The Lama Avenger (alternate title: The Three Avengers; 1979, Hong Kong). Director: Wong Wah-Kay. Action director: Chin Yuet-Sang.
*Full movie.
Tha Lama Avenger was another one of Ho Chung-Tao’s (AKA Bruce Li) best films.
However, it’s co-star Chin Yuet-Sang who steals the show. Chin Yuet-Sang usually played minor characters and bad guys who ended up getting squashed, either by the heroes or by the villains (depending on what type of character he was playing). Starting in 1967, he appeared in over 100 movies over a 30-year span. He was a stunt extra in Enter the Dragon. Also, as a stunt extra in the James Bond film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’, he was humorously manhandled by Roger Moore). He rarely got to show off his potential or win his onscreen fights. A lot of that was probably due to his facial appearance. Which was unfortunate, as Chin Yuet-Sang was an outstanding acrobat (due to his Peking Opera background) and was good at comedic scenes. He also possessed outstanding technique. He also worked behind the scenes on many excellent kung fu films as a fight choreographer.
Lee Hoi-Sang was one of the best villains of the golden age of kung fu movies, and he excels as the arch-villain here.
Final fight (starting from 1:14:48); Chin Yuet-Sang, Michael Winston & Ho Chung-Tao vs Lee Hoi-Sang:
https://youtu.be/3M8t9LIWYbY
Jim
Favorite movie fight scenes
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Bruce and the Iron Finger (alternate titles; Bruce Against Iron Hand; Bruce vs the Iron Hand; 1979, Hong Kong). Director: Tu Lo-Po. Action directors: Bruce Leung (Leung Siu-Lung) & Tony Leung Siu-Hung.
This is yet another of the better films of Ho Chung-Tao (AKA Bruce Li). Note that out of all of his films I’ve included in this thread, none of them were among his Bruce Lee imitation/exploitation films. Ho Chung-Tao actually hated having the “Bruce Li” moniker foisted on him by the movie studios early in his career. Many of his non-exploitation films were quite good.
Bruce Leung (the one wearing the red track suit throughout the film) did play an “after-death” Bruce Lee in the spirit world in one movie, but despite his name, he was not really a Bruce Lee imitator. He had acted in movies since the 1960s, and at one point was the youngest stunt performer in Hong Kong. In real life, he was (and still is) a highly accomplished martial artist, and unlike some actors, he had notoriety for his ability in real fights, as well as in the movies. In 2004, he came out of a 16-year retirement from movies to appear as “The Beast” in Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Hustle,’ and he has remained active in films at least up to last year. Now in his early 70s, he can still kick, punch and move like a much younger man. In this movie, he played a practitioner of the “Iron Finger” (which the villain also practices).
Although Ho Chung-Tao showed good martial arts skills, it’s clear from comparing them together that Bruce Leung was the quicker, more accomplished, sharper, and more precise martial artist. Bruce Leung also had a comic sense, while Ho Chung-Tao was always dead serious.
The arch-villain, played by Ku Feng, possesses “Iron Finger,” as well as the ability of “Iron Shirt/Iron Cloth” (Tie Bu Shan), similar to “Golden Bell Cover” (see earlier posts), which makes him somewhat immune to blows, except for a built-in weakness, as in characters (usually villains) in countless other kung fu films. This time is a bit more unusual, because it’s in a movie set in modern times.
The full movie in a clearer version is available on YouTube under its alternate title, Bruce vs the Iron Hand/Bruce Against Iron Hand, but I didn’t post the full movie because it contains some scenes that may be deemed inappropriate for this forum.
Training scene: Bruce Leung vs Wang Kuang-Yu:
https://youtu.be/MAeVjl4oVuc
Final fight, part 1: Bruce Leung & Ho Chung-Tao vs henchmen (including Fang Yeh & Ta Hsu-Yen):
https://youtu.be/u4ANb5KEo9c
Final fight, part 2: Ho Chung-Tao & Bruce Leung vs Ku Feng:
https://youtu.be/HNxkWXwgNQ8
Jim
This is yet another of the better films of Ho Chung-Tao (AKA Bruce Li). Note that out of all of his films I’ve included in this thread, none of them were among his Bruce Lee imitation/exploitation films. Ho Chung-Tao actually hated having the “Bruce Li” moniker foisted on him by the movie studios early in his career. Many of his non-exploitation films were quite good.
Bruce Leung (the one wearing the red track suit throughout the film) did play an “after-death” Bruce Lee in the spirit world in one movie, but despite his name, he was not really a Bruce Lee imitator. He had acted in movies since the 1960s, and at one point was the youngest stunt performer in Hong Kong. In real life, he was (and still is) a highly accomplished martial artist, and unlike some actors, he had notoriety for his ability in real fights, as well as in the movies. In 2004, he came out of a 16-year retirement from movies to appear as “The Beast” in Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Hustle,’ and he has remained active in films at least up to last year. Now in his early 70s, he can still kick, punch and move like a much younger man. In this movie, he played a practitioner of the “Iron Finger” (which the villain also practices).
Although Ho Chung-Tao showed good martial arts skills, it’s clear from comparing them together that Bruce Leung was the quicker, more accomplished, sharper, and more precise martial artist. Bruce Leung also had a comic sense, while Ho Chung-Tao was always dead serious.
