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Early Hong Kong classics from Jet Li, including works from celebrated filmmakers Gordon Chan, Yuen Woo-ping (perhaps best known by western audiences for his work on “The Matrix”) and Corey Yuen will finally arrive on digital 4K on Feb. 18, courtesy of Shout! Studios in collaboration with Li.

The releases include 1994’s “Fist of Legend,” 1993’s “Tai Chi Master,” “The Legend” and “The Legend 2,” and 1994’s “The Bodyguard From Beijing.” These are the movies that made Li an international superstar and paved the way for him to appear in western blockbusters like “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The One” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” along with Sylvester Stallone’s “Expendables” franchise.

“Thanks to our new partner Shout! Studios, movie fans can now easily enjoy these entertaining films in stunning 4K on various digital platforms. I hope a new generation of audiences will be introduced to these...

The cinema of Hong Kong in the ’80s and ’90s, particularly Jet Li’s martial arts films, is renowned for its thrilling action choreography, unique visual styles, and engaging storytelling. Behold the spectacular Hk action classics from prolific actor, martial artist, and producer Jet Li and early works by celebrated filmmakers Gordon Chan, Woo-Ping Yuen, and Corey Yuen when Fist Of Legend (1994), Tai Chi Master (1993), The Legend (1993), The Legend 2 (1993), and The Bodyguard From Beijing (1994) are set to unleash on Digital in 4K on February 18, 2025 by Shout! Studios, in collaboration with Jet Li.

“Thanks to our new partner Shout! Studios. Movie fans can now easily enjoy these entertaining films in stunning 4K on various digital platforms. I hope a new generation of audiences will be introduced to these action classics that give a glimpse to the talent of directors, writers, actors, stunt people, and crew that come from the rich history of Hong Kong cinema,...

Now this is cool. Image above: Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in Tai Chi Master. Image courtesy of Jet Li and Shout! Studios. In the very late 90s, when I finally discovered Hong Kong cinema, Jet Li was one of the foundation stones of that early DVD era. As an early member of Netflix in their physical media days, I rented every Jet Li movies on the service, based on reviews I'd read at Hong Kong Cinema - View from the Brooklyn Bridge, and was astounded by nearly every one. Several generations of physical media later, Shout Studios will bring five cornerstone action films to 4K. Per the official announcement this morning: "The cinema of Hong Kong in the '80s and '90s, particularly Jet Li's...

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Jackie Chan and Jet Li star in the martial arts action adventure The Forbidden Kingdom, arriving on SteelBook February 25 from Lionsgate. A discovery made by a kung fu-obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned …

The post Arriving on SteelBook Feb 25: Jackie Chan and Jet Li in The Forbidden Kingdom appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on the trend of exploring an ambitious concept in its movies with the “Multiverse.” It started in some of the original comic stories, but now it’s really been used to capitalize on a bevy of crowd-pleasing moments. Other movies, such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, also use the multiverse to explore the different branches of life created by a single act. Even properties like Mortal Kombat are getting in on the game. While the “parallel universe” plot device has been used in many sci-fi stories in the past, back in 2001, a little action movie attempted to introduce the idea of the “multiverse” to a mainstream movie audience. Today, we take a look at Jet Li’s The One and see how it holds up with its own take on the concept.

Ok, so let me start this off by being real. The One...

Since the days of classics like Bullitt and Dirty Harry, the action genre has turned into a box office powerhouse, with the 2010's boasting some big ones. The action genre has been a staple of cinema since the earlier days of film. It's been a key to building up careers of Hollywood giants like Bruce Willis through franchises like Die Hard. Often focusing on wronged heroes embarking on a quest for vengeance against criminals and terrorists, the genre is loved for its flashy fight sequences and tough protagonists.

From the late '60s on, each decade of film has produced its share of classics, and the 2010s were no different. Although the decade did begin with a slew of lackluster action movies, the genre soon picked up steam as an array of new franchises were kicked off or taken to new heights. From remakes of classic action movies to ground-breaking revenge thrillers,...

While the downfall of physical media has been predicted time and time again, 2024 has proved the opposite with many impressive and interesting releases, not juts Asian titles. However, when it comes to Asian cinema many boutique labels especially have given film-lovers the opportunity to (re-)discover many gems of the cinematic landscapes of Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand to name but a few. The following list may serve as an overview of some of these releases, some of which may stand representative of a whole catalogue from a production company.

Without further ado, let’s delve into the list of the 30 best physical media releases of Asian cinema in 2024, in random order

1. Seven Samurai (BFI)

Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece certainly needs no introduction and its release on 4k was one of the most anticipated releases for connoisseurs of Asian cinema. While there is also the Criterion edition of the film,...

From battling alongside Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China and America, facing off with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Knock Off, battling The Rock in The Scorpion King, acting alongside Quentin Tarantino in Alias, taking a memorable elevator ride with Ryan Gosling, through Stunt Coordinating everything from the Rush Hour, Mcgyver and Revolution TV series, Jeff Wolfe has been making his mark on the industry both infront and behind the camera.  He's just made his feature Directorial Debut with the newly released Zombie thriller Outbreak and we picked his brains about the journey from humble beginnings through the mayhem and madness of martial arts movie making and more, to directing his first movie in the midst of an actors strike. Mike: I was...

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Donnie Yen was incredible as the blind assassin Caine in Keanu Reeves’ fourth John Wick film. He even landed a spin-off movie for his character, announced by Lionsgate last year. His filming experience in John Wick 4 was far safer, considering that he sustained some serious injuries during his stunt in other films.

Donnie Yen as Caine in John Wick | Credits: Lionsgate

In particular, Yen recalled that his worst on-set accident happened when he filmed alongside fellow actor Jet Li. Interestingly, Yen was injured twice when he filmed with Li, with the movies taking place a decade apart. In both instances, he got accidentally hit by Li and saw blood coming out of his face.

Donnie Yen’s worst set accident happened while filming alongside Jet Li Donnie Yen and Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China II | Credits: Golden Harvest

Donnie Yen opened up about his most...

Dragon Ball may not have gotten a worthy live-action adaptation yet, but one epic Jackie Chan fantasy movie comes close to qualifying as a spiritual adaptation of the renowned anime. Created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, Dragon Ball went on to become one of the biggest and most internationally acclaimed shounen anime franchises in the 90s and the aughts. Over the years, the franchise has only grown from strength to strength, paving the way for newer additions, including video games, manga spinoffs, and films.

In 2009, Dragon Ball was also loