kicker. Nonetheless, he was in a number of excellent fight scenes, like this one. He was certainly a very entertaining screen fighter in his own right.

This movie was directed by Yuen Woo-Ping. For Kim's fight with Casanova Wong, check entry #50. This clip was dubbed in German.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H34a_cgGVMM

[Jimbo]

261 - The Bloody Treasury Fight

(End fight; featuring Tan Tao-Liang, Chang Yi-Tao, David Chiang, Chan Wai-Man, Wang Chung, etc.)

*end fight begins @ approximately 9:45*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIIB7HtoDA

[mickey]

262- Mark of Zorro Basil Rathbone Tyrone Powers. This still stands as one of the top sword sequences ever put on film. Both actors were already well trained in their craft because fencing was big at the time. I remember hearing that each actor would only play their teacher in this scene. Nevertheless it makes the current escrima scenes lame by comparison. The choreography is incredibly tight, filled with attacks that each actor must block or avoid as opposed to attacks toward spaces for safety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTyPWvyAF8



mickey

[mickey]

263- The Court Jester Basil Rathbone Danny Kaye. This scene predates cinematic comedy kung fu and, remarkably,still hold up. In this movie Basil Rathbone does aim for the spaces and appears to get doubled.
There is an homage to the Mark of Zorro fight scene in this choreography which only adds to the hilarity of this scene. One can easily see strong parallels to what Jackie Chan does with his comedic efforts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ztcOEBcAOs

mickey

[Jimbo]

264 - Fighting Ace (a.k.a., Kid's Ace in the Hole) {here given the generic title, 'Master of Death'}

Entire Movie.

(Opening Credits: John Liu & Kwon Young-Moon vs. Cheng Ching)

(Kick training scenes: 16:45 to 18:00; John Liu vs. Kwon Young-Moon, training; 21:00 to 25:30)

(End fights: John Liu vs. horse cutters; John Liu, Wang Tai-Lang and Lung Chun-Erh vs. Cheng Ching) *fights start @ 114:15)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uX5rls5kiU

[mickey]

265- "The Mark of Zorro", Douglas Fairbanks. This is a clip from a silent feature made in 1920. It has comedic flavor interspersed with stunt work done by Fairbanks. i did not expect to laugh from this but I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXPg2oSWxo


mickey

[Jimbo]

266 - Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris

(End fight; John Liu vs. Roger Paschy)

For a montage of clips from this movie, see entry #48.
This movie was filmed in France (obviously) and directed by John Liu. While he had an odd directing style, Liu showed that he could direct and perform in modern-day as well as period fight scenes. This is one of the longest, if not the longest, of John Liu's one-on-one screen fights. Roger Paschy was a European karate champion as well as a Muay Thai fighter.

It's interesting/funny how there is a safety mat on the yacht onto which Liu and Paschy throw each other. Though in several instances you can clearly see the missed blows that 'land', and despite the 'hits' they take, neither shows any signs of injury; nevertheless, the karate skills of each are very clear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xyrm9C2JDk

[Jimbo]

267 - Southern Fists, Northern Kicks (a.k.a., Secret Rivals III; New South Hand Blows & North Kick Blows)

Full movie.

(End fight; John Liu & Alexander Lo Rei vs. Robert Tai)

This movie also features Chin Lung, Chu Ko, Cheng Tien-Chi, Wong Chi-Sang, etc.

*end fight begins @ approx. 1:17:00*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYYXnq1eSyo

[Jimbo]

268 - The 7 Grand Masters (full movie)

Starring: Li Yi-Min, Jack Long, Mark Long, Nancy Yen, Li Hsiao-Fei, Alan Hsu, Lung Fei, Chin Yuet-San, Corey Yuen, Ma Chin-Ku, etc.

(End fight; Li Yi-Min vs. Jack Long & Alan Hsu)

*End fight starts @ approx. 1:19:45*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NecSnrvbTZ0

Scenes from this movie were in an early entry, but they were taken off of youtube. Most of the best fights feature Jack Long ( as the old teacher) in earlier scenes; the best being his weapons fight with Corey Yuen, which takes place from about 42:06.

[Jimbo]

269 - The B@stard Swordsman (Full Movie)

Starring: Norman Chu, Tony Liu Yung, Liu Hsueh-Hua, Wilson Tong, Ku Kuan-Chung, Sun Chien, Wang Li, Kuan Feng, Yang Ching-Ching, etc.

(End fight; Norman Chu & Liu Hsueh-Hua vs. Tony Liu Yung, Wang Li, & Kuan Feng)

*end fight starts @ 1:23:15*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpM_bU0nT8o

Unfortunately, this is in a poor (new) English dub. The special effects, though dated by today's standards, still hold up, and the wirework shown is more difficult than most of the recent CGI wuxia films out of China today.