The arch-villain, played by Ku Feng, possesses “Iron Finger,” as well as the ability of “Iron Shirt/Iron Cloth” (Tie Bu Shan), similar to “Golden Bell Cover” (see earlier posts), which makes him somewhat immune to blows, except for a built-in weakness, as in characters (usually villains) in countless other kung fu films. This time is a bit more unusual, because it’s in a movie set in modern times.
The full movie in a clearer version is available on YouTube under its alternate title, Bruce vs the Iron Hand/Bruce Against Iron Hand, but I didn’t post the full movie because it contains some scenes that may be deemed inappropriate for this forum.
Training scene: Bruce Leung vs Wang Kuang-Yu:
https://youtu.be/MAeVjl4oVuc
Final fight, part 1: Bruce Leung & Ho Chung-Tao vs henchmen (including Fang Yeh & Ta Hsu-Yen):
https://youtu.be/u4ANb5KEo9c
Final fight, part 2: Ho Chung-Tao & Bruce Leung vs Ku Feng:
https://youtu.be/HNxkWXwgNQ8
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Incredible Kung Fu Mission (alternate title: Kung Fu Commandos; 1979, Taiwan). Director: Chang Hsin-Yi. Action director: Robert Tai.
*Full movie.
The big fight in the compound is followed almost immediately by the final fight.
Rescue from the compound and fight (starting @ 1:14:50): Robert Tai vs Chin Lung & Ting Hua-Chung; John Liu, Alexander Lo Rei & Yu Sung-Chao vs Robert Tai. Final fight: John Liu vs Alan Chui:
https://youtu.be/jJid5CRJWzU
Jim
*Full movie.
The big fight in the compound is followed almost immediately by the final fight.
Rescue from the compound and fight (starting @ 1:14:50): Robert Tai vs Chin Lung & Ting Hua-Chung; John Liu, Alexander Lo Rei & Yu Sung-Chao vs Robert Tai. Final fight: John Liu vs Alan Chui:
https://youtu.be/jJid5CRJWzU
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Dragon Blood (alternate title: John Liu in Mexico; 1982, Hong Kong; filmed in Tenerife). Director: John Liu. Action directors: John Liu & Philip Ko Fei.
*Full movie.
**CAVEAT: Although the final fight scene between John Liu and Philip Ko Fei is excellent, Dragon Blood is a TERRIBLE movie. The only reason I posted the whole movie is because there isn’t a stand-alone clip of the final fight by itself. This was John Liu’s final movie before he retired from films, and the third movie by his own “John Liu’s Film Corp.”. All three of his own self-directed movies were vanity projects in which he basically played himself; his characters in these films were all named John Liu. All three of his self-directed-and-starring movies were also shot in Europe (John Liu had a French wife and actually lived in France throughout his film career in Asia), and fared poorly in the Hong Kong and Taiwan box office. So even though John Liu’s Taiwanese films usually had good storylines and were quite popular in Asia, especially in Taiwan (where he had previously lived and taught martial arts for many years), his film career tanked starting with his own self-produced and self-directed productions. His fantastic kicking abilities were not enough to retain audience interest, because his own storylines and directing were simply awful.
Dragon Blood has the distinction of being set in 1886 (Liu’s other two self-directed films were set in modern times), and is set along the U.S.-Mexico border. It was actually filmed in Tenerife, the Canary Islands (Spain), doubling as the American Southwest.
The very ending of this movie is one of the absolute worst endings of any movie.
John Liu didn’t appear in another film again until he played the villain in Trinity Goes East, directed by Robert Tai, in 1998.
Dragon Blood also co-stars French actress Cyrielle Clair and French-Vietnamese karate champion Roger Paschy. Roger Paschy appeared in all three of John Liu’s self-directed films.
Of possible interest to knife nuts: John Liu carries a Spanish Navaja folding knife in his bag, seen just after the opening credits.
The final John Liu/Philip Ko Fei fight had some of John Liu’s sharpest kicking, and Philip Ko Fei was awesome as usual, elevating whatever scenes he was in.
Final fight: John Liu vs Philip Ko Fei (note: fight goes from 1:14:20 to 1:20:45, then picks up again from 1:21:47 to 1:22:40):
https://youtu.be/Bl1snKCG_eo
Jim
*Full movie.
**CAVEAT: Although the final fight scene between John Liu and Philip Ko Fei is excellent, Dragon Blood is a TERRIBLE movie. The only reason I posted the whole movie is because there isn’t a stand-alone clip of the final fight by itself. This was John Liu’s final movie before he retired from films, and the third movie by his own “John Liu’s Film Corp.”. All three of his own self-directed movies were vanity projects in which he basically played himself; his characters in these films were all named John Liu. All three of his self-directed-and-starring movies were also shot in Europe (John Liu had a French wife and actually lived in France throughout his film career in Asia), and fared poorly in the Hong Kong and Taiwan box office. So even though John Liu’s Taiwanese films usually had good storylines and were quite popular in Asia, especially in Taiwan (where he had previously lived and taught martial arts for many years), his film career tanked starting with his own self-produced and self-directed productions. His fantastic kicking abilities were not enough to retain audience interest, because his own storylines and directing were simply awful.
Dragon Blood has the distinction of being set in 1886 (Liu’s other two self-directed films were set in modern times), and is set along the U.S.-Mexico border. It was actually filmed in Tenerife, the Canary Islands (Spain), doubling as the American Southwest.
The very ending of this movie is one of the absolute worst endings of any movie.
John Liu didn’t appear in another film again until he played the villain in Trinity Goes East, directed by Robert Tai, in 1998.
