I blame Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. With The Karate Kid, they made me believe that a scrawny white boy could become a combat master. And, for children in my generation, they provided a family-friendly gateway into the world of martial arts movies. Having dashed exuberantly through that door, I have never looked back.
Dojo Dreams
“I lied, I don’t dream about noodles.”
“What do you dream about then?”
“I love kung fuuuuu!” – Po (Jack Black) & Mr. Ping (James Hong), Kung Fu Panda
I knew from a young age that I would never play professional sports. Underweight, with parents who barely topped five feet, I figured the NBA, NFL, and NHL were quite literally out of reach. Then I found out about karate and Daniel Caruso’s awesome crane kick. Right then, I realized even a runt like me could kick butt.
Following a recommendation, my parents enrolled me in a local dojo where my pediatrician’s son trained. Thus began my now 30-year relationship with martial arts. That’s another story altogether, though. Because I’ve too frequently gone off-and-on with my martial arts practice.
In the meantime, some fabulous movies have kept my love strong. And you better believe, when I wrote about monkeys learning elephant style mimicry, I had these flicks in mind.
Martial Arts Movies
Similar to superhero and fantasy movies, martial arts movies revolve around heroes with extraordinary abilities. Rather than featuring mutations, magical powers, and battle suits, however, these movies draw on a buffet of actual human fighting styles. As a result, the plucky underdog protagonists and valiant heroes in these movies feel more in reach. You, too, can transform yourself into Bruce Lee with the right training montage!
“l saw some of your films. You can’t fake those moves.”
“Yeah, well, tell that to the press.” – Luke Cage (Linden Ashby) & Art Lean (Kenneth Edwards), Mortal Kombat
It certainly helps that actual martial arts practitioners play most of the key roles in these movies. For street cred, you can’t beat authenticity and realism. Classic fighting movies from the 70’s and 80’s, in particular, contain less effects and more actual martial arts movements. When performed without augmentation, stunts and fight scenes really pop.
Still, even features with more CGI and wire work can enthrall, stretching the boundaries of what might be possible. Plus, all movies in this genre offer a world in which an epic hand-to-hand combat scene can solve any problem. Though I advocate for righteous nonviolence, some people make my fists itch.
10 Favorite Fighting Flicks
These represent my favorite martial arts movies, followed by notable runner-ups and off-genre honorable mentions.
- Kung Fu Panda (Trilogy)
I cannot lie, Jack Black had me at, “There is no charge for awesomeness.” In this trilogy, following your dreams and being true to yourself leads to fulfillment, glory, and dumplings. All three movies deliver great laughs, strong vocal performances, and rollicking fight scenes. Plus, the original delivers the best prison break since Tim Robbins. The only negative might be the absence of pachyderms.
- Kung Fu Hustle
I never tire of Stephen Chow’s super-fun kung fu comedy. From the bellowed opening lines to the boogery ending, this movie toes a line between cool and caricature. It mixes reality with absurdity and manages to create something stylish and massively entertaining. Keep the kicks coming, too with Shaolin Soccer. - Five Deadly Venoms
Do you like watching humans mimic deadly animals with kung fu moves? Look no further, because the Poison Clan fighters driving this classic use styles from 5 different poisonous animals. Tack on secret identities, double crosses, really fake blood effects, and, well, Lizard vs. Scorpion never felt so fun.
- Iron Monkey
A fellow member of my college Tang Soo Do club introduced me to this one. Robin Hood has nothing on Iron Monkey, who battles local corruption for the sake of the people. Amazing fights ensue, involving umbrellas, poles, and the hardest open-handed slap ever delivered on-screen (outside of Dave Chappelle). - Enter the Dragon
One of the originals in the secret-tournament genre, this movie drags Bruce Lee and Jim Kelly to the villain’s private island (never a good place to be). Stare at the speed of Lee and Kelly’s moves and appreciate the skill of true martial artists. Oh, and be prepared to lose yourself during the glittering, climactic fight.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Trilogy)
Nobody made martial arts cool for my generation like these guys did. Put aside the recent two CGI messes and watch the brilliant rubber-suited Turtles of the 90’s. They chatter like Popeye, fight like Jackie Chan, and pizza like the Noid. The first movie may represent the better film, but Vanilla Ice and Keno tip the scales for me with Secret of the Ooze.
P.S. The Rundown made my day by bringing back a super-ripped Ernie Reyes Jr. (Keno to the Turtles) to fight Dwayne Johnson in a Brazilian jungle. - Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
If you’ve not seen Muay Thai sensation Tony Jaa before, start with Ong-Bak (then head to YouTube). The plot rambles all over Thailand, but Jaa’s acrobatics and fighting skills will astound. Particularly if you like early Jackie Chan, check him out. As a bonus, he also fights for elephants in other movies. Never submit.
- Last Hero in China
Did you see any traditional lion dancing during the recent Chinese New Year celebration? Well, Jet Li has your back. With this movie, you get dancing lions, dragons, centipedes, and roosters that also serve as fighting vessels. Even Donnie Yen’s Monkey King side-eyes the costumes here! - The Quest
Stop me if you’ve heard this plot before. Jean Claude Van Damme participates in a super-secret martial arts tournament both for glory and to fulfill a personal quest. This time, a hulking Mongolian with sweaty eyebrows, a Chinese fighter alternating between animal styles, and a sleazy, not-Bond Roger Moore provide some highlights.
- The Karate Kid (Series)
Daniel Caruso and Mr. Miyagi must have single-handedly increased dojo membership in 1984. I joined my first dojo in 1988 – I even have the membership card somewhere. How do you not root for an outsider from a single-parent home dealing with a new school while standing up to the local bullies? Don’t overthink this, just hop into your crane pose and give this one another go. I endorse the original trilogy, as well as the reboot with a female lead. Sorry, but Jaden Smith’s dad endorses him plenty already.
Other Notables
- Ip Man (Series) – Donnie Yen as the Wing Chun grandmaster rewards viewers’ faith using more close-quarter strikes than you can shake a stick at.
- Fist of Legend – Jet Li revitalizes the Bruce Lee classic The Chinese Connection. Watch them both, then see if you can decide between them.
- The Legend of Drunken Master – Endure the sometimes ludicrous plot and gape at peak Jackie Chan’s amazing moves. Don’t miss the end fight.
- Seven Samurai – Before Yul Brynner and Denzel Washington took their seven west, Akira Kurosawa delivered a masterpiece.
- Romeo Must Die – A fun cast of recognizable names and some great fights mix Shakespeare with hip-hop and kung fu. Don’t hate.
- Five Element Ninjas – If you like the Venoms and highly stylized or specialized techniques, give this a spin.
- The Man with the Iron Fists (and Sequel) – Written, directed by, and starring RZA, who made a fun, stylish movie full of shout-outs to other classics.
- The Matrix (Trilogy) – Not really part of this genre, but fights in each movie of the trilogy qualify all the same.
- Lethal Weapon 4 – Jet Li kicked down the door and made himself known to American audiences opposite Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
- Big Trouble in Little China – The best John Carpenter movie, for my money. Camp, kicks, and the Hell of the Upside-Down Sinners.
“Hey, what more can a guy ask for?”
“Oh, the six-demon bag!” – Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) & Egg Shen (Victor Wong), Big Trouble in Little China
That’s it! Get to watching and thank me later. Or comment at me if you want to talk about a missing masterpiece. Elephants never forgo a good flick.