Favorite movie fight scenes

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James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#141

Post by James Y »

Executioners From Shaolin (1977, Hong Kong). Director: Lau Kar-Leung (Mandarin pronunciation: Liu Chia-Liang).

This is one of the first screen depictions of the Taoist Priest Pai Mei, which years later Quentin Tarantino would depict in Kill Bill Vol. 2. Tarantino did NOT create the character. Priest Pai Mei was a legendary character is Shaolin lore; I'm not certain if he was based on a real person or was only a fictitious character. Other spellings of his name: Bak Mei, Pak Mei, Bai Mei, the name means "White Eyebrow". He was always depicted as siding with the Qing (Manchurian) Dynasty against the Shaolin Temple(s).

In the movies, he is depicted as having such a high level of development, he is almost invulnerable, and can also retract his privates up into his abdomen. As all such "invincible" characters, there is always a weak point that, if found, can lead to their destruction.

Intro fight: Pai Mei (Lo Lieh) vs Monk Chi Shan (Lee Hoi-Sang):

https://youtu.be/41j8fDU97_Y

First failed revenge fight: Hung Hsi-Kuan (Chen Kuan-Tai) vs swordsmen and Pai Mei (Lo Lieh):

https://youtu.be/yQLgp8trSDc

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#142

Post by James Y »

Unleashed (alternate title: Danny the Dog, 2005; France, UK, US). Filmed in Scotland. Director: Louis Leterrier. Fight choreographer: Yuen Woo-Ping.

Final fight; Jet Li vs Michael Ian Lambert:

https://youtu.be/9bHXi2nst-I

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#143

Post by James Y »

The Magnificent Ruffians (1979, Hong Kong). Director: Chang Cheh.

Kuo Chui (AKA Philip Kwok, with the staff), Chiang Sheng (double broadswords) and Lu Feng (long-handled broadsword) all came from Chinese opera backgrounds. Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng were from Peking/Beijing opera, and Kuo Chui came from a Taiwanese opera background. All three grew up in Taiwan. They knew each other since childhood.. They made many films together at Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studios. The difficulty and complexity of this acrobatic weapons fight scene is a brilliant example of how well they all worked together.

Final fight: Kuo Chui (Philip Kwok) & Chiang Sheng vs Lu Feng:

https://youtu.be/asx3iLQoby4

Jim
James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#144

Post by James Y »

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018, Hong Kong/China). Director: Yuen Woo-Ping. Action director: Yuen Shun-Yi.

I like this fight scene a lot more than the Donnie Yen vs Mike Tyson scene in Ip Man 3. Note: The person who posted this video has edited out a few minutes from this scene (but not much from the fight itself).

Final fight: Zhang Jin (AKA, Max Zhang) vs Dave Bautista:

https://youtu.be/kVHEJnCRly4

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#145

Post by James Y »

Shaolin Intruders (1983, Hong Kong). Director: Tong Gaai (Mandarin pronunciation: Tang Chia).

I don't always like gravity-defying wire work, but it also depends on the movie. I can suspend my disbelief for a movie, as long as it isn't overdone to the point that it ruins the choreography. Shaolin Intruders has among the best wire work in a kung fu movie. The difficulty, complexity and physical danger of the wire work stunts are obvious. Also, there are zero CGI effects; compare that to the vast majority of martial arts and action films today.

Final fight: Derek Yee vs Phillip Ko Fei & the Shaolin Monk Array:

https://youtu.be/flv7FMysBMU

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#146

Post by VashHash »

James Y wrote:
Wed Aug 14, 2019 2:40 pm
Executioners From Shaolin (1977, Hong Kong). Director: Lau Kar-Leung (Mandarin pronunciation: Liu Chia-Liang).