Dragon Blood also co-stars French actress Cyrielle Clair and French-Vietnamese karate champion Roger Paschy. Roger Paschy appeared in all three of John Liu’s self-directed films.
Of possible interest to knife nuts: John Liu carries a Spanish Navaja folding knife in his bag, seen just after the opening credits.
The final John Liu/Philip Ko Fei fight had some of John Liu’s sharpest kicking, and Philip Ko Fei was awesome as usual, elevating whatever scenes he was in.
Final fight: John Liu vs Philip Ko Fei (note: fight goes from 1:14:20 to 1:20:45, then picks up again from 1:21:47 to 1:22:40):
https://youtu.be/Bl1snKCG_eo
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Two Fists Against the Law (1980; Hong Kong). Director: Chan Chuen. Action director: Chung Fat.
*Full movie.
Co-leading man Alan Chui (full Cantonese name: Chui Chung-San; Mandarin: Hsu Chung-Hsin) came from a Peking Opera background. He started off in movies as a child actor, first appearing in the classic wuxia film Come Drink With Me (1966). Throughout his career, he appeared in over 130 films, and also action-directed a number of films as well. He was also an extra in Enter the Dragon, and was one of three of Han’s guards (along with Philip Ko Fei and Peter Chan Lung) who escorted John Saxon out to his fight against Bolo Yeung. Although usually cast as villains in movies such as Incredible Kung Fu Mission (see two posts above) and The 7 Grand Masters (see page 13 of this thread), he also effectively played protagonists in a few films.
Most of the people who dubbed this film into English were from what some old-school fans have referred to as ‘The B Team’, as their voices weren’t as good as the normal English dubbers of that time period. Especially the man who dubbed Hwang Jang-Lee’s voice. The original Cantonese with English subtitles version is also available online, and the picture is *a bit* clearer, but it looks like more of the picture on the screen was cut off, so I posted this version.
Hwang Jang-Lee vs Alan Chui (@ 46:20).
Final fights: Hwang Jang-Lee vs Melvin Wong (@ 107:05); Alan Chui & Chih I-Hsiung vs Hwang Jang-Lee (@ 109:47):
https://youtu.be/BFgtAsy5BKI
Jim
*Full movie.
Co-leading man Alan Chui (full Cantonese name: Chui Chung-San; Mandarin: Hsu Chung-Hsin) came from a Peking Opera background. He started off in movies as a child actor, first appearing in the classic wuxia film Come Drink With Me (1966). Throughout his career, he appeared in over 130 films, and also action-directed a number of films as well. He was also an extra in Enter the Dragon, and was one of three of Han’s guards (along with Philip Ko Fei and Peter Chan Lung) who escorted John Saxon out to his fight against Bolo Yeung. Although usually cast as villains in movies such as Incredible Kung Fu Mission (see two posts above) and The 7 Grand Masters (see page 13 of this thread), he also effectively played protagonists in a few films.
Most of the people who dubbed this film into English were from what some old-school fans have referred to as ‘The B Team’, as their voices weren’t as good as the normal English dubbers of that time period. Especially the man who dubbed Hwang Jang-Lee’s voice. The original Cantonese with English subtitles version is also available online, and the picture is *a bit* clearer, but it looks like more of the picture on the screen was cut off, so I posted this version.
Hwang Jang-Lee vs Alan Chui (@ 46:20).
Final fights: Hwang Jang-Lee vs Melvin Wong (@ 107:05); Alan Chui & Chih I-Hsiung vs Hwang Jang-Lee (@ 109:47):
https://youtu.be/BFgtAsy5BKI
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Shaolin vs Wu Tang (1983, Hong Kong). Director: Gordon Liu. Action director: Lau Kar-Leung.
*Full movie.
The picture is a little dark and not the best quality, but it’s acceptable; and this is the best quality for this particular movie I could find on YouTube.
Final fights (starting from 16:22): Gordon Liu vs Adam Cheng. Gordon Liu & Adam Cheng vs Wang Lung-Wei (featuring Ching Li as Wang Lung-Wei’s sister):
https://youtu.be/miEQJ8F3CSU
Jim
*Full movie.
The picture is a little dark and not the best quality, but it’s acceptable; and this is the best quality for this particular movie I could find on YouTube.
Final fights (starting from 16:22): Gordon Liu vs Adam Cheng. Gordon Liu & Adam Cheng vs Wang Lung-Wei (featuring Ching Li as Wang Lung-Wei’s sister):
https://youtu.be/miEQJ8F3CSU
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968, Italy; filmed in Utah and Arizona). Director: Sergio Leone.
Final Duel; Charles Bronson vs Henry Fonda:
https://youtu.be/BdK0jaLuJL8
Jim
Final Duel; Charles Bronson vs Henry Fonda:
https://youtu.be/BdK0jaLuJL8
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Super Power (1980, Hong Kong). Director: Lin Chan-Wai. Action directors: Tang Tak-Cheung & Wong Chi-Ming.
*Full movie.
IMO, this movie shows Indonesian martial arts star Billy Chong (AKA Willy Dozan) at his physical peak. He had an abundance of charisma, and was equally adept with both his hands and his legs. Concerning the latter, IMO, Billy Chong was perhaps the most underrated kicker in martial arts cinema. Unlike most of the often-touted “super kickers,” Billy kicked equally well with both legs, and his ability to transition between techniques (hands/feet, hands/hands, and feet/feet) was outstanding. Billy Chong certainly could have easily held his own in a “kicking duel” with John Liu, for example, and Billy’s ambidexterity, transitions and all-around versatility were better. In real life, he was (and still is) an expert at Kyokushin karate, as well as having studied some kung fu. He also taught hand to hand combat to the Indonesian army in the ‘80s (almost certainly after he left Hong Kong after 1983).