[Jimbo]

270 - I Will Finally Knock You Down, Dad (full movie)

Starring: Chin Siu-Ho, Chen Kuan-Tai, Lo Lieh, Lily Li, Phillip Ko, Bill Tung, Chiu Chi-Ling, Hsu Hsia, etc.

(A very '80s training sequence: @ approx. 1:11:00)

(End Fights: Chin Siu-Ho vs. Phillip Ko, @ approx. 1:14:45; Chin Siu-Ho vs. Chen Kuan-Tai @ approx. 1:24:12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo-54ZnIUNo

This is a late Shaw Bros film (1984). It's also one of the more rarely-seen Shaw Bros films. Unfortunately, the sound is a bit out of sync.

**spoiler**
There is no big, decisive end fight, as it was intended as a 'lighthearted comedy' at a time when comedies were eclipsing KF movies in popularity in HK. There are some fast-paced fights, though. Many in the West mainly recognize Chin Siu-Ho as Jet Li's co-star in Fist of Legend and The Tai Chi Master, but he began his film career before Jet Li did, at Shaw Bros in the late 1970s.

[Jimbo]

271 - Fast Fingers

(End fight; Chin Siu-Ho & Lo Meng vs. Wang Lung-Wei; also featuring Bill Tung, Chiang Chin, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMMlPL0NYd0

The fights are entertaining, if you can ignore the incessant clown music...

[Jimbo]

272 - Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)

This was another earlier entry that had been removed from youtube.

This entire last part of the movie is fun if you enjoy old-school movie training sequences. Shaolin Martial Arts was one of, if not the, first KF films that placed a *heavy* emphasis on prolonged training scenes. In this case, Fu Sheng is taught Hung Gar Tiger/Crane by Simon Yuen Siu-Tin (father of Yuen Woo-Ping & the Yuen clan); and Chi Kuan-Chun is taught "inch-power," supposedly from Wing Chun. It's 100% cinematic versions of KF, but works very well in that context. It's obvious that the training scenes with Chi Kuan-Chun and some of Fu Sheng's use of the "crane's beak" were a major influence on Quentin Tarantino for Uma Thurman's character in Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2, though for her 'short power,' she was taught to use the fist, and Chi Kuan-Chun is taught the finger thrust.

The arch-villains, played by Wang Lung-Wei and Leung Kar-Yan, are supposed to be "near-invincible" practitioners of "protective qi gong" and "iron (or steel) body" respectively.

(End fight: Chi Kuan-Chun vs. Wang Lung-Wei, Chiang Tao, & Fung Hark-On; Fu Sheng vs. Leung Kar-Yan) *end fight starts @ approx. 14:40*

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y75iqbGv7PA&feature=related

[Jimbo]

273 - A Bloody Fight

(Warehouse fight; Lau Kar-Leung & Norman Chu vs. gang. Also featuring Chu Yuan)

**fight starts @ 2:20**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7MD7Y-DOrs

[mickey]

274 Master of Tai Chi - Vincent Zhao This is a TVB broadcast series clip.

The guy (in white) that Vincent Zhao is playing really steals the show here. Though the choreography is not complex, the guy's kung fu shines so brightly as to require repeated viewing. The style presented in the choreography is the Zhao Bao style of Chen Tai Chi. Some say it is the original style. I see very strong connectives to Shaolin via its push hand and flower hand methods.

Jimbo,

This guy's kung fu body mechanics reminds me very much of Master Wang Tung Feng of Taiwan. I remember Master Wang put out a book on Tai Chi. Could there be a link to what Master Wang teaches and the Zhao Bao style of Chen Tai Chi?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHkLNvKgJUA


mickey

Edit: Found Him!!!(the guy in white, still in white)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79lfEBj2Ohs

[Jimbo]

Nice finds, mickey. I'd never seen the Zhao Bao style before.

[Jimbo]

275 - The Tournament

(Angela Mao vs. Tony Leung Siu-Hung(??) as Muay Thai fighter)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwgSnd5IS-Y&feature=related

[Jimbo]

276 - The Dead and the Deadly

This film has few fights in it, but the ones it has are fast-paced and very well-done. The main thrust of the film were its supernatural themes. In these fights, Sammo Hung's character is possessed by the ghost of Wu Ma's character. Although these were the end fights, they finish up quite a ways before the movie itself ends.

The movie starred Sammo Hung, Wu Ma, Lam Ching-Ying, Cherie Chung, Chung Fa, Hui Leung-Mei, Kwon Young-Moon, etc.