This is one of the first screen depictions of the Taoist Priest Pai Mei, which years later Quentin Tarantino would depict in Kill Bill Vol. 2. Tarantino did NOT create the character. Priest Pai Mei was a legendary character is Shaolin lore; I'm not certain if he was based on a real person or was only a fictitious character. Other spellings of his name: Bak Mei, Pak Mei, Bai Mei, the name means "White Eyebrow". He was always depicted as siding with the Qing (Manchurian) Dynasty against the Shaolin Temple(s).

In the movies, he is depicted as having such a high level of development, he is almost invulnerable, and can also retract his privates up into his abdomen. As all such "invincible" characters, there is always a weak point that, if found, can lead to their destruction.

Intro fight: Pai Mei (Lo Lieh) vs Monk Chi Shan (Lee Hoi-Sang):

https://youtu.be/41j8fDU97_Y

First failed revenge fight: Hung Hsi-Kuan (Chen Kuan-Tai) vs swordsmen and Pai Mei (Lo Lieh):

https://youtu.be/yQLgp8trSDc

Jim
Some of those old movies have some ridiculous premises. I watched this a few weeks ago and I had to finish it. I thought it was pretty funny.
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#147

Post by Bloke »

Image
A day without laughter is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin
James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#148

Post by James Y »

VashHash wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:50 pm
Some of those old movies have some ridiculous premises. I watched this a few weeks ago and I had to finish it. I thought it was pretty funny.
TBH, I think the better examples of the old school kung fu movies were overall better and more entertaining than the ones now. I don't need movies to be realistic, just entertaining to me. I've seen enough real violence in my younger years, so I can suspend my disbelief for a movie. Some of the old school kung fu films, especially like Executioners From Shaolin, are essentially screen adaptations of stories/legends that probably originated during the Qing Dynasty. Some were based on actual historical figures, just like the Ip Man movies today. There are still a few good ones that come out once in a while today, but they aren't as creative as they used to be, and the ones nowadays take themselves WAY too seriously, and rely too much on CGI. And there isn't the variety of performers as in the old school movies.

I also feel that the better-made of the old school kung fu movies were no more ridiculous than a lot of American movies, like the Fast and Furious franchise and its spinoff; the Taken and Transporter sequels, etc. Or many of the old westerns with the impossibly accurate gunplay using revolvers against multitudes of opponents at one time. Or the popular WWE wrestling storylines.

Jim
Last edited by James Y on Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:05 pm, edited 6 times in total.
James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#149

Post by James Y »

Bloke wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 4:10 pm
Image
Lol! Good one!

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#150

Post by VashHash »

James Y wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 5:57 pm
VashHash wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:50 pm
Some of those old movies have some ridiculous premises. I watched this a few weeks ago and I had to finish it. I thought it was pretty funny.
TBH, I think the better examples of the old school kung fu movies were overall better and more entertaining than the ones now. I don't need movies to be realistic, just entertaining to me. I've seen enough real violence in my younger years, so I can suspend my disbelief for a movie. Some of the old school kung fu films, especially like Executioners From Shaolin, are essentially screen adaptations of stories/legends that probably originated during the Qing Dynasty. Some were based on actual historical figures, just like the Ip Man movies today. There are still a few good ones that come out once in a while today, but they aren't as creative as they used to be, and the ones nowadays take themselves WAY too seriously, and rely too much on CGI. And there isn't the variety of performers as in the old school movies.

I also feel that the better-made of the old school kung fu movies were no more ridiculous than a lot of American movies, like the Fast and Furious franchise and its spinoff, the Taken and Transporter sequels, etc. Or many of the old westerns with the impossibly accurate gunplay using revolvers against multitudes of opponents at one time. Or the popular WWE wrestling storylines.