Hau Chiu-Sing was an interesting choice for the arch-villain. At first glance, he might appear inadequate as an arch-villain against Billy Chong. Some might think he was a bit awkward, but he actually moved well and was fluid, relaxed and whippy, and he acted the part convincingly. He was only in a few movies, including Monkey Kung Fu (the second entry on page 1 of this thread), Five Superfighters, and two of Billy’s earlier movies (Sun Dragon, and Jade Claw/Crystal Fist), also all earlier entries in this thread.
The English dubbing here is excellent, by members of what has been referred to as the “A Team” of old-school English dubbers.
The training sequences and the last 3 fights pretty much run together.
(From 1:03:07): Training sequences (featuring Billy Chong & Wong Chi-Ming), contemplation, and challenge:
(From 1:09:23): Billy Chong vs Ho Ki-Cheong:
(From 1:14:20): Billy Chong vs Chiang Tao:
Final fight (from 1:18:35): Billy Chong vs Hau Chiu-Sing:
https://youtu.be/zxqrSmkKkUk
Jim
*Full movie.
IMO, this movie shows Indonesian martial arts star Billy Chong (AKA Willy Dozan) at his physical peak. He had an abundance of charisma, and was equally adept with both his hands and his legs. Concerning the latter, IMO, Billy Chong was perhaps the most underrated kicker in martial arts cinema. Unlike most of the often-touted “super kickers,” Billy kicked equally well with both legs, and his ability to transition between techniques (hands/feet, hands/hands, and feet/feet) was outstanding. Billy Chong certainly could have easily held his own in a “kicking duel” with John Liu, for example, and Billy’s ambidexterity, transitions and all-around versatility were better. In real life, he was (and still is) an expert at Kyokushin karate, as well as having studied some kung fu. He also taught hand to hand combat to the Indonesian army in the ‘80s (almost certainly after he left Hong Kong after 1983).
Hau Chiu-Sing was an interesting choice for the arch-villain. At first glance, he might appear inadequate as an arch-villain against Billy Chong. Some might think he was a bit awkward, but he actually moved well and was fluid, relaxed and whippy, and he acted the part convincingly. He was only in a few movies, including Monkey Kung Fu (the second entry on page 1 of this thread), Five Superfighters, and two of Billy’s earlier movies (Sun Dragon, and Jade Claw/Crystal Fist), also all earlier entries in this thread.
The English dubbing here is excellent, by members of what has been referred to as the “A Team” of old-school English dubbers.
The training sequences and the last 3 fights pretty much run together.
(From 1:03:07): Training sequences (featuring Billy Chong & Wong Chi-Ming), contemplation, and challenge:
(From 1:09:23): Billy Chong vs Ho Ki-Cheong:
(From 1:14:20): Billy Chong vs Chiang Tao:
Final fight (from 1:18:35): Billy Chong vs Hau Chiu-Sing:
https://youtu.be/zxqrSmkKkUk
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
It'a got absolutely nothing on artists such as mentioned earlier, but some of the first Matrix and Reloaded's fight scenes always felt so good to watch.
Ip Man also has some genuinely baffling fight choreography, and I'm a sucker for Jackie Chan's stuns.
Ip Man also has some genuinely baffling fight choreography, and I'm a sucker for Jackie Chan's stuns.
European amateur knife enthusiast
Hikes and outdoors galore
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Hikes and outdoors galore
Motorcycle enthusiastIn the knoife box : M4 Millie, Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie, TOPS Tanimboca
In the future : CE/SE/Rex45/MagnaCut Millie, K2, Slysz Bowie, linerlock Sage
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Hi, ThomC, and yes, I agree that those are all good movies! Of the three films in the original The Matrix series, I especially liked the first one, and the fight scenes were directed by Yuen Woo-Ping and his brothers.
The first two Ip Man movies were fight choreographed mainly by Sammo Hung, and the third and fourth installments were choreographed by Yuen Woo-Ping.
Thank you for contributing!
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
The Buddha Assassinator (1980, Hong Kong; filmed in Taiwan). Director: Tung Chin-Hu. Action directors: Corey Yuen & Chin Yuet-Sang.
Meng Hoi (AKA Mang Hoi) was another kung fu actor who had a brief appearance in Enter the Dragon. In his case, he was the little kid to whom Bruce Lee handed the rope connecting the rowboat that the foreign bully was sitting in to the Chinese junk. He was also another acrobat that came from a Peking Opera background.
Hwang Jang-Lee is impressively powerful again, as usual. He and Meng Hoi also fought each other in The ****’s Wind Staff (an entry on the previous page of this thread). Meng Hoi was not completely convincing as someone who would beat Hwang in a fight, but of course, suspension of disbelief is mandatory when watching any type of action movies, including kung fu and other martial arts films.
Although the fight choreography has a staccato rhythm, one of the things I really love about these old-school kung fu movies is the cinematography; the masterful way the cameramen captured every single complex movement and expression. They also knew when and how much to zoom in or zoom out to always capture everything at the perfect distancing and angles. This unique style of cinematography, shared by many of the Hong Kong action cinematographers of that era, is a lost art today.