(End fight; Sammo Hung vs. Kwon Yong-moon, Yuen Wu, and Chung Fa)

**end fights start @ 8:00, and continue over a minute into the second clip**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP20GNe74-k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4LdPOlClQ&feature=related

[Jimbo]

277 - The Killer Wears White (full movie)

Starring: Stephen Tung Wai, Roy Chiao, Yen Shi-Kwan, Wong Ha, Chan Lung.

Killer Wears White is another one of those kung fu films that had relatively few fights, but when the fights do roll around, they tend to be very good. Story-wise, this movie is also well above-average. Both Stephen Tung Wai and Roy Chiao had considerable film careers, but are most familiar in the West as appearing in the opening scenes of Enter The Dragon...Stephen as Bruce Lee's young pupil, and Roy as the head 'Shaolin' monk. Roy also played Jean-Claude Van Damme's teacher in Bloodsport, although Roy himself was not a martial artist. Yen Shi-Kwan gets a chance to play an especially brutal villain.

(End fight; Stephen Tung Wai vs. Wong Ha; Stephen Tung Wai & Roy Chiao vs. Yen Shi-Kwan. **end fights begin @ approximately 1:24:40**)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5lZC7cZGE

[Jimbo]

278 - Daggers 8

The last 1/3 of the film.

(Wilson Tong vs. Lily Li *@ 3:15. End fight; Meng Yuan-Wen vs. Wilson Tong *@ 16:15)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePOs-jp2mr0&feature=related

Meng Yuan-Wen (a.k.a., Meng Yuen-Man) was a classmate of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Corey Yuen, Yuen Wah, etc., at Yu Jim-Yuen's Peking/Beijing Opera school. He was one of the all-time best onscreen acrobats, better than Jackie Chan in that aspect. Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack in 1981 which, although non-fatal, forced him to retire from the film industry.

[Jimbo]

279 - Martial Club (full movie)

The end fight of this was an early entry that had been removed from youtube. It's one of the most kung fu-filled of Lau Kar-Leung's films, which says a lot. Watching it, you can almost get 'kung fu overload.' But the complexity of the choreography, and the excellent camerawork, are a lost art today. The end fight is an all-time classic of movie fu, featuring northern vs. southern kung fu. Starring Gordon Liu as a young Wong Fei-Hong, and Wang Lung-Wei as the northerner. Also with Lau Kar-Leung himself explaining the lion dance.

Unfortunately, parts of the movie become bogged down with some bad comedy, and Mai Te-Lao's character (playing Wong Fei-Hong's pal) becomes especially annoying. The English dub is also not the best, and there are some parts that are in Cantonese w/out subs.

Starring: Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Wang Lung-Wei, Mai Te-Lao, Ku Feng, Chu Tieh-Ho, Ching Chu, Wilson Tong, Hsiao Hou, etc.

(End fight begins @ approximately 1:39:00; Gordon Liu vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK_0FUE6H-I

[Jimbo]

280 - Disciples of Shaolin (1975, full movie)

Starring: Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Chiang Tao, Fung Hark-On, etc.

Disciples of Shaolin is considered one of Fu Sheng's finest films, possibly his best. His co-star, Chi Kuan-Chun, has stated that of all the films he's acted in, DOS is his personal favorite. This movie is a perfect example of how Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan-Chun's contrasting personalities played off each other so well.

DOS was the last Cheng Cheh-directed film in which Lau Kar-Leung worked as martial arts choreographer. The fight scenes are not at all flashy, but are executed with extreme precision. DOS's story was remade, in a modern setting, three years later, as Chinatown Kid, which also starred Fu Sheng.

This has a good English dub, and it is worth watching the whole movie.

(End fights: Fu Sheng vs. Fung Hark-On & Chiang Tao *begins @ approx. 1:21:45; Chi Kuan-Chun vs. Chiang Tao *begins @ approx. 1:44:05)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjS1usgRbLk&feature=related

[Jimbo]

281 - Heroes of the East (Challenge of the Ninja was one of its alternate titles)

(Lau Kar-Leung drunken-style fight; also featuring Gordon Liu & Norman Chu)

This scene stands out as my favorite drunken-style fight scene. Lau shows incredible precision and control, and the moves come across as more martially-oriented than the drunken-style fighting in most KF films.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTR84vNzNR4

[Jimbo]

282 - The Young Vagabond

This movie came out at the very tail-end of Shaw Brothers' movie production run, in 1985. This end fight is notable for a few reasons; there is a resemblance between this fight and the end fight in Thundering Mantis, i.e., the hero goes literally insane. Also, Gordon Liu's onscreen style does not rely on "shapes" as in most of his period films. Gordon's character (Beggar Su) also incorporates more kicks in this fight than he was usually accustomed to doing. But then again, it appears as if Gordon was doubled in some parts of the scene. This is a very rare film, and it's uncertain how many people actually saw it when/if it was ever released theatrically. By 1985, the types of period films that Shaw Bros were noted for were out of style.

