Favorite movie fight scenes

[James Y]

The Instant Kung Fu Man (1977, Taiwan). Director: Richard Tung. Action directors: Yuen Woo-Ping, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Corey Yuen).

Although the main characters (twin brothers) are played by one actor, Yeh Fei-Yang, the action is stolen by Hwang Jang-Lee as the villain, and John Liu, in a supporting role as a monk. Hwang Jang-Lee, throughout his film career, tended to dominate the action onscreen; the only two actors/performers who could share the screen with Hwang without being completely dominated were Jackie Chan and John Liu. John Liu was also the only kicking specialist who could hang with Hwang Jang-Lee kick-for-kick onscreen. They made five movies together. In real life, it is reported that John Liu often came away bruised from working with Hwang, due to John Liu oftentimes moving in too close and having comparatively bad timing.

Although Hwang and Liu made five movies together, this kicking exchange was their best-choreographed one-on-one matchup. Liu was the more flexible (stretch-wise), but Hwang’s kicks were more “weaponized,” if that makes any sense. Even in the dance-like choreography, you can see it in Hwang’s superior speed, power and transitioning ability, and why he was given the title “The Lord of Leg Fighting.” Oddly enough, Hwang himself never really believed in leg stretching exercises; instead, he used body shaking, hip rotating, and kicking movements themselves to develop his flexibility for kicking. To this day, at nearly 75 years of age, Hwang teaches Tae Kwon Do/Tang Soo Do in Seoul, South Korea, and his martial arts skills are still like those of a much younger man.

Note: The more acrobatic movements, such as handsprings, etc., were stunt-doubled.

Kicking duel: John Liu vs Hwang Jang-Lee:

https://youtu.be/mLPaRjSsonc

Jim

[James Y]

Death Duel of Kung Fu (1979, Taiwan and South Korea; filmed in South Korea). Directors: William Cheung Kei & Gwon Yeung-Sun.
Action directors: Chin Yuet-Sang, Mang Hoi.

Death Duel of Kung Fu was part of a popular ‘70s trend of team-up movies, pitting two heroes against a villain who is too powerful and skilled for either to defeat one-on-one. In this case, a hand specialist teaming up with a kicking specialist to defeat a villain who possesses both of their skill sets. John Liu was the kicker, and Wong Tao (AKA Don Wong) played the Mantis-style hand fighter. The late Korean actor/martial artist Han Ying (AKA Eagle Han, 1938-2003), played the combination Mantis hands/superkicker villain. The movie only features a small number of characters after the first part of the film, and has only one female character. There is a clear widescreen version of the entire movie on YouTube, but there is one explicit scene that would make it unsuitable for the forum. The fight scenes are cool but are highly stylized and more mechanical-looking than usual; but the precision and athleticism of the performers is evident. Han Ying in particular had Gumby-like flexibility.

Note: The soundtrack from ‘Hang ‘em High’ is used throughout the film. IMO, the soundtrack music actually works better in this movie than it did in Hang ‘em High.

John Liu training sequence:

https://youtu.be/GTLv12IPRHc

John Liu vs Wong Tao; Wong Tao vs Han Ying; Wong Tao vs Charlie Chan Yiu-Lam (from 5:20). Note: Charlie Chan Yiu-Lam fought Roger Moore as 007 in the karate scene in The Man with the Golden Gun:

https://youtu.be/hcyXLj2aTpA

John Liu vs royal guards (Chung Fat & Lee King-Chu). Note: this clip is poor quality, and in real life if given a choice, I’d rather have one of the 2-handed swords; but the kicks are beautifully executed, and Chung Fat and Lee King-Chu’s reaction timing are outstanding:

https://youtu.be/nL7oDsucA-8

Final fight: John Liu & Wong Tao vs Han Ying:

https://youtu.be/Glj_ezAo0Hk

Jim

[vivi]

Well I only saw it mentioned, not linked, so here's Ip Man v Mike Tyson from Ip Man 3. I like it because Tyson uses a lot of the same techniques he used in real fights.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_cPgafBEqn4

If you enjoy fights I'd suggest searching youtube for vale tudo, and mma in general.

[James Y]

Well I only saw it mentioned, not linked, so here's Ip Man v Mike Tyson from Ip Man 3. I like it because Tyson uses a lot of the same techniques he used in real fights.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_cPgafBEqn4

If you enjoy fights I'd suggest searching youtube for vale tudo, and mma in general.

Vivi:

Thanks for your contribution. Yes, I agree it is a good fight scene.

As far as MMA and vale tudo, I wanted this thread to be about movie fights. I’ve seen tons of MMA and similar type fights since the beginning of UFC in 1993 up to now, and those are easy enough for anybody to find online/on TV, and are better served in a separate thread. I’ve been in the martial arts since the ‘70s and I even used to fight in martial arts competitions, such as in karate, Tae Kwon Do and kung fu competitions, and Lei Tai/Sanda, mostly all done pre-UFC/pre-MMA. I’ve also trained in judo and BJJ.

As mentioned, of course movies aren’t real, but I don’t mind if movie fights are unrealistic, but they must be entertaining. Movie fights, no matter how fantastical, are no more fake than movie romances, monsters, gun fights, car chases, comedic scenes, etc.

When I lived in Taiwan, I met and even knew some of the old-school kung fu movie actors, and they ALL knew the difference between movie fantasy and reality. Some of the ones from Peking Opera backgrounds couldn’t spar or fight for real at all, and freely admitted it. A few could fight for real very well, better than they appeared onscreen (some of whom were stuntmen/bit role players who always got beaten by the hero characters in the movies). I’ve also been in a couple real self-defense situations, as well as witnessed other street violence, including mob violence, that were totally different from sport karate/kung fu matches, and also different from MMA fighting, which some local MMA practitioners have found out the hard way. Real criminal violence is ugly, but you cannot get more real than that. For me, movies in general, and that includes movie fights, provide an escape from all that, and allow an appreciation of choreography, timing, rhythm, execution, etc. Done well, it’s really an art form.

Jim

[vivi]

Jim,

I completely understand where you're coming from. I wasn't hoping to derail this thread with my MMA comment, I simply wanted to throw that out there for the uninitiated. FWIW the entire UFC 1 is on youtube for free.

Back to your topic...I can't believe no one mentioned Old Boy's epic fight scene. I love the back and forth, and the lack of cuts. Just one continuous shot.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=VwIIDzrVVdc

[James Y]

Jim,

I completely understand where you're coming from. I wasn't hoping to derail this thread with my MMA comment, I simply wanted to throw that out there for the uninitiated. FWIW the entire UFC 1 is on youtube for free.

Back to your topic...I can't believe no one mentioned Old Boy's epic fight scene. I love the back and forth, and the lack of cuts. Just one continuous shot.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=VwIIDzrVVdc

No problem, Vivi, I never felt you were trying to derail it. I guess I wanted to clarify why I post the things I post, and it turned into a longer post than it should have.

Yeah, Old Boy is a great movie. I thought I posted that scene earlier somewhere in the thread, but that’s not important...thanks for posting it!

Jim

[VooDooChild]

I didnt read through this thread so I dont know if it was mentioned.
The hallway fight scene in Grosse Pointe Blank is actually really awesome.

[VooDooChild]

That grosse pointe blank scene also isnt too hollywood. Its almost close to realistic in how a couple of well trained guys might go at it. Its barely a minute. Starts immediately. They both screw up. They both hesitate and try to feel each other out. Ends on the ground with a "weapon".
And yes the bad guy is Benny the jet who had a pretty good contact fighting reputation in the pre mma days. And he trained John Cusack.

[James Y]

That grosse pointe blank scene also isnt too hollywood. Its almost close to realistic in how a couple of well trained guys might go at it. Its barely a minute. Starts immediately. They both screw up. They both hesitate and try to feel each other out. Ends on the ground with a "weapon".
And yes the bad guy is Benny the jet who had a pretty good contact fighting reputation in the pre mma days. And he trained John Cusack.

VooDooChild:

Thanks for mentioning that! Someone might have posted it, I’m not sure. Grosse Pointe Blank is a good movie; I recall seeing it in the theater back in the ‘90s.

BTW, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez is in a couple of entries here, including the very first post in this thread. IMO, his fight scene against Jackie Chan in Wheels in Meals is one of the all-time greatest movie fight scenes.

Jim

[VooDooChild]

James Y.
Yeah I was just bored and randomly posting. Should have at least gone through the first post to realize it was Benny in it.
Still very impressive. How often do you see anyone else pull off a legit leg kick against Jackie the man Chan. Benny for his height and weight was world class.

[The Mastiff]

That long scene in Old Boy made me tired and sore just watching it. I was glad it wasn't me even doing the acting.

[Bloke]

[Doc Dan]

[James Y]

LOL! Nice one, Bloke! I wonder where that was? Somewhere in Russia/Eastern Europe, perhaps?

Jim

[James Y]

Fists and Guts (1979, Hong Kong). Director: Lau Kar-Wing. Action directors: Lau Kar-Leung, Lau Kar-Wing.

This movie was one of the comparatively few independent, non-Shaw Brothers productions by the Lau Brothers.

Lo Lieh (1939-2002) was a remarkable actor/performer, considering that he was not a traditionally-trained martial artist, but an actor who learned to perform fights specifically for the movies. In some movies it showed, but under the right direction/choreography, especially under the Lau Brothers, he looked quite good in his fight scenes, and was able to engage in very difficult, complex choreographed fight scenes, which is no small feat, since the Lau Brothers were extremely demanding of their performers. Sometimes he played heroes, but most often he was cast as villains.

Leading man Gordon Liu (Cantonese name: Lau Kar-Fai) was “adopted” into the Lau family as a young kung fu student. Gordon has stated that the difference between working with other directors and working with Lau Kar-Leung (the senior-most Lau Brother, who co-choreographed this movie) was like the difference between heaven and hell, in terms of how demanding he was, and the level of technical difficulty.

Note: The acrobatic moves were obviously doubled, as neither Gordon Liu nor Lo Lieh were acrobats.

Final fight: Gordon Liu vs Lo Lieh (also featuring Lau Kar-Wing & Lee Hoi-Sang):

https://youtu.be/j9MGGRNQRyA

Jim

[Bloke]

LOL! Nice one, Bloke! I wonder where that was? Somewhere in Russia/Eastern Europe, perhaps?

Jim

Hard to say Jim, ay? I’m tipping they’re Russian babushkas.

[James Y]

LOL! Nice one, Bloke! I wonder where that was? Somewhere in Russia/Eastern Europe, perhaps?

Jim

Hard to say Jim, ay? I’m tipping they’re Russian babushkas.

Yup, sounds about right!

Jim

[James Y]

Crazy Couple (1979, Hong Kong). Director: Ricky Lau.

I’m posting the full movie, because it’s the only way I know to find the final fight scene on YouTube, other than a German-dubbed version. Picture quality isn’t crystal-clear, but is acceptable. The sound is a bit out of sync, especially in the first several seconds of the final fight. *Note: The final fight starts at 1:17.00.*

Starring Lau Kar-Yung & Dean Shek. Lau Kar-Yung is a nephew of the Lau Brothers, Lau Kar-Leung and Lau Kar-Wing.

Dean Shek, the skinny, lanky guy, usually played goofy supporting villains or bully characters. During the kung fu comedy era, he really came into his own for his rubbery, almost cartoonish facial expressions/body contortions and reactions. This is probably the only movie I can recall offhand where Dean Shek got to play the co-lead character AND makes it to the end of the movie.

Final fight (@1:17.00): Lau Kar-Yung & Dean Shek vs Fung Hak-On:

https://youtu.be/CR7RjlRGgg4

Jim

[James Y]

Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979, Hong Kong). Director: Yuen Woo-Ping. Action directors: The Yuen Clan, along with Corey Yuen & Chin Yuet-Sang.

This was the official sequel to 1978’s Drunken Master, and NOT Jackie Chan’s 1994 movie Drunken Master II. This sequel follows the drunken master, Yuen Siu-Tin reprising his role as Beggar So (called “Sam the Seed” in the English-dubbed version), as he meets his son, whom he doesn’t like, played by Yuen Shun-Yee. Yuen Shun-Yee (and director Yuen Woo-Ping and the rest of the Yuen Clan) were his sons in real life. Yuen Siu-Tin was in his late 60s, and passed away the following year, in 1980. Most of his fighting was very obviously stunt-doubled. When I first saw this movie decades ago, I was lukewarm about it. Seeing it again, I appreciate it much more now.

Note: Linda Lin Ying, who plays Yuen Shun-Yee’s character’s mother, was an actress whose first movie appearance was in 1953. In this movie, she was in her 50s and still extremely flexible and agile.

Leading man Yuen Shun-Yee rarely got to play the hero. He was usually cast as monstrous villains. IIRC, this was only one of two movies in which he got to play the lead protagonist.

Yen Shi-Kwan, who was usually cast as villains, plays the “sickness master” who trains Yuen Shun-Yee.

Fight and training scene, featuring Yen Shi-Kwan and Yuen Shun-Yee:

https://youtu.be/QCnotSCe8kE

End training scene, and fight scenes; Linda Lin Ying & Yuen Shun-Yee vs Corey Yuen (from 5:32); Hwang Jang-Lee vs Yuen Siu-Tin (from 9:10).

https://youtu.be/FbnTCp6gGoU

Final fight: Yuen Siu-Tin & Yuen Shun-Yee vs Hwang Jang-Lee:

https://youtu.be/8YOU7uYY818

Jim

[James Y]

Legend of a Fighter (1982, Hong Kong). Director: Yuen Woo-Ping. Action directors: The Yuen Clan.

The story revolves around the legendary real-life martial arts master and historical figure, Huo Yuanjia. Huo Yuanjia was also the main character in Jet Li’s Fearless (2005), and was the poisoned teacher who Bruce Lee’s character was out to avenge in Fist of Fury (1972).

In Legend of a Fighter, notice that Leung Kar-Yan (normally bearded but here clean-shaven) bears a slight facial resemblance to Bruce Lee; and though his screen fighting is different, the Yuen Clan has him (as Huo Yuanjia) subtly adopt some of Bruce Lee’s onscreen fighting mannerisms (minus the characteristic cat-like screams). This was not meant to be a Bruce Lee imitator movie, but meant to explain why Bruce Lee’s character in Fist of Fury fought the way he did. “Like teacher, like student,” as it were, making this a prequel to Fist of Fury.

This movie was unique, in that Yasuaki Kurata’s character is not a villain; here he was Huo Yuanjia’s private academic teacher who inspired him to strengthen himself through martial arts. It is the friction between their respective nations that set in motion the circumstances leading to their final fight. Basically, Yasuaki Kurata’s character is giving up his life in order to raise up Huo Yuanjia to be a hero to his people, but he would force him to earn it, thus making heroes of both characters. I cannot stress enough how highly unusual this was in Hong Kong cinema.

As I mentioned in an earlier entry, lead star Leung Kar-Yan never had any formal martial arts training, but was a natural who could pick up any type of movements for the movies. OTOH, Yasuaki Kurata has black belts in karate, judo and aikido.

Final fight: Leung Kar-Yan vs Yasuaki Kurata:

https://youtu.be/WGGOQmoaYwA

Jim