Martial Arts Movie Reviews: The Warrior's Way, 2009 (The Best Martial Arts Movies)

(Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

At first I was thinking, okay, "Cowboys and Aliens" so... now we have "Cowboys and Samarai". But then I remembered David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970's TV series: Kung Fu.

This movie brings back a bit more of the beloved essence of that series... not so much the martial arts, but the WISDOM of the martial arts.

Somewhere I have a (cassette!) tape of the Kung Fu aphorisms from the series (Kung Fu, 1972-1975).






Sad note. Apparently the series was actually Bruce Lee's idea but he was cut from acting the part because America just wasn't ready for an Asian TV Star at the time (so said the production company).

Anyway, I just loved this film!!! And do highly recommend it for so many more reasons other than just the Eastern "wisdom".

The aesthetically beautiful and extremely creative cinematography is outstanding. And the stylized modern synthesis of script and acting are amazing to behold. A Masterpiece of direction by Sngmoo Lee. A real work of art... not to be missed.

The title: The Warrior's Way is nothing new to the martial arts world. But this movie is: serious, artistically brutal, and humorous all at once. I especially liked that the main character's protege is a young woman.

Again, as I said, I just loved it. Long live "The Eastern Western"!
 
Oh, yeah, the main actor?  Dong-gun Jang. He's Asia's answer to Clint Eastwood... soft-spoken, hard-assed, and as COOL as it gets.

 

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Best Martial Arts Films: Blood and Bone Review VIDEO

"Blood and Bone"... this is my new FAVORITE Martial Arts Film. OMG. I had thought it was all about Gina Carano... but Michael Jai White just blew me away. Who is this guy? Where has he been all my life? The flying punch with a scissor-kick, c'mon.

This was the best opening scene in a martial arts movie that I'd ever seen. The fight choreography, the skill... perfect form, perfect execution. As a practiced martial artist, myself, it was just gorgeous to watch. Nothing fake here.


Be prepared (spoiler):
They "tap out" but the guy breaks their arm anyway!

I can't believe it took me so  long to see this thing. WOW. I watched it. I watched 'The Special Features'. I watched it with commentary and then I watched it again.

Netflix isn't enough. I need to OWN this one.

This is real martial arts for real martial artists. In fact, the script was written by a 20 year veteran of the martial arts (an "Old Schooler" like me). Plus, the star, Michael Jai White, actually holds 7 Black Belts! Are you kidding me?! (I only hold 3.)

I am in awe. The choreography, the skill, the fricken ART of it all.

If you get the DVD, be sure to watch the Special Features and the movie, again, with Commentary. It will give you more insight into the 'Making of'... and incline you to give respect where respect is due.

 TRAILER BELOW.

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Blood and Bone TRAILER:

Aliens Among Us! Documentary Movie Review: "MicroCosmos" NATURE

Image via WikipediaReminds me of when I was child in Germany. Eight years old. I stepped on a SLUG... and we buried it right along with a tidy little ceremony.

How many baby sparrows did I nurture back to flight? Ahh, nature. I found a chrysalis once and waited for it to "hatch" into a butterfly. We found Polly-wogs in a stream... then the polly-wogs turned into frogs right before our eyes!


We were so much closer to the earth then than today's children seem to be... with their well-developed Gaming Thumbs.

This is one FILM that you AND your family should view together. Wait, I might take that back as it could result in nightmares FOR the little ones. HECK, it might in me! Nature CAN be the worst HORROR show... cuz it's REAL! So be discerning in age range and BEWARE the SPIDER scene.

But WOW. It does engender respect for life, all life... at all levels.

Plus, it's just FRICKEN FREAKY... a bee "making love" to a flower... and the flower responds?! Lends a whole new light to the expression "the birds and the birds". Amazing.

It's a psychedelic experience without psychotropic drugs.

Fantas-magorical!

Who knew that Lady Bugs were carnivorous and not just LADIES? And Snails engaging... OMG! How long did they have to wait to catch that scene?


Like "Baraka", it is non-narrative, no words... just deep deep impact.

SHORT CLIP:  

 

MOVIE TRAILER (French):  

 

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GIRL FIGHTERS "Muay Thai Giant" MARTIAL ARTS Movie Reviews

Here's a fun little GIRL FIGHT martial arts film I found. It's called "Muay Thai Giant". The girl fighters in it are awesome. They're miniature little Thai fighters and it takes place in Thailand.

Nathan Jones is great as, Barney Emerald, the "Gentle Giant". I've actually known a few of those in the Martial Arts world. Thank goodness not all males are Alpha types.

And Dan Chupong, the Police Chief, reminds me of Tony Jaa in "Ong Bak".

In addition to all that, it's so delightful to break the tradition of martial arts movie equals drug smugglers, thieves, and gangsters... oops. I lied. But at least the girls with the gentle (Aussie?) giant make it CUTE enough to qualify as FAMILY FUN.

Okay, it gets a little silly. But haven't we all felt that way with a little too much wasabi?

There's even a male vs. female Muay Thai match. How could you miss that?! You gotta love the "flying" elbows, upper-cuts, and knees of Muay Thai... but where are the blocks? Oh, yeah, I did see some inside the thigh knee blocks! Nice.

And then there's the Papaya Girl. Mmm.There's nothing better than TOUGH and SEXY!

SPOILER: Inside the ring she beats him but they call it a draw (being a male-dominated culture and all). That's one of the things we, as women, have to face in this patriarchal world culture. I once took down an 8th Degree Black Belt as a 6th Degree myself... did I get the same respect a man would have? No. Instead of saying, "Good job!", he said... "Here's what you did wrong."

Sub-titled. But well worth it.

MOVIE TRAILER:  

 

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Movie Reviews: "Ong Bak" Muay Thai Kickboxing Martial Arts

Okay, let's give the HOT martial arts GUYS some equal time... and nobody does it better than Tony Jaa in the movie Ong Bak. The first one in the series is my favorite. He does the Muay Thai Flying Knee (and elbow!) attack (among other things) like nobody's business. HOT. HOT. HOT fight scenes coming right up.


The Music's Hot too!
Song-Drowning Pool (let the bodies hit the floor) movie-ong bak preview:

 

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VIDEO Angela Bassett in Fight Scene "Strange Days" MOVIE

Angela Bassett in FIGHT SCENE in "Strange Days" 1995.

WAIT FOR IT... WAIT FOR IT... it's right at the end and well worth the wait (HOT!):

 

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Movie Reviews: Punch (When Girls Fight) Martial Arts Boxing

Image by Ninja M. via Flickr

Cat Fight?

Warning: This film does contain some female nu---y. But nothing really lude... that is if you don't mind seeing it in the ring. Hmm. Maybe it is a little... Anyway, I liked it.

Thought it was clever and fun. And the women were such strong female leads that you don't feel that they are being exploited in any way.

The acting was superb and it wasn't quite as "B" as I had expected. Might have taken itself a little too seriously, though.

Still, I recommend it if you like tough girls and fight scenes (and a little family drama). I think that if it were redone as a comedy it could be quite memorable. As it is, it's just IE for me.

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VIDEO Jet Li "I'm Nobody's Bitch!" martial arts kung fu karate fight scenes positive attitude

Let's have a positive attitude, shall we? Jet Li, "I'm Nobody's Bitch!" Yo, keepin' the confidence, packin' the power...

 

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