(End fight; Gordon Liu vs. Wang Lung-Wei. Also with Kuan Feng)

*End fight begins @ approximately 8:30*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqjQoRMwNLs&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYmGEy6J6w&feature=relmfu

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

You forgot to number your last post.

283: Ed Parker in "The Revenge of the Pink Panther". This was the first time I saw Ed Parker in action. I remember being incredibly impressed. Looking at the choreography now, I see an advanced understanding of camera angles that was not in wide use at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyULfr9DKmc

Though credited to the same movie, I do not remember Ed Parker having lines in the movie. Nor do I remember this scene. Still, it is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diVj0HztoxM


mickey

[Jimbo]

[QUOTE=mickey;1166643]Greetings Jimbo,

You forgot to number your last post.[QUOTE]

Thanks, mickey. Corrected.

I remember seeing Ed Parker in person several times at his Long Beach Internationals over a few years' period. Saw him actually perform only once, in around 1981. He was very fast. At that time, I was still a practicing Kenpo black belt. Kenpo gets some flack on these forums, but I'm certain Ed Parker could have handled himself very, very well. Although I must admit, I've never seen any Kenpo fighters actually fight exactly like the Kenpo self-defense techniques. Except probably Steve Sanders. Anyway, it all comes down to the instructor, the practitioner, and the training methods, just like any other MA system.

[Jimbo]

284 - The Boxer From Shantung (1972) Full movie.

Starring: Chen Kuan-Tai, Cheng Hong-Yip, Ching Li, David Chiang, Tang Yen-Tsan, Leung Gwing-Wan, Ku Feng, Chiang Nan, Feng Yi, Wang Chung, Wang Ching, Tin Ching, Mario Milano (as the Russian wrestler), Yen Shi-Kwan, Hsu Hsia. Directors: Chang Cheh, Pao Hsueh-Li. Martial arts direction: Lau Kar-Leung, Lau Kar-Wing, Tang Chia, Chen Chung.

This is a classic and one of Chang Cheh's best films. This is the movie that catapulted Chen Kuan-Tai to leading-man stardom. Though the fights lack the slickness or the "shapes" that would come into vogue only two years later, the story, acting and violent intensity are all top-notch, as well as the excellent cinematography. English subs with CC.

(End fight; Chen Kuan-Tai vs. Wang Ching, Ku Feng, Tin Ching, Feng Yi, Chiang Nan, etc.)

Although the end fights starts @ 1:46:15, it's definitely worth watching the full movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7uoXPQ3nLk

[Jimbo]

285 - Shaw Brothers 'Shaolin Cycle'

A nice tribute featuring clips from Chang Cheh's Shaolin Cycle of films, which ranged from 1974 through '76. Featuring Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Gordon Liu, Leung Kar-Yan, Chen Kuan-Tai, Li Yi-Min, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Lau Kar-Wing, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=4Ff61mc849Y

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

Initially, I thought this was the Chen Kuan Tai film, Man of Iron. Interestingly, they were made in the same year.

I think the character played by Chen Kuan Tai in Boxer From Shantung actually existed. I remember being told about a Ma Yu Chin, a very good Shaolin fighter. And it could be the same person mentioned in the CCTV documentary on Tan Tui. This may explain some of the moves used in the choreography.


mickey

[Jimbo]

Hi, mickey.

It could be, but the film character's name is actually Ma Yung-Chen. I think they would have used the actual name Ma Yu-Chin if that was who he was playing, like they do with Hung Hsi-Kuan (Hung Hei-Goon), Wong Fei-Hong, etc. But a good call, nonetheless.

When watching The Boxer from Shantung (Shandong), you can clearly see the influence it had on John Woo, who assisted Chang Cheh on the film. There are similarities to Woo's gangster films, such as The Killer, Bullet in the Head, etc. In fact, I consider Boxer from Shantung as more of a gangster film than a kung fu movie. Except that instead of guns, they use fists, axes and knives.

286 - Yuen Biao music video tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfU8tAJABA

I'm among those who firmly believe that Yuen Biao was better than Jackie Chan in terms of physical talent. However, JC was considered to have more charisma and cross-over appeal. I usually found the lack of charisma argument odd, because in his time, Yuen Biao was a good actor with his own type of charisma. One could argue that Yuen had better acting chops than the generation of MA film stars today.