Jim
I'm not knocking the movie. These people had to do these stunts for real in these instances. There's no cgi to cover their @$$. I just thought the thing the movie was based on was hilarious. Dude can move his "vital point" aka his testicles apparently. Then he can suck your foot into his groin and toss you around like a rag doll.
James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#151

Post by James Y »

VashHash wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:10 pm
I'm not knocking the movie. These people had to do these stunts for real in these instances. There's no cgi to cover their @$$. I just thought the thing the movie was based on was hilarious. Dude can move his "vital point" aka his testicles apparently. Then he can suck your foot into his groin and toss you around like a rag doll.
TBH, I think it's funny, too. The idea of an almost invincible villain with a secret vulnerable spot was popular in those movies, and I loved those the most. I'm not sure off-hand if I've seen another one where the guy can suck your foot into his groin and trap you there. I'll post some clips from other movies with other near-invincible baddies.

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#152

Post by James Y »

The Invincible Armour (1977, Taiwan). Director: Ng See-Yuen.

The "armour" or 'iron armor' is not referring to actual physical armor, but to a type of internal/external training that makes the villain nearly invulnerable, but for one secret weakness. Like the Pai Mei character in Executioners From Shaolin, this villain can also move his privates up into himself, but cannot use suction to stick someone to him.

The villain is played by Korean Tae Kwon Do master Hwang Jang-Lee. He has the distinction of possibly being the only kung fu movie actor to have actually used his martial arts to kill someone. Years before Hwang was ever in a movie, he was a member of South Korea's feared Tiger Division in the Vietnam war, in which he served from 1966-68. He killed a knife-wielding Vietnamese soldier with a single roundhouse kick to the head. Hwang was considered the best kicker (but not the flashiest) in martial arts cinema. However, he shows very little of that in this movie, as his character's main skills here are his 'Eagle Claw' and 'Iron Armor'. John Liu displays more kicking, though Hwang was the better kicker of the two.

Training intro scene: Featuring Hwang Jang-Lee. Note: this scene shows the villain in his younger years:

https://youtu.be/SN1t7N3zNZA

Final fight, Part 1: Tino Wong vs Chieh Yuan & Hwang Jang-Lee:

https://youtu.be/T1ap73StlNE

Final fight, Part 2: John Liu & Toni Wong vs Hwang Jang-Lee:

https://youtu.be/kxjrxIGnvVk

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#153

Post by jimmd »

The final showdown at the end of YOJIMBO (1961):

https://youtu.be/zCjsazHO0c0


And not to be outdone, the final showdown at the end of the sequel SANJURO (1962). You won't believe it!

https://youtu.be/UkkF6Zz67TE
Jim
James Y
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#154

Post by James Y »

jimmd wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 11:21 pm
The final showdown at the end of YOJIMBO (1961):

https://youtu.be/zCjsazHO0c0


And not to be outdone, the final showdown at the end of the sequel SANJURO (1962). You won't believe it!

https://youtu.be/UkkF6Zz67TE
Yes, those are great films. Thanks for posting!

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#155

Post by James Y »

The Master (alternate title: Three Evil Masters; 1980, Hong Kong). Director: Liu Chun-Ku.

This posted clip is great, except for the "freemake" logo. That logo is probably one of the things that's keeping the vid up on YouTube. Because Shaw Brothers Studios movie clips often get taken off of YouTube due to licensing issues with Celestial Pictures, the company that remastered the Shaw Brothers film library.

Leading man Yuen Tak was another classmate of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung in the Peking Opera school. The opera influence is clear from Yuen Tak's movements. Yuen Tak only played the leading man in a couple of films, as he himself believed he wasn't leading man material; he didn't particularly like how he looked onscreen, and he generally preferred to work behind the camera as a choreographer. Most of his onscreen appearances were in supporting roles or as stunt extras. Which is fascinating, because there are countless big-name leading men in martial arts films, in both the East and the West, who lack even half the raw physical talent and expressiveness that Yuen Tak had.

Final fight: Yuen Tak vs Wang Lung-Wei:

https://youtu.be/t2oORQdseTs

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#156

Post by James Y »

My Father is a Hero (1995, Hing Kong). Director: Corey Yuen.