Spear fight: Meng Hoi vs Lung Fei & Hou Po-Wei. Final fight (starting at 3:43): Hwang Jang-Lee vs Chin Yuet-Sang; Meng Hoi vs Hwang Jang-Lee:
https://youtu.be/ehqAgeewn_o
Jim
Meng Hoi (AKA Mang Hoi) was another kung fu actor who had a brief appearance in Enter the Dragon. In his case, he was the little kid to whom Bruce Lee handed the rope connecting the rowboat that the foreign bully was sitting in to the Chinese junk. He was also another acrobat that came from a Peking Opera background.
Hwang Jang-Lee is impressively powerful again, as usual. He and Meng Hoi also fought each other in The ****’s Wind Staff (an entry on the previous page of this thread). Meng Hoi was not completely convincing as someone who would beat Hwang in a fight, but of course, suspension of disbelief is mandatory when watching any type of action movies, including kung fu and other martial arts films.
Although the fight choreography has a staccato rhythm, one of the things I really love about these old-school kung fu movies is the cinematography; the masterful way the cameramen captured every single complex movement and expression. They also knew when and how much to zoom in or zoom out to always capture everything at the perfect distancing and angles. This unique style of cinematography, shared by many of the Hong Kong action cinematographers of that era, is a lost art today.
Spear fight: Meng Hoi vs Lung Fei & Hou Po-Wei. Final fight (starting at 3:43): Hwang Jang-Lee vs Chin Yuet-Sang; Meng Hoi vs Hwang Jang-Lee:
https://youtu.be/ehqAgeewn_o
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
It's great to discover some very different movies share such traits.James Y wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:16 pmHi, ThomC, and yes, I agree that those are all good movies! Of the three films in the original The Matrix series, I especially liked the first one, and the fight scenes were directed by Yuen Woo-Ping and his brothers.
The first two Ip Man movies were fight choreographed mainly by Sammo Hung, and the third and fourth installments were choreographed by Yuen Woo-Ping.
Thank you for contributing!
Jim
I know it's not hand-to-hand, but I thought the last Dredd movie had some very well crafted firefights and close quarter scenes. Felt like Karl Urban was a very natural fit for the role, and I'm sad the movie did not catch more light as I came to understand that it had a relatively high budget.
I've strayed towards more paced and thought out action movies rather than the unbearable jumble of jump cuts that litter many releases, and it was a very satisfying film in that respect.
I still have the Raid, Heat and some Woo/Chow films on my watch list. I'll have to add some from this thread too !
European amateur knife enthusiast
Hikes and outdoors galore
Motorcycle enthusiast
In the knoife box : M4 Millie, Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie, TOPS Tanimboca
In the future : CE/SE/Rex45/MagnaCut Millie, K2, Slysz Bowie, linerlock Sage
Hikes and outdoors galore
Motorcycle enthusiastIn the knoife box : M4 Millie, Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie, TOPS Tanimboca
In the future : CE/SE/Rex45/MagnaCut Millie, K2, Slysz Bowie, linerlock Sage
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
ThomC,ThomC wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:29 pmIt's great to discover some very different movies share such traits.James Y wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:16 pmHi, ThomC, and yes, I agree that those are all good movies! Of the three films in the original The Matrix series, I especially liked the first one, and the fight scenes were directed by Yuen Woo-Ping and his brothers.
The first two Ip Man movies were fight choreographed mainly by Sammo Hung, and the third and fourth installments were choreographed by Yuen Woo-Ping.
Thank you for contributing!
Jim
I know it's not hand-to-hand, but I thought the last Dredd movie had some very well crafted firefights and close quarter scenes. Felt like Karl Urban was a very natural fit for the role, and I'm sad the movie did not catch more light as I came to understand that it had a relatively high budget.
I've strayed towards more paced and thought out action movies rather than the unbearable jumble of jump cuts that litter many releases, and it was a very satisfying film in that respect.
I still have the Raid, Heat and some Woo/Chow films on my watch list. I'll have to add some from this thread too !
Those are some great movies on your to-watch list. My favorite John Woo/Chow Yun-Fat movie is Hard-Boiled.
The Raid is great, but IMO, The Raid 2 is twice as good. It’s one of the few sequels that surpasses the original.
Of course, Heat is a classic.
You might also consider (if you haven’t already seen them) the Korean movies The Man From Nowhere, and I Saw the Devil.
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Django (1966, Italy; filmed in Italy & Spain). Director: Sergio Corbucci.
Although I thought Tarantino’s 2012 film Django Unchained was a very good film, when I think of the Django character, it’s always Franco Nero and this movie that come to mind. Nero even had a brief cameo in Django Unchained, probably as a Tarantino in-joke for those familiar with the original movie.
Although there is an English-dubbed version, and the setting is the American Southwest, I prefer the original Italian-language version with English subs, as especially during the final showdown, the meaning of the original dialogue was completely changed for the English-dubbed dialogue, and the original had more meaning and feeling behind it (IMO). These clips don’t have English subtitles, but it doesn’t really matter.
Like the Leone/Eastwood movie A Fistful of Dollars, Django’s storyline was based on Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.
Django (Franco Nero) opens his coffin:
https://youtu.be/vHqvpn5kACM
Final showdown: Franco Nero vs Eduardo Fajardo & Confederate Red Shirts:
https://youtu.be/01bCAk3E1mE
Jim
Although I thought Tarantino’s 2012 film Django Unchained was a very good film, when I think of the Django character, it’s always Franco Nero and this movie that come to mind. Nero even had a brief cameo in Django Unchained, probably as a Tarantino in-joke for those familiar with the original movie.
Although there is an English-dubbed version, and the setting is the American Southwest, I prefer the original Italian-language version with English subs, as especially during the final showdown, the meaning of the original dialogue was completely changed for the English-dubbed dialogue, and the original had more meaning and feeling behind it (IMO). These clips don’t have English subtitles, but it doesn’t really matter.
Like the Leone/Eastwood movie A Fistful of Dollars, Django’s storyline was based on Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.
Django (Franco Nero) opens his coffin:
https://youtu.be/vHqvpn5kACM
Final showdown: Franco Nero vs Eduardo Fajardo & Confederate Red Shirts:
https://youtu.be/01bCAk3E1mE
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Clan of the White Lotus (alternate title: Fist of the White Lotus; 1980, Hong Kong). Director: Lo Lieh. Action director: Lau Kar-Leung (Mandarin pronunciation: Liu Chia-Liang).
Clan of the White Lotus was a loose remake of Executioners From Shaolin (see page 8 of this thread). But instead of Priest Pai Mei being the arch-villain, in this movie, he is killed off in the opening credits, and his equally evil classmate, Priest White Lotus, comes to take revenge on the Shaolin rebels who killed Pai Mei. Priest White Lotus has all the powers of his brother Pai Mei (such as “Golden Bell”/“Iron Shirt” invincibility skill) and more; he also possesses Qinggong, or “Body Lightness kung fu”, which allows him to literally float away from an opponent’s forceful attacks. He also uses palm strikes capable of killing the recipients after they take a certain number of steps (in this film, it’s either 7 steps or 100 steps). Like Priest Pai Mei in Executioners From Shaolin, Priest White Lotus is only defeated after multiple failed attempts.
As usual, Gordon Liu’s acting is excellent, and he gets to display why he was one of cinema’s best specialists in southern-style kung fu hand techniques, among other things.
This movie was one of the kung fu films that was a clear influence on Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 2. For that, Tarantino got Gordon Liu to play the Priest Pai Mei.
*This post has 5 clips altogether.
Opening credits fight: Gordon Liu & Lee King-Chu vs Priest Pai Mei (Wilson Tong):
https://youtu.be/xxxfXdb6Kxc
(@ 5:02); Priest White Lotus (Lo Lieh) vs Gordon Liu, Lee King-Chu, & Shaolin rebels:
https://youtu.be/YrB6jVxOZy0
Gordon Liu vs swordsmen (Hsiao Hou & Shen Hsien); Gordon Liu vs Lo Lieh:
https://youtu.be/sNJuwNBwJkw
Gordon Liu vs Wang Lung-Wei:
https://youtu.be/uM9xY3UomDc
Final fight: Gordon Liu vs guards & Lo Lieh:
https://youtu.be/--dBTDXdB6E
Jim
Clan of the White Lotus was a loose remake of Executioners From Shaolin (see page 8 of this thread). But instead of Priest Pai Mei being the arch-villain, in this movie, he is killed off in the opening credits, and his equally evil classmate, Priest White Lotus, comes to take revenge on the Shaolin rebels who killed Pai Mei. Priest White Lotus has all the powers of his brother Pai Mei (such as “Golden Bell”/“Iron Shirt” invincibility skill) and more; he also possesses Qinggong, or “Body Lightness kung fu”, which allows him to literally float away from an opponent’s forceful attacks. He also uses palm strikes capable of killing the recipients after they take a certain number of steps (in this film, it’s either 7 steps or 100 steps). Like Priest Pai Mei in Executioners From Shaolin, Priest White Lotus is only defeated after multiple failed attempts.
As usual, Gordon Liu’s acting is excellent, and he gets to display why he was one of cinema’s best specialists in southern-style kung fu hand techniques, among other things.
This movie was one of the kung fu films that was a clear influence on Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 2. For that, Tarantino got Gordon Liu to play the Priest Pai Mei.
*This post has 5 clips altogether.
Opening credits fight: Gordon Liu & Lee King-Chu vs Priest Pai Mei (Wilson Tong):
https://youtu.be/xxxfXdb6Kxc
(@ 5:02); Priest White Lotus (Lo Lieh) vs Gordon Liu, Lee King-Chu, & Shaolin rebels:
https://youtu.be/YrB6jVxOZy0
Gordon Liu vs swordsmen (Hsiao Hou & Shen Hsien); Gordon Liu vs Lo Lieh:
https://youtu.be/sNJuwNBwJkw
Gordon Liu vs Wang Lung-Wei:
https://youtu.be/uM9xY3UomDc
Final fight: Gordon Liu vs guards & Lo Lieh:
https://youtu.be/--dBTDXdB6E
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Lion vs Lion (alternate title: Roar of the Lion; 1981, Hong Kong). Directors: Hsu Hsia & Chin Yuet-Sang. Action directors: Hsu Hsia & Chin Yuet-Sang.
These two clips are the only fights from this movie I could find on YouTube. Unfortunately, the movie’s best fight, between arch-villain Wang Lung-Wei and Chin Yuet-Sang, isn’t one of them.
I have no idea why whoever posted the clip of Wang Lung-Wei vs Sharon Yeung (AKA Yeung Pan-Pan) referred to her as “Ling Xiaoyu/Tekken character (whoever that is). Although she was never one of the top stars, Sharon Yeung is a veteran of many Hong Kong movies.
