The 5 Wickedest Fight Scenes in Martial Arts Movie History
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[/caption]Thus, I have compiled a list of some of the best fights in Martial Arts Movie history, some of them featuring some of our favourite action movie actors.
#5-Jean Claude Van Damme in 1988's Bloodsport
Back in the 80's and 90's, Jean Claude Van Damme amazed the crap out of children and action movie enthusiasts with his 1988 opus, Bloodsport, in which he played an American, Frank Dux, trained in ninjutsu, and fighting in totally illegal, totally underground, and totally freaking awesome international competition, the Kumite. The plucky American, making it to the final, thus enters the fight of his life.
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Although, true, there is almost no blocking to speak of during this fight, Van Damme spin-kicks the absolute crap out of Bolo Yeung, and that totally garners the scene points for being awesome. Both actors have, in keeping with the spirit of the film (actual martial arts fighting), forsaken wires and other cheap "make it easy on the actors" special effects in favour of some good old-fashioned fake blood and slow motion, coupled with Van Damme shouting a lot and being blind for a minute.
[caption id="attachment_39845" align="aligncenter" width="195" caption="They promised jump-kicks, and they delivered!"]
[/caption]#4-Jackie Chan in Drunken Master II (1994).
1994 was a strange time in America. We were dealing with the Rwandan Genocide, depressed Generation X-ers were still getting over Kurt Cobain's death, and Jackie Chan starred in Chinese classic, Drunken Master II, a loose sequel to the first Drunken Master that catapulted Chan to fame. The fight scene is famous (read the quotes on the wikipedia page for the movie), complex, and so much fun to watch, not only because of Chan's fighting virtuosity, but also for the fun of the scene. He drinks heavily while his evil, suit-wearing foes look on, and burps out a bubble at one point, wearing a drunken, imp smile throughout.
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There's really nothing more I can say on this film. It's comedy, it's action, all rolled into one delicious package. The bit where Chan cracks open a drink and, with a defiant grin, starts guzzling down booze, is quite possibly the funniest part of the whole thing.
#3-Tony Jaa in Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Tony Jaa is not quite as well known in the West among the general public, but it is not for a lack of fighting talent at all. His first major film, Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, was an international hit, showcasing Jaa's proficiency with the ancient Muay Thai fighting style, Muay Boran, which emphasises the use of knees and elbows at full speed to beat the absolute piss out of the opponent, severely injuring, or maybe even killing the foe. The fight scene at the end of the film is notable for its gritty, street-fight quality, in which almost anything goes, and the only rule is "don't get killed."
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Holy shit. Just, holy freaking shit. The way it's done, it looks like Jaa is actually, legitimately landing those blows, which look like they could crush bones. I apologise for the profanity, but did you honestly watch that? The choreography of the scene makes it look like the stunt choreographer just said, "Okay, we don't have any wires or CGI. But the camera's right there. Stand in front of it and beat the crap out of each other for a while."
#2-Lam Ching Ying and Frankie Chan in The Prodigal Son (1982)
Lam Ching Ying is a acting legend in China, having starred in the "Hopping Vampire" genre of Chinese films, and working extensively with Bruce Lee himself. In all of his action films, his talent is readily apparent, especially his fluid motion and quick strikes. Although typecast slightly as the stoic martial arts master, it is a role he wears well. In 1982's The Prodigal Son, he plays a Wing Chun master with asthma, and though Wing Chun is a fighting style rarely seen on screen, his display of technique is jaw-dropping. The scene, like the others I have mentioned, is done entirely without wirework or CGI, relying on Lam Ching Ying and Frankie Chan's considerable skills. Lam Ching Ying is in the grey, and Frankie Chan is the dude in yellow.
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The scene is shot beautifully, not taking too much time on slow-motion, choosing to emphasise the speed of the two combatants, and their technical abilities as far as fighting. Plus, Lam Ching Ying totally did a sweet backflip.
#1-Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon (1972).
Who else is going to top this list? It's Bruce-Freaking-Lee, and Pop-Culture Icon, Chuck Norris! There are almost no words to describe this scene. Just...just watch it.
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It is one of the most well-choreographed scenes I've ever seen, and I've watched a metric ton of martial arts movies, most of them foreign with subtitles in garbled English. It's a veritable clash of the titans, though one of them was still in his earlier years, and the other would not go quietly into old age. It lacks the "street-fight" quality that Tony Jaa's fight scenes have, and is more of a duel, unlike the Jackie Chan's fight in Drunken Master II, but it more than makes up for those "failings" with the star power Bruce Lee brings and the suspense it builds, Chuck Norris dominating the fight until Bruce Lee is able to pull it together and finally kill Norris. With Chuck Norris landing a furious kick to Lee's jaw, and then the epic combination of short strikes to Lee's midsection at about three minutes in, the viewer is actually in doubt of Lee winning the fight.
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[/caption]And then Bruce Lee beats the hell out of a hairy, beardless Chuck Norris. It's so epic I kinda need a drink.
David Carradine, although his death is shocking (and kinda weird), is part of a freaking sweet legacy of dudes who set out to make legitimately good martial arts films. Hats off to you, you old dead guy!
