SUBSCRIBE

Caveat: I don’t watch that many movies, as I’d rather actually be training.  So my list is completely skewed, and that’s ok.  I’d really like to see this open up for a debate, but you need to have good rationale behind your movies.

And I am limiting them to real acting (term used loosely) as opposed to animated in any capacity.  Yes, I think Kung Fu Panda is a great movie, probably the singularly most entertaining martial arts movie because I can watch it with my kids.  But because it uses cartoon physics it is disqualified.

Other criteria I used too are that it is not just pure eye candy but has to have some real usable martial arts concepts, and that the budget had to have been greater than the used car I had in high school.  And “Way of the Dragon” has been disqualified because Chuck Norris does not have his beard.

So here they are, my Five Favorite Fighting Flicks:

#5: Bloodsport.  When this came out Van Damme was the hottest star in martial arts, and the fact that this was loosely based upon an actual real life series of events (the story of Grand Master Frank Dukes, whom I was once around when I was 13) makes it even more powerful.  Yes, there is the requisite cheese factor, but the variety of the Arts displayed and the fact that it showed some of the real dark side of fighting earns it a place here.  Bonus points to the training sequences as I always love seeing new or interesting ways to improve.

#4: The Karate Kid.  For those of us born in the early and mid 1970′s, this was the first martial arts movie we ever saw and had all the requirements: bullies, wise Yoda like teacher, boy learns to fight, gets girl and trophy.  Miyagi has evolved beyond the movie screen, and most of us have probably said in reference to a technique “Don’t know, first time.”  Again, bonus points for cool training making up for the bad 1980′s music and fashions.  And admit it, you’ve tried to catch a fly with chopsticks.

#3: Fearless.  Jet Li with a tale of redemption and sacrifice.  Instead of fighting bullies he was one, lost everything, and eventually found the keys to his Art.  Extra points for the stunning visuals and the martyrdom.  Just one question: how come they always have a huge hulking Irishman?  Most of the men on my Irish side barely reach 5’6″!  Probably the best written story of the group, based loosely on history, and by far the biggest budget.

#2: Enter the Dragon.  The first Martial Arts blockbuster and the cinematic high point of Bruce Lee’s life. Horrible fashion, bad acting, but incredible martial arts.  Every kid wants numchucks because of this movie!  I don’t know a single guy that studied martial arts in their teens for more than three months that didn’t have a poster from this movie, and if impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery than Enter the Dragon is under a micron thick.  Many people will put this one number one for all the reasons I’ve said plus it was the first cinematic hit in the US with an Asian actor as lead, and that is ok.  But this is MY Favorite Five.   And number one is….

BEST OF THE BEST!  Cheesy?  Yup.  Great training sequences?  Both old school and high tech.  One liners?  How about “Don’t block with your face” and “Do you know where you are?  (answer after looking around) The floor.”  Redemption and forgiveness and patriotism.  Plus very real martial arts, including the swelling and the trouble coming out of the corner and cheap shots to go with psychological gamesmanship.  Maybe I am totally biased because of my Tae Kwon Do background and my old shoulder injury (similar to Eric Robert’s character), but c’mon, it’s got James Earl Jones as the coach!  Not nearly the cinematic wonder or economic success of the others, it still makes me want to train like a madman just thinking about the movie!

And that might be one way to measure the power of a martial arts movie: not box office sales or Academy Awards, but by the effect it has on YOU and your martial arts.  Let the debate begin!