Kung Fu Hustle
Sing (Stephen Chow) with sidekick Bone (Lam Chi-Chung) wishes to join the Axe Gang of which Brother Sum is gang leader. In a flashback it is revealed that as a boy Sing had bought a manual to become a martial artist but when he tried to defend a mute girl, Fong (Eva Huang), from bullies, he was beaten up. After a particular fight, Sing realises his true potential and with techniques learned from the manual, he defeats the gang and an evil martial artist. Finally he meets Fong, his childhood love. The action comedy martial arts film based on early 19th Century China and filmed like a cartoon with special effects was highest grosser that year in Hong Kong and all-time 10th highest grossing foreign language film in the US.
Kill Bill Volume 1
A bride (Uma Thurman) lies fatally wounded after having been attacked by an assassination squad led by Bill (David Carradine) and awakens from coma after four years. A great swordsmith, Hattori Hanzō, who has sworn never to forge a sword again, agrees to make a sword for her after realising what she’s been through. She then goes on a killing spree and kills O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Vernita Green (Vivica Fox), Budd (Michael Madsen), Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) and lastly Bill. The highly stylised revenge flick is considered to be among the greatest films of all time and the Bride character is ranked among the greatest movie characters. The martial arts action film was a BO hit and led to a sequel.
Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior
In a Thailand village, Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing fighter Ting (Tony Jaa) volunteers to travel to Bangkok to get back the stolen head of an ancient Buddha statue called ‘Ong-Bak’. His extraordinary athletic fighting skills impress crime lord Komtuan who reneges on his promise to return Ong-Bak and a giant Buddha statue head falls, crushing him to death. The head of Ong-Bak is restored in the village and Ting now ordained as a monk, arrives in the village on an elephant’s back. Ong-Bak became a huge worldwide hit, gave Tony Jaa international acclaim as the next major martial arts star after Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li and also led to two prequels. Watch this Thai martial arts action film for its chase scenes, hand-to-hand combat and acrobatics shot from multiple angles.
Police Story
Hong Kong Police Inspector Kevin Chan (Jackie Chan) nabs crime lord Chu Tao (Chor Yuen) and is then assigned the task of protecting Selina (Brigitte Lin), who is going to testify in court about Chu Tao’s illegal activities. Selina sneaks away while Kevin is sleeping but after Chu Tao is released on bail and threatens to kill Selina, she helps Kevin get incriminating data from Chu Tao’s PC. In a famous scene, Kevin retrieves the computer data by sliding down a pole wrapped in light bulbs and catches Chu Tao and Selina attests against Chu Tao. Watch this action flick for incredible martial arts action as well as Chan’s signature death-defying stunts.
Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow
Orphan Chien Fu (Jackie Chan) works in a Kung Fu school where he is constantly bullied by other students. The school’s cook Ah-Wu (Tino Wong) and an old beggar Pai (Yuen Siu Tien) who Chien feeds regularly are Chien’s only friends. In reality Pai is one of the last surviving masters of the Snake style of Kung Fu and is on the run from the Eagle Claw clan who plan to kill off all rival Snake style fighters. Pai trains Chien who creates a new style after watching his pet cat kill a cobra. Chien uses this technique to kill Pai’s enemies. This martial arts action film launched Jackie Chan into national stardom.
R. Srinivasan