Teahouse fight: Lo Meng vs thugs:
https://youtu.be/rRj9rPtUj90
Wang Lung-Wei vs Sharon Yeung (also featuring Wong Yue). Note: The paper that Wang Lung-Wei pulls out and reads says “zougou,” literally translated as “running dog,” referring to him as a lackey (in this case, of the Manchus).
https://youtu.be/ifKY8AYxEtI
Jim
These two clips are the only fights from this movie I could find on YouTube. Unfortunately, the movie’s best fight, between arch-villain Wang Lung-Wei and Chin Yuet-Sang, isn’t one of them.
I have no idea why whoever posted the clip of Wang Lung-Wei vs Sharon Yeung (AKA Yeung Pan-Pan) referred to her as “Ling Xiaoyu/Tekken character (whoever that is). Although she was never one of the top stars, Sharon Yeung is a veteran of many Hong Kong movies.
Teahouse fight: Lo Meng vs thugs:
https://youtu.be/rRj9rPtUj90
Wang Lung-Wei vs Sharon Yeung (also featuring Wong Yue). Note: The paper that Wang Lung-Wei pulls out and reads says “zougou,” literally translated as “running dog,” referring to him as a lackey (in this case, of the Manchus).
https://youtu.be/ifKY8AYxEtI
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Enter the Dragon (1973; US and Hong Kong). Director: Robert Clouse. Action director: Bruce Lee.
This fight scene in the underground dungeon is my personal favorite of this movie. I’ve mentioned in several previous entries how many of the Chinese extras and bit-part players in ETD were already familiar names, faces, stuntmen and choreographers (or would later become big names) in the Hong Kong martial arts/action film industry. In this dungeon scene alone, there are at least four I can name with certainty: Lam Ching-Ying, Jackie Chan, Yue Tau-Wan, and Billy Chan Wui-Ngai. All of whom (except for Yue Tau-Wan) have been in clips from movies already posted in this thread. It’s fairly well-known that Jackie was a stunt extra in ETD who “got his neck snapped” by Bruce Lee; but few are aware that he was also one of the extras whom Bruce later dispatches with the staff, and yet again with the double Escrima sticks. Extras in the movie were often reused, as to most audiences, the stuntmen were ‘faceless,’ and all the focus was on Bruce.
Shek Kin (Mandarin: Shih Kien), who played Mr. Han, had been a long-established actor with well over 500 film credits since the 1940s. In ETD, for greater clarity, his English speaking was dubbed over by Chinese-American actor Keye Luke. Shek Kin is seen in this clip from 4:34.
Underground dungeon fight: Bruce Lee vs guards. Lam Ching-Ying (@1:13); Jackie Chan (@1:44, and again during staff fight and Escrima sticks fight, 2nd from left @3:33); Yue Tau-Wan (staff fight, in the background @2:46); Billy Chan Wui-Ngai (who attacks Bruce with a nunchaku and gets it taken away (@3:43):
https://youtu.be/NX3JqoKEI5I
Jim
This fight scene in the underground dungeon is my personal favorite of this movie. I’ve mentioned in several previous entries how many of the Chinese extras and bit-part players in ETD were already familiar names, faces, stuntmen and choreographers (or would later become big names) in the Hong Kong martial arts/action film industry. In this dungeon scene alone, there are at least four I can name with certainty: Lam Ching-Ying, Jackie Chan, Yue Tau-Wan, and Billy Chan Wui-Ngai. All of whom (except for Yue Tau-Wan) have been in clips from movies already posted in this thread. It’s fairly well-known that Jackie was a stunt extra in ETD who “got his neck snapped” by Bruce Lee; but few are aware that he was also one of the extras whom Bruce later dispatches with the staff, and yet again with the double Escrima sticks. Extras in the movie were often reused, as to most audiences, the stuntmen were ‘faceless,’ and all the focus was on Bruce.
Shek Kin (Mandarin: Shih Kien), who played Mr. Han, had been a long-established actor with well over 500 film credits since the 1940s. In ETD, for greater clarity, his English speaking was dubbed over by Chinese-American actor Keye Luke. Shek Kin is seen in this clip from 4:34.
Underground dungeon fight: Bruce Lee vs guards. Lam Ching-Ying (@1:13); Jackie Chan (@1:44, and again during staff fight and Escrima sticks fight, 2nd from left @3:33); Yue Tau-Wan (staff fight, in the background @2:46); Billy Chan Wui-Ngai (who attacks Bruce with a nunchaku and gets it taken away (@3:43):
https://youtu.be/NX3JqoKEI5I
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
Knockabout (1979, Hong Kong). Director: Sammo Hung. Action directors: Sammo Hung, Billy Chan Wui-Ngai & Lam Ching-Ying.
*Full movie. Cantonese with English subtitles. Starring: Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Wing, Leung Kar-Yan, Mars (AKA Huo Hsing), Lee Hoi-Sang, Wang Kwang-Yu, Karl Maka, Peter Chan Lung, Yuen Mo, Billy Chan Wui-Ngai, etc.
Although I already posted the final fight back on page 3 of this thread, IMO, it’s good enough to warrant posting the full movie. Although Yuen Biao had been a stuntman in films for many years (including in Enter the Dragon), this was his first starring role, as a young conman, along with his brother, played by Leung Kar-Yan. The two conmen unwittingly become disciples of a murderous criminal.