Another one of Jet Li's better movies and fight scenes. Unfortunately, in this clip, sometime after the 2:00 mark, the sound goes out of sync with the picture. It's difficult or impossible to find other clips on YouTube showing the entire final fight, or at least most of it. This one is still not complete, but comes the closest.

Final fight: Jet Li & Xie Miao vs Yu Rongguang, Ken Lo & Collin Chou:

https://youtu.be/QqwV3Fxf8wk

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#157

Post by James Y »

The Woman Avenger (1980, Taiwan). Director: Lee Tso-Nam.

Leading lady Hsia Kuang-Li (and arch-villain Peng Kang), like many of the old-school kung fu movie performers, grew up attending (or living at) Peking Opera academies. Hsia Kuang-Li was a former member of the Lu-Kuang Peking Opera Troupe, and Peng Kang grew up in Taiwan's Fu Shing Dramatic Arts ( Peking Opera) Academy. The Peking Opera influence is clearly visible in the choreography.

Today, much is made of the current trend of 'female empowerment' in American cinema, but American cinema is way behind Hong Kong and Taiwan cinema in that regard. They've featured strong, heroic female lead characters since at least 1966.

Final fight: Hsia Kuang-Li & Liu Shan vs Chang Chi-Ping (from 1:00); Hsia Kuang-Li & Liu Shan vs Peng Kang (from 6:50):

https://youtu.be/HONZ6IzCT3Y

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#158

Post by James Y »

Gang Master (1982, Hong Kong). Director: Tsui Siu-Ming. Fight choreographer: Yuen Cheung-Yan (brother of Yuen Woo-Ping).

The "gang" here refers to a specific "clan" within the "martial world," a common theme in the wuxia (martial hero) genre. There are some differences between wuxia and 'kung fu' movies. Wuxia are generally set further back in time (in this case, the Yuan Dynasty). The heroes (and villains) are almost universally swordsmen, with more formal mannerisms. Wuxia films are more fantastical, and tend to use wire work more liberally than most kung fu movies. Also, some wuxia films almost have a dreamlike quality to them. Gang Master contains a bit more 'physicality' that many typical wuxia movies.

Like most of the old Shaw Brothers Studios films, even many of the 'outdoor' scenes were shot on indoor sets, with artificial sunlight (or moonlight), with real plants, and painted mountains and sky backdrops. It allowed the studio to film movies around the clock, even at 3:00 a.m. if necessary, during all types of weather, without interruption. Although some people think the sound stages gave a somewhat claustrophobic feel, I personally liked those old indoor sets.

Final fight: Austin Wai, Ku Feng & Bruce Leung vs Jason Pai Piao:

https://youtu.be/zIM1JQ3VNX4

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#159

Post by James Y »

7 Steps of Kung Fu (1979, Taiwan). Director: Ting Hwa-Chung.

Clearly not intended to be realistic, these types of kung fu movies were among my favorites, because there was going to be a lot of athleticism and complex action, especially when they had a white-haired arch-villain. This is one of those final fight scenes that gets better and better the longer it goes. This type of complex choreography (and the ability of the actors to handle it), free of CGI and quick-cuts, is a lost art today. Back then, they also weren’t afraid to get down and dirty (literally). Chia Kai and Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, like so many of the old-school KF movie performers, came from Peking Opera backgrounds. Chang Shan (the villain) was a Shandong Chinese who grew up in South Korea, trained in Tae Kwon Do and kung fu, and came from a competitive martial arts fighting background.

Final fight: Chia Kai & Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi vs Chang Shan:

https://youtu.be/4t3Jlk4WrM8

Jim
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Re: Favorite movie fight scenes

#160

Post by James Y »

Angel II (alternate title: Iron Angels 2; 1988, Hong Kong). Director: Stanley Tong.

Final fight: Moon Lee (Lee Choi-Fung) vs Chan Man-Ching & Yuen Tak:

https://youtu.be/GAVuZryKzFc

Jim
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