[Jimbo]

287 - John Liu music video tribute

John Liu was one of the most prolific onscreen 'kickers' of the '70s into the early '80s. In spite of having a fairly limited arsenal of moves, he was able to really showcase his talents, and was usually in good to excellent KF films. Of course, he was known for his trademark right leg, with probably 90% of his kicks coming from that side. He was one of the very few performers who could share the screen equally with Hwang Jang-Lee during their onscreen clashes, which was no small feat/feet...pun intended. :) Unfortunately, John Liu never appeared in any Shaw Brothers or Golden Harvest productions. All of his work was with independent studios (including HK's Seasonal Films).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lqoL7DPtQ

[Jimbo]

288 - The Savage Five (1974) full movie

Starring: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan-Tai, Li Hsiu-Hsien (Danny Lee), Wang Chung, Wang Ping-Ping, Chiang Tao, Wang Ching, Frankie Wei, Lu Ti, etc. Directed by Chang Cheh. MA choreography by Tang Chia, Lau Kar-Leung, Ho Chih-Chiang.

The Savage Five appears very much inspired by The Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, and possibly The Professionals (1966). Also, the Spaghetti Western influence is obvious. The soundtrack of The Return of Ringo, by Ennio Morricone, is put to great use.

Choreography-wise, this was in the transition period where the MA action was becoming more intricate/stylized, and away from the "basher" style prevalent in the early '70s. Ti Lung's fights are particularly noteworthy. The story, pacing, etc. are top-notch. The characterizations here are nicely developed, unlike some later Chang Cheh films of the late '70s/early '80s which, although entertaining, the characters in them became less 'real' and more impersonal, almost mechanical.

*End fight begins @ 1:20, but it's best to watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i74GLQqeKYc

[mickey]

289- Brutal Boxer (1972): Chen Sing, Raymond Liu:

Also known as Bloody Fingers, this was supposed to be the bloodiest flick ever produced. Though the choreography was not the greatest, a stand out was a cameo of a Thai boxing champion. He was actually promoted in the trailers. Up until this time, kung fu film fans were limited to the Thai boxing seen in the Chinese Professionals. And the Thai boxing displayed in that film generated a lot of talk amongst those bitten with the kung fu film bug. Well this guy, with his cameo, pretty much steals the moment. He handled the choreography really well. It was such that I had to see the movie again just to see him in action. His scene begins at 8:15:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur9ZEAzNV6E&feature=relmfu

(this is part three of the movie)


mickey

[Jimbo]

290 - Sammo Hung Tribute

Another excellent tribute, this time to the 'Big Brother' of HK action cinema.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TrMahkuvo

[mickey]

291- By The Sword, F. Murray Abraham, Eric Roberts

A trailer was posted earlier on this thread. This is the FULL MOVIE. It is well worth your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2LdNTg_OFw


mickey

[Hebrew Hammer]

290 - Sammo Hung Tribute

Another excellent tribute, this time to the 'Big Brother' of HK action cinema.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TrMahkuvo

That tribute was too short, Sammo one of my all time favs...I always love an athletic portly guy...the Tony Gwynns, Babe Ruths, Jerome Bettis, Natrone Means, etc...not that I resemble them! :eek:

Jimbo, do you know which movie was the one with Sammo and the 3 section staff? I love that weapon and want to watch more of that flick.

[Jimbo]

That tribute was too short, Sammo one of my all time favs...I always love an athletic portly guy...the Tony Gwynns, Babe Ruths, Jerome Bettis, Natrone Means, etc...not that I resemble them! :eek:

Jimbo, do you know which movie was the one with Sammo and the 3 section staff? I love that weapon and want to watch more of that flick.

HH,
The movie is The Victim. Also starring Leung Kar-Yan.

Sammo is also one of my favorites...at the top of my list, in fact, along with Fu Sheng, Lau Kar-Leung, Hwang Jang-Lee, etc.

Edit to add: Props to kingofkungfu2002, the gentleman who compiled this and many of the other tribute vids I've posted links to. It's clear that he puts a lot of thought and work into them.

[Jimbo]

292 - The Fearless Duo (1979)

(End fight; Lau Ka-Yung, Yuen Chu, and Yuen Qiu vs. To Wai-Woo, Hwang Jang-Lee, etc.)

*end fight begins @ approx. 8:00*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QFPqEVeciY&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0mA-TdQ5E&feature=relmfu

This is an extremely long end fight, one which is especially notable for giving Yuen Qiu (playing the older sister) a good showcase for her onscreen staff fighting. Yuen Qiu, a veteran of many old-school KF films, is most familiar to younger viewers for her role in Kung Fu Hustle. She was also one of the "Bond girls" in 1974's The Man With the Golden Gun.