Yuen Biao shows why many in the Hong Kong film industry considered him the best pure physical talent out of all of his Peking Opera classmates, which included Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Wah, Corey Yuen, etc. It’s been said that, as a very young beginner in the Peking Opera school, he did a perfect backflip on his very first try.
Sammo Hung’s creativity also shows why he was one of the top 3 martial arts/action directors during Hong Kong cinema’s golden era. Besides outstanding action choreography, Sammo Hung had a knack for effectively combining both comic and tragic scenes in the same film, sometimes within minutes or seconds of each other.
There are several good fights in this film, but some are probably better seen in context.
Revenge training sequence, featuring Yuen Biao & Sammo Hung (@ 1:19:50 - 1:28:18).
Final fight; Yuen Biao & Sammo Hung vs Lau Kar-Wing (@ 1:29:55):
https://youtu.be/u9RY8A8Rl54
Jim
*Full movie. Cantonese with English subtitles. Starring: Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Wing, Leung Kar-Yan, Mars (AKA Huo Hsing), Lee Hoi-Sang, Wang Kwang-Yu, Karl Maka, Peter Chan Lung, Yuen Mo, Billy Chan Wui-Ngai, etc.
Although I already posted the final fight back on page 3 of this thread, IMO, it’s good enough to warrant posting the full movie. Although Yuen Biao had been a stuntman in films for many years (including in Enter the Dragon), this was his first starring role, as a young conman, along with his brother, played by Leung Kar-Yan. The two conmen unwittingly become disciples of a murderous criminal.
Yuen Biao shows why many in the Hong Kong film industry considered him the best pure physical talent out of all of his Peking Opera classmates, which included Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Wah, Corey Yuen, etc. It’s been said that, as a very young beginner in the Peking Opera school, he did a perfect backflip on his very first try.
Sammo Hung’s creativity also shows why he was one of the top 3 martial arts/action directors during Hong Kong cinema’s golden era. Besides outstanding action choreography, Sammo Hung had a knack for effectively combining both comic and tragic scenes in the same film, sometimes within minutes or seconds of each other.
There are several good fights in this film, but some are probably better seen in context.
Revenge training sequence, featuring Yuen Biao & Sammo Hung (@ 1:19:50 - 1:28:18).
Final fight; Yuen Biao & Sammo Hung vs Lau Kar-Wing (@ 1:29:55):
https://youtu.be/u9RY8A8Rl54
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984, Hong Kong. Director: Lau Kar-Leung. Action directors: Lau Kar-Leung, Hsiao Hou & Lee King-Chu.
*The monk staff fighting duel was an earlier entry in this thread (see page 5), and here are the temple training scenes and the final fight. The temple training scenes give some context to the final fight scene.
Although he’s not in any of these particular scenes, this movie was Alexander Fu Sheng’s last. Originally, Fu Sheng’s character was supposed to be in the film’s finale, but he died tragically in a car accident partway through filming. In real life, Alexander Fu Sheng had been Lau Kar-Leung’s favorite disciple in Hung Gar kung fu, and had been one of the most well-liked of the Hong Kong stars. Understandably, when filming resumed, the mood on the set was not happy, and the final fight scene became even more bloody and violent than in most of director Lau Kar-Leung’s films. Kara Hui has mentioned in an interview that the emotions she displayed near the end of the final fight scene were genuine, reflecting the general mood felt on set after Fu Sheng’s untimely passing.
Temple staff training, featuring Gordon Liu, Lee King-Chu & Philip Ko Fei:
https://youtu.be/9I89trzmRH4
Final fight: Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Philip Ko Fei & Shaolin monks vs Wang Lung-Wei, Lam Hak-Ming, Chu Tiet-Wo & Mongol warriors:
https://youtu.be/HLDJ2QteN7c
Jim
*The monk staff fighting duel was an earlier entry in this thread (see page 5), and here are the temple training scenes and the final fight. The temple training scenes give some context to the final fight scene.
Although he’s not in any of these particular scenes, this movie was Alexander Fu Sheng’s last. Originally, Fu Sheng’s character was supposed to be in the film’s finale, but he died tragically in a car accident partway through filming. In real life, Alexander Fu Sheng had been Lau Kar-Leung’s favorite disciple in Hung Gar kung fu, and had been one of the most well-liked of the Hong Kong stars. Understandably, when filming resumed, the mood on the set was not happy, and the final fight scene became even more bloody and violent than in most of director Lau Kar-Leung’s films. Kara Hui has mentioned in an interview that the emotions she displayed near the end of the final fight scene were genuine, reflecting the general mood felt on set after Fu Sheng’s untimely passing.
Temple staff training, featuring Gordon Liu, Lee King-Chu & Philip Ko Fei:
https://youtu.be/9I89trzmRH4
Final fight: Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Philip Ko Fei & Shaolin monks vs Wang Lung-Wei, Lam Hak-Ming, Chu Tiet-Wo & Mongol warriors:
https://youtu.be/HLDJ2QteN7c
Jim
Re: Favorite movie fight scenes
The Gold Hunters (1981, Hong Kong). Directors: Fung Hak-On & Law Kei. Action directors: Jackie Chan’s Stuntmen Association.
Final fight (starting @ 4:29); Lau Kar-Yung, Lee Hoi-Sang & Mang Chiu vs Fung Hak-On:
https://youtu.be/0fekTOl-25w
Jim
Final fight (starting @ 4:29); Lau Kar-Yung, Lee Hoi-Sang & Mang Chiu vs Fung Hak-On:
https://youtu.be/0fekTOl-25w
Jim