I've gotten a bit obsessed with these types of films. The whole ninja-flying-about-bit astonishes me, and the drama in all three of these films is incredible. So far, Hero is my favorite. Only The Bride vs. Pai Mei in Kill Bill is a more entertaining fight scene than Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen at the beginning of Hero. That spear shit just rocks my socks off.

I bought the Chinese DVD for House of Flying Daggers, thinking that it wouldn't go beyond limited release here. It's nationwide now from what I understand. If you get a chance to see it, do so. The action is slightly more human (people still dance around in trees and toss daggers with perfect accuracy from hundreds of feet away) but the love story is sweet, tragic, and moving. The same director as Hero did this one, and once again the colors are simply amazing. I've never seen a director do better with them.

Some old Chinese flicks are making their way into my rentals, as well. I've covered Once Upon a Time in China I and II and Enter the Dragon so far. Any of you martial art flick buffs out there have a few more suggestions?

Try any older Jackie Chan movies. Also Check Out Samurai

jet li's fist of legend - unlike those you mentioned above, but a sweet martial arts movie where jet li kicks ass. a must-see... jackie chan in drunken master is also good.

I'm so happy you're getting into these films. I've always said that the Hong Kong cinema is the most futile and productive of any country's film output.

I would recommend a few here.

First of all, all things by Wong Kar Wai are great. I would start off with Chungking Express, see how you like it, and then go from there into films like In the Mood for Love and Days of Being Wild. He and my favorite cinematographer, Christopher Doyle (who did a wonderful job on Hero, by the way), have a notorious business relationship, working on many films together, but they also have notorious unsettled arguments that leave Wong Kar Wai without his master of photography and camerawork. This new film Wong is working on, 2046, had Doyle leave in the middle of shooting, so two other cinematographers will get equal credit. I don't know what that's going to do to the film, but it was awfully sad for me to hear.

I've written quite a few things about some of Wong's stuff around this forum. He never fails to amaze me. Darrin, I wouldn't allow you to get into this genre of film without checking out its greatest director. To me, that's Wong Kar Wai.

Another brilliant director of H.K. is John Woo, whose work in the late eighties and early nineties on his gun-fight action movies was brilliant. He was the first H.K. director to use guns as a means of weaponry, and he popularized gun fights in Hong Kong himself. Before the outlandish presentations of gun battles he made, audiences were bored with guns because they had the ability to see graphic swordplay and intricate patterns of the human body in martial arts sequences. Woo used Sam Peckinpah's example and revolutionized the action thriller with madman gun battle sequences. Go for A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard-Boiled.

Don't be skeptical of his films because of his American works, by the way. I didn't really get much out of them, but they're not like his works for Hong Kong. I think he tried to make them more as they should be for Hollywood, as he saw it.

Chow Yun Fat's roles are usually well-picked, as in the Woo films and others. The other one I'd like to mention is God of Gamblers, for its humanity. Certainly it could be very silly at times, but really, this film bonded loyalty, friendship, and the process of healing the mind together. Chow Yun Fat is the god, a man who is swift of mind in his gambles and games. He ends up getting hurt and losing a lot of his memory and befriends the couple of people who were responsible for the accident. I really enjoyed this one, I thought it was very human in all of its glory.

A Chinese Ghost Story: Really beautiful film with a lovely musical backdrop. There are fight scenes in this one, but I don't think there's any wirework as in the three you mentioned. This one's a bit of a fairytale, so there are some monsters and such that aren't at their finest digitally. Don't expect a high-tech film.

Peking Opera Blues is great fun! Go get that one! The fight scenes are more acrobatic than anything else, the costumes are vibrant and colorful, and the characters are very vivid and humorous! It's quite amazing to see this rather flamboyant presentation.

Check out Jackie Chan in Drunken Master. After Bruce Lee passed away, Jackie Chan was sort of titled the next Bruce Lee, and he did a great job of maintaining that honor. In this and its sequel, the fight scenes are great, and the movements can be almost too quick to catch! It's really neat to watch, I'd check those out.

Those are just a few to mention. Enjoy, and please, let us know what you think!

fu·tile ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fytl, fytl)
adj.
Having no useful result.
Trifling and frivolous; idle: the futile years after her artistic peak.


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[Latin ftilis. See gheu- in Indo-European Roots.]
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futile·ly adv.
futile·ness n.
Synonyms: futile, barren, bootless, fruitless, unavailing, useless, vain
These adjectives mean producing no result or effect: a futile effort; a barren search; bootless entreaties; fruitless labors; an unavailing attempt; a useless discussion; vain regrets.
Antonyms: useful

I like your recommendations, but I think you meant 'fertile.'

That I did! That or "fruitful," I can't remember, but I'm glad you pointed it out! My apologies... I'm very inarticulate.

I do think she ment fertile, dawg

Saw it. Loved it.

I've also seen Iron Monkey. That one is funny and exciting. I can't believe I didn't mention it before. I adore Donnie Yen.

The only one I've seen is Crouching Tiger, and I thought it was shit. But I'll see Hero soon, it looks pretty good.

Why'd you think it was shit?

I love Wong Kar Wai, and just so you know, 2046 is finished and is already out on DVD in China. You can get it at YesAsia.com for a good price. As for the movie itself, I love it. The cinematography is gorgeous. I've read some reviews that think the story is a notch down for Wong, but I disagree. I really can't get enough of this movie.

Now, Wong is doing pre-production on his next movie, which will reportedly be in English and star Nicole Kidman. I'm not sure what to think about that yet.

I didn't know it was out in China! I knew that it was finished, but I was waiting to hear when it was going to be released in the States. Thanks so much for the site, I'll certainly check it out and see if I can order it!

No problem. I can't wait for it to be released in the U.S., so I can see it on the big screen!

Me neither really, but I admittedly don't really like the idea right off. I can't be too skeptical though, it could work out nicely! But it also could be crap. We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, I'm anxious to see if he can pull it off, but it's hard not to be skeptical.

I just thought it was completely overblown, poorly acted, and absurd. I mean, I have nothing against sensationalistic kung fu, but this was just crazy.

I have no idea where you got any of that. Are you sure you didn't see Kung Pao or something?

Big fan of the genre. I just saw Flying Daggers and loved it, although I did think the action and cinematography in Hero was better. I also wasn't blown away by the story, I thought the story in CTHD was better. But great nonetheless.

My favorite marshal arts movie is Twin Warrior. Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh (CTHD) and Siu-hou Chin (Fist of Legend.) It is just phenominal. The cinematography isn't as good as the newer flicks, but the story and fighting is just incredible.

Drunken Master is also very good.

i saw Hero last night and i have never been so impressed with an action movie in my life. once the credits started rolling, i just sat there speechless. i had to go to the bathroom for half of the movie but couldn't bring myself to turn it off. i think this is one of the most brilliant action movies i've ever seen in terms of the story, the script, the use of color, and of course the action sequences. i highly recommend it.