This martial arts classic is one of Jet Li's earlier films, and for many was their introduction to the future action star. The story is one that shows up surprisingly often in martial arts film. The film is set during WWII, and a Chinese martial arts master must defend his people against the harassment of the Japanese. The setting lends itself to a blending of different styles, including traditional Japanese and Chinese styles and the more modern kickboxing style of Jet Li. There's a bit more wire work than there needs to be, but that sort of thing was still fairly new back in 1994, so it's excusable. Plus, there's no denying that Jet Li knows how to fight, and fight well.
The Karate Kid (1984)
This one is a bit of a departure from the traditional martial arts films. Rather than focusing on a martial arts master who must put his skills to use, this film takes us through the process of learning a martial art from day one, albeit with an unorthodox teaching method. The Karate Kid is such an American classic that you would be hard pressed to find a single person who doesn't know about "wax on, wax off." Mr. Miyagi makes a great character as well. So, while the fights might not be up to the level of other movies on this list, the story and characters surpass many of them.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
This movie wowed audiences with Ang Lee's unprecedented wire work and effects to create fight scenes that literally had characters flying through the air. Purists might not appreciate wire work as much, but this film really got it right: if you're going to use wires, make it truly spectacular! This award-winning movie also has excellent acting and a great story to go along with the thrilling fights, so it really is the complete package. Most of the fights are weapon-based and the best example of martial arts film, but there's some good hand-to-hand stuff for the purists out there.
Ip Man (2008)
Interestingly, this movie is associated with Bruce Lee in its own way: the story is loosely based on the life of Yip Man, a Chinese martial artist who later trained Bruce Lee himself. This movie is the second on the list to feature the "Chinese vs. Japanese in WWII" plot, as a Japanese general challenges Chinese martial artists to attempt to prove Japanese dominance. Donnie Yen puts forth an excellent demonstration of Wing Chun. The best of martial arts films.
Ong-Bak (2003)
When this movie hit theaters in 2003, star Tony Jaa was being talked about everywhere and with good reason. Watch him fight in this or any of his other martial arts films, and you will be floored by the skill with which he approaches each fighting style. His best style, and the one he uses throughout this movie, is Muay Thai, which results in choreography that is both high-flying and bone-crunching. Jaa performs with power, precision, and grace, and it's an absolute thrill to watch him throw himself at his opponents. It's hard to fake the stuff he does in this movie; he really lays it all on the line.
Enter the Dragon (1973)
You can't have a list of martial arts films without Bruce Lee. The second Bruce Lee movie on this list is also the #1 pick. Sure, it's a bit dated and the production quality might not be as great as some of the other movies on the list, but Enter the Dragon is an absolute classic and Bruce Lee is captivating to watch. You can't argue about the skills of a guy who moved so fast that they had to shoot him at a higher frame rate in order to prevent blurry shots in slow-motion. Bruce is at his best in this one, and the film shows off some amazing skill with his fists and with nunchaku. If you've never seen this film, watch it now!
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Movies with fight scenes are exciting, but martial arts films add an extra level of excitement. Why? Perhaps it's knowing the level of skill the performers have to achieve to do the mind-blowing stunts. It is a tendency for martial arts film to have fast-paced, finesse-filled fight choreography. Either way, a truly good martial arts movie that combines amazing fights with an engaging story (or at least a passable one) is a true cinematic gem.
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