Top Martial Arts Movies of 2014

[GeneChing]

This is in response to s_r's comment (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66443-Rise-of-the-Legend-%26%2340643%3B%26%2339131%3B%26%2340251%3B&p=1279766#post1279766).

My top picks for 2014 are:
The Raid 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?59354-The-Raid-2-(aka-Berandal)-starring-Iko-Uwais)
Kung Fu Jungle (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67782-Kung-Fu-Jungle)
Rise of the Legend (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66443-Rise-of-the-Legend-%26%2340643%3B%26%2339131%3B%26%2340251%3B)

Did I overlook anything? Please link your posts here to threads on this forum. :cool:

[sanjuro_ronin]

Sweet :)

Going on what I SAW (not necessarily that they were release last year so forgiveness, please):

Raid 2
Dragon with Donnie Yen
Once upon a time in Shanghai

[GeneChing]

I thought it a grand idea to do a BEST OF 2014, but no one else has bit so far. :(



Dragon with Donnie Yen
Once upon a time in Shanghai
Dragon (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?58073-Dragon-aka-Swordsman-aka-Wu-Xia) was 2011. I haven't yet seen OUATIS (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67027-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Shanghai) which I feel really bad about as it stars a friend and former contributor, Philip Ng. I anticipate getting a screener very soon as we're doing the sweepstakes (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/sweepstakes-once-upon-a-time-in-shanghai.php).

[sanjuro_ronin]

Just saw Kung fu jungle, that is now on my list.
Very good.

[Jimbo]

The only 2014 films I can think of that I would put on this list are:

The Raid 2 (by a wide margin)
Kundo
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai
Bushido Man

I REALLY want to see Kung Fu Jungle, but will have to wait until it comes out on DVD. Also want to see Rise of the Legend.

For many people, Bushido Man may be a questionable pick. I liked a lot of the old-school style of choreography, and enjoyed it overall. There was also some of that characteristic Japanese movie humor that made it a refreshing change of pace. But YMMV.

[GeneChing]

Just saw it. Loved it.

So to reiterate:
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67027-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Shanghai)
The Raid 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?59354-The-Raid-2-(aka-Berandal)-starring-Iko-Uwais)
Kung Fu Jungle (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67782-Kung-Fu-Jungle)
Rise of the Legend (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66443-Rise-of-the-Legend-%26%2340643%3B%26%2339131%3B%26%2340251%3B)
And I'll add Jimbo's suggestion of Kundo (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67991-Kundo) - thanks for the reminder.

I must beg to differ on Bushido Man (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66448-Bushido-Man) however. For some reason, that one just didn't work for me. It felt too much like an amateur fight highlights reel, not enough like an engaging film to me.

[straightblast5]

Just saw it. Loved it.

So to reiterate:
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67027-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Shanghai)
The Raid 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?59354-The-Raid-2-(aka-Berandal)-starring-Iko-Uwais)
Kung Fu Jungle (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67782-Kung-Fu-Jungle)
Rise of the Legend (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66443-Rise-of-the-Legend-%26%2340643%3B%26%2339131%3B%26%2340251%3B)
And I'll add Jimbo's suggestion of Kundo (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67991-Kundo) - thanks for the reminder.

I must beg to differ on Bushido Man (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66448-Bushido-Man) however. For some reason, that one just didn't work for me. It felt too much like an amateur fight highlights reel, not enough like an engaging film to me.

Happy to have made the list! ;)

Happy New Year of the Goat everyone! :)

-Phil

[straightblast5]

The only 2014 films I can think of that I would put on this list are:

The Raid 2 (by a wide margin)
Kundo
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai
Bushido Man

I REALLY want to see Kung Fu Jungle, but will have to wait until it comes out on DVD. Also want to see Rise of the Legend.

For many people, Bushido Man may be a questionable pick. I liked a lot of the old-school style of choreography, and enjoyed it overall. There was also some of that characteristic Japanese movie humor that made it a refreshing change of pace. But YMMV.

Glad we made your list also :)

-Phil ;)

[straightblast5]

Sweet :)

Going on what I SAW (not necessarily that they were release last year so forgiveness, please):

Raid 2
Dragon with Donnie Yen
Once upon a time in Shanghai

thank you thank you :)
-Phil ;)

[straightblast5]

Just saw it. Loved it.

So to reiterate:
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67027-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Shanghai)
The Raid 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?59354-The-Raid-2-(aka-Berandal)-starring-Iko-Uwais)
Kung Fu Jungle (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67782-Kung-Fu-Jungle)
Rise of the Legend (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66443-Rise-of-the-Legend-%26%2340643%3B%26%2339131%3B%26%2340251%3B)
And I'll add Jimbo's suggestion of Kundo (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67991-Kundo) - thanks for the reminder.

I must beg to differ on Bushido Man (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66448-Bushido-Man) however. For some reason, that one just didn't work for me. It felt too much like an amateur fight highlights reel, not enough like an engaging film to me.

Just a bit of insider information - "Once Upon A Time In Shanghai" has just been nominated for best Action Choreography at this year's (2015) Hong Kong Film Awards. Got some heavy competition this year, but I am already extremely grateful that the film got nominated :)

Here's a list of this year's nominees - http://www.yesasia.com/global/yumcha/hong-kong-film-awards/0-0-0-aeid.1000-en/film-awards.html

-Phil :)