Recommended Movies

RECOMMENDED MOVIES.
 
You can’t love Kung Fu without loving Kung Fu movies.
There are so many great movies out there, far too many for me to list here,
but I have drawn up a list of those must see movies that will give any newcomer a broad overview of what the genre has to offer:
 

ENTER THE DRAGON-  BRUCE LEE
They say it’s the only Bruce Lee film you can watch all the way through without fast forwarding to the fight scenes.
I say it’s the most inspirational martial arts film ever made. How many fantastic martial artists were originally inspired to take up the arts after seeing Bruce in action? How many kids had, & still have that poster of Bruce, stripped to the waist, with those slash marks across his chest & stomach? Bruce Lee is still the king!
 
FIST OF LEGEND-  JET LI
A remake of Bruce Lee’s own classic Fist of Fury, this film has non stop action from start to finish. Particularly watch for the scene where Li defeats a whole gang of Japanese thugs using Chin-Na joint manipulation techniques- awesome!
 

DRUNKEN MASTER-  JACKIE CHAN
This is traditional Kung Fu at its best, with Jackie at the peak of his powers. Jackie has produced so many fantastic films- which one is your favourite?
 
TIGER CAGE 2-  DONNIE YEN
(Released in the UK as Tiger Cage.) Another prolific performer, but this is the film that really made me sit up & take notice. Boy, this guy can kick!
This is an early film, but still one of Donnie’s best.
 

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON- CHOW YUN FAT & MICHELLE YEOH.
What a beautiful film. This film alone was responsible for the explosion of the martial arts movie into mainstream. Superb fight choreography, but there’s also a plot! & good acting!!
 
HERO-  JET LI & MAGGIE CHEUNG
Another awesome epic. This is the film Jet Li was waiting for.
These films just keep getting better!
 

KUNG FU HUSTLE-  STEPHEN CHOW
Who says Kung Fu comedy is dead? Stephen Chow resurrects the genre with movies such as this & his other madcap hit “Shaolin Soccer”.

ZATOICHI-  TAKESHI KITANO  (BEAT TAKESHI)
In Japan Takeshi is a legend & with this film it’s easy to see why.
Action, comedy, tragedy, all fuse together to create a masterpiece.
Great for fans of Japanese swordplay.
 
I could go on all day recommending films & books, but perhaps it’s better if I sit back & let you guys have a go!
 
If you’ve seen a fantastic film, or read an awesome book, then write a short review, send it to Russell@whitecranemartialarts.co.uk & if I like it we’ll include it on the site. So get watching, reading & writing!
 

Russell Suthern
Chief Instructor.
 
We can only accept submissions from current members of White Crane Martial Arts.