Sunday, February 16, 2014

The 10 Quintessential Fight Scenes in Martial Arts Cinema...According to Some Guy

I think Tony Jaa is probably a really nice guy...but he's not gonna be on this list ANYWHERE. Let's get that outta the way now. If that bothers you, have a dance party and forget your troubles!* For the rest of us, you're likely here because you love martial arts movies as much as I do if not more. But this isn't a pissing contest. Besides, I'd totally win that too...

The reason why I don't like most Tony Jaa fights is because I never feel as though there are any stakes. His athleticism is amazing, but I never feel as though there is anyone that can match that in his movies. As a result, I feel like I'm just waiting for him to win. That's not what makes a good fight scene. It's more than just the skill and athletic prowess on display that pulls us into a good fight. It's tension, and that comes from characters facing what is clearly a challenge to them. For that reason, you're probably not gonna see a lot of "one guy takes on countless thugs" scenes. But brace yourself for a lot of Hong Kong...

Presented in no particular order (some spoilers lie ahead...deal with it!):