Hwang Jang-Lee's screen time comes more towards the end, but when it finally does, he once again shows why he was the most dominant onscreen villain of the KF movie era. When his end comes (as it inevitably does), it's far from convincing (as it usually is). But in the meantime, he still gets to unleash those amazing, trip-hammer kicks.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I took myself to see The fearless Duo for my birthday many years ago. I was in the theater with a bunch of kung fu movie fanatics and the smell of pot was all around me. I mean, ALL AROUND ME. Then Hwang Jang Lee uttered the most classic line for the day. In response to getting the old master hooked on opium he said, "One puff of this and he's hooked for life!" Just about everybody's hand shot up in the theater screaming "I want some!" "Give me some!" It was a wild and hilarious moment. I did not have to worry about anyone going off in that theater because they were all toked up and toasted.

mickey

[Jimbo]

293 - Stoner (1974)

(End fight; Angela Mao vs. Hwang In-Shik; George Lazenby vs. Sammo Hung, Chin Chi-Chu, & company)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQXGphf0TWQ

George Lazenby, of course, is best known for his one-time 007 role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), considered by many to be one of the best James Bond films.

After appearing as allies in Hapkido, Angela Mao and Hwang In-Shik played onscreen opponents in a few movies, including When Tae Kwon Do Strikes, The Tournament, etc.

[mickey]

294- Jason and The Argonauts. Skeleton Fight. Developed by Ray Harryhausen

A very creative and fascinating use of stop motion animation that still holds up. I think it is because it was not over done. This was probably the inspiration for the Marvel Comics Team Up story, "Knightmare" that paired Iron Man and Dr Doom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9c55SoI3aY

I can't believe I overlooked this one.


mickey

[mickey]

295- Village of the ****ed (1960) George Sanders. This is one of those non martial entries that has a place here. A group of unusual children are born in a community. They have incredible abilities with mental perception and mental control. This last scene is one of a test of will between the character played by George sanders and the children, one of which is his own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF5N0s7lZWM&feature=relmfu


mickey

[Jimbo]

296 - A Force of One (1979)

(end fight, edited; Chuck Norris vs. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDNG2WWXiLk

This was Bill Wallace's first movie appearance, and IMO still probably his best, esp. his scenes in the ring. He was allowed to move in his natural way, in a semi-freestyle manner. In some of his later film appearances (most notably, Jackie Chan's The Protector), Wallace was far less fluid due to the choreography style seeming to be an ill fit for him (check entry #176).

I also liked Chuck Norris's style more in these earlier films, as he performed fluid combinations, and combined hands/feet, right-left sides nicely. Not many years later, he tended to overemphasize the "John Wayne-style" movie punch, with only a kick here or there.

[mickey]

297- The Tenth Victim (1965) Ursula Andress Marcello Mastroanni, Opening Scene:

The premise is to kill ten people for one million dollars. It is ground breaking because the film suggests a reality television format. The film was the forerunner to "Death Race 2000" and the 2001 movie "Series 7, The Contenders". The scene takes place in lower Manhattan. One can see the beginnings of what appears to be preliminary clearing for the World Trade Center construction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axGE8iIgynM&feature=related


298- "Series Seven, the Contenders" (2001) This was inspired by entry 297 and should be a cult favorite by now. It is full of dark humor and I remember people trying to figure out if this flick was real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_331XrCm87c


mickey

[Jimbo]

How's it going, Mickey.

That Tenth Victim clip was very interesting. You're right; it does look a lot like a modern 'reality TV' show.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I am still at the crossroads of life. :) And I am surviving.

You haven't seen this movie? Whoa! You HAVE to. It is a lot of fun and it is definitely a keeper. The opening scene was really attention getting for the time. And its undercurrent premise that death is more important than life is a recurring theme. You even get that in Prince's "Sign of the Times". Series Seven is also very good, much more realistic--which is why people were wondering about it. And it is a keeper as well.


mickey

[Jimbo]

299 - My Young Auntie (full movie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poeSRSiFKw4

(pre-end fight begins @ 1:22:00; End fight begins @ about 1:37:00)

Starring:
Kara Hui, Lau Kar-Leung, Hsiao Hou, Wang Lung-Wei, Yuen Tak, Gordon Liu, Mai Te-Lao, Ching Chu, Kwan Young-Moon, Wilson Tong, Lin Hui-Huang, Walter Tso, Lin Ke-Ming, etc.

This is one of Lau Kar-Leung's best films, although, IMO, a good portion of the middle of it, which consists of long stretches of overdone comedy situations, tends to drag. But YMMV. The action, however, is among the best, esp. the large-scale and highly complex end fights. I've said it before, but the combination of this very difficult choreography and the cinematography are a lost art today. FYI, in this film, Gordon Liu's character is not much of a fighter, and is not a part of the end fight scene. Everyone, esp. Lau Kar-Leung himself and Wang Lung-Wei, is outstanding in the end fight. Of course, with the quality and slickness of a top Shaw Brothers film during its golden era.

[Jimbo]

300 - Killer Constable (a.k.a., Lightning Kung Fu)

(End fight; Chen Kuan-Tai vs. Yuen Wah & company. With Walter Tso).

*end fight begins @ about 1:20*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw1P4SuLrm4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The MA choreography of this Shaw film was shared by Shikamura Yasuyoshi and Huang Pei-Chi.

[Jimbo]

301 - Fists and Guts

(End fight: Gordon Liu vs. Lo Lieh; also featuring Lau Kar-Wing and Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9MGGRNQRyA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Although the late Lo Lieh was never actually a martial artist outside of the movies, with the right choreography, he was able to look good in film fights. Even though he lacked the physical talents of, say, Leung Kar-Yan, another screen fighter who was never a MAist offscreen, Lo was still able to perform in some complex, difficult sequences. And with his characteristic scowl and smirk, he remains one of the classic villains of Kung fu cinema.

[Jimbo]

302 - Monkey Kung Fu (a.k.a., Stroke of Death)*

(End fight; Ching Siu-Tung & Hau Chiu-Sing vs. Kuan Feng)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MmPV42SRdw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

*Not to be confused with the Taiwanese independent production, also titled Monkey Kung Fu, which starred Chen Mu-Chuan (Chen Kuan-Tai's younger brother) and Chang Yi.

This film has long been a favorite of mine, and IMO was director Johnny Lo Mar's best effort. Not a "great film" per se, but the choreography and execution are outstanding, especially for a movie likely classed as a "lesser" Shaw Bros production.

As in The Master Strikes, we see a young Ching Siu-Tung, who also shared choreography duties. This is before he became known mainly as a MA choreographer known for extreme wire work. He displays some impressive screen fighting skill.

Hau Chiu-Sing does a good job as the monkey master. At times his style of movement appeared awkward, but he always seemed to be on point and able to handle difficult choreography.

Most impressive is Kuan Feng as the staff-wielding villain. I rate his fighting performance up there with the all-time best; the cinematic staff fighting is impeccable. As mentioned before, Kuan Feng was surely one of, if not the most, underrated/underused of the Shaw Bros performers. Johnny Lo Mar was the only director who actually allowed him to showcase his talents, and this was probably his best performance; IMO it tops his performance in The Five Superfighters.

[Jimbo]

303 - The Coward B@stard

(End fight; Yuen Wah & Meng Yuan-Wen vs. Wang Lung-Wei & Kuan Feng)

*end fight begins @ 14:25*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxnvbQn0C4

While this isn't a very good movie, it's unique in that Yuen Wah has a co-leading role. Although the bulk of the movie focused on Meng Yuan-Wen's character, Yuen Wah played the straight man to Meng's childish but shrewd character. While most Westerners would mostly know him from his role in Kung Fu Hustle, Yuen Wah has been appearing in films since the 1960s as a child actor, long before his brief appearances in Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon. The kung fu comedy era allowed many beginning and veteran performers to show off more of their athletic and screen-fighting prowess. Yuen Wah usually played supporting heavies and rarely good guys, much less co-leads. Perhaps the closest he would ever approach to such a role again would be as the kung fu teacher in Jet Li's The Master (1989), Kung Fu Hustle (of course), and Fight the Fight (a.k.a., Choy Lee Fut).

Meng Yuan-Wen also appeared in movies as a child actor in the 1960s. Here he plays his usual rubbery-faced kid, but unlike in many of his other films, he never really gets to show off his full physical potential here.

The same can be said for the villains, Wang Lung-Wei and Kuan Feng, who didn't seem particularly challenged by these fight scenes.

[mickey]

304- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974): The Fight with Kali. John Phillip Law and others.

This is one epic scene using the stop motion animation developed and used by Ray Harryhausen. While the audience saw Kali dance in a previous scene this scene caught viewers completely unawares (unless they saw the trailer). While the choreography is nowhere close to advanced the novelty and excitement of this scene stands tall. It makes one wonder how exciting this would be if a remake was done given knowledge of bladed weapons. The scenes featuring the character Gokor in Mortal Combat never came close to this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROssbvtE41U



mickey

[mickey]

305- Walking Tall (1973) Full Movie. Joe Don Baker.

This movie was the talk of the time. What makes this movie relevant today is that the corruption that was depicted in that movie did not die. It went corporate/big business, with government support. Joe Don Baker offers a fictional portrayal of the late Buford Pusser, a real life Tennessee based sheriff who tried to clean up his town.

What makes this an important entry to the pantheon of Kung Fu Expresso is that the character does not give up. He is the true personification of a WARRIOR. And it may take that necessary level of commitment shown here to bring this country back to its people.

Of interest to brothers like sanjuro ronin is the entrance made by the late Brenda Benet at @ 14:01. It is the most amazing entrance I have ever seen. Just the thought reminds me I need something to drink. It is unfortunate she committed suicide at the age of 36.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epIr2nQhSxc


mickey

[sanjuro_ronin]

305- Walking Tall (1973) Full Movie. Joe Don Baker.

This movie was the talk of the time. What makes this movie relevant today is that the corruption that was depicted in that movie did not die. It went corporate/big business, with government support. Joe Don Baker offers a fictional portrayal of the late Buford Pusser, a real life Tennessee based sheriff who tried to clean up his town.

What makes this an important entry to the pantheon of Kung Fu Expresso is that the character does not give up. He is the true personification of a WARRIOR. And it may take that necessary level of commitment shown here to bring this country back to its people.

Of interest to brothers like sanjuro ronin is the entrance made by the late Brenda Benet at @ 14:01. It is the most amazing entrance I have ever seen. Just the thought reminds me I need something to drink. It is unfortunate she committed suicide at the age of 36.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epIr2nQhSxc


mickey

An amazing social commentary movie, what Billy Jack tried to be.
As for Brenda: oh my, oh my, get me some of that pie ;)

[Jimbo]

306 - The Wrecking Crew (1969)

This film, starring Dean Martin and Sharon Tate, was MA-directed by Bruce Lee, and also featured Chuck Norris's first onscreen appearance, in a cameo. In a later part of the movie (not on these clips), Joe Lewis also made an even briefer appearance.

Although the MA fights are poor by today's standards, one must take into account the time period it was made in and who the main actors were. Plus, it isn't a MA film, but a romantic-action-comedy with a little bit of MA in it. It has probably the first southern-style Shaolin salute in an American film (Tate and Kwan).

Unfortunately, Sharon Tate would become the most famous victim of the Charles Manson "family" later that year.

Sharon Tate vs. Nancy Kwan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1glV7vTkb0A&sns=em

Dean Martin vs. Chuck Norris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUfpqa1RaY&sns=em

Bruce Lee with Sharon Tate, Nancy Kwan and Dean Martin (photos)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFLpdIzhH8&sns=em

[Sima Rong]

307- What becomes of the broken hearted?

Temuera Morrison as hard man 'Jake the Muss.' The sequel to 'Once Were Warriors', where Jake has to come to terms with his violence and alcohol problems.

-Pub fight (has a few violence issues):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkflXBg6PKs



-Final fight scene:

Jake the Muss just wants to help get his boy out of a bad situation.
Starts at 3:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsywls9K6Es&feature=related

[mickey]

Greetings Sima Rong:

I had no idea that there was a follow up to Once Were Warriors, a movie that I really loved. Thank you for that.

mickey

[Jimbo]

King Kong (1933)

King Kong vs. T-Rex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYWSOzFMZjg&sns=em

I realize this may be getting a bit far-off from kung fu, but as a child, the original King Kong was my favorite movie, and this was my favorite scene. Only now can I appreciate the difficulty and skill that went into putting this scene on film. The stop-motion animation of the models seems somehow far more 'alive' than the modern CGI monster effects. Keeping the movement characteristics of each animal/combatant unique to its body; the small movements, feints, misses, and realistic takedowns.

[Jimbo]

309 - Dragon Blood (a.k.a., John Liu in Mexico)

(End fight; John Liu vs. Phillip Ko)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7H73dwOKpI&sns=em

Dragon Blood is a perfect example of a very badly-acted movie with some good to great fight scenes; this final fight between Liu and Ko being the one great one. In fact, the two had fought in previous films, but this particular fight was their best. And it's certainly the best fight scene of any of John Liu's self-directed, self-produced films. It was also one of his very last films. Phillip Ko's presence and input into the choreography was probably the big factor in the creativity of this fight in particular. The high quality of the Liu/Ko end fight stands in stark contrast to the rest of the movie.

The movie was set in 1886 along the US-Mexico border, but was actually filmed in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain).

[mickey]

Greetings,

City of Darkness -- Donnie Yen, Colin Chou

I have never seen this film. It is reportedly made in Taiwan. While the choreography is good, it appears so well practiced that the actors appear relaxed with it. Taiwan has made its share of CMA flicks. They don't always make it to the USA. Oftentimes, you need that special connection to see them. The following appears to be a partial compilation of the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4JpBTOfoLE


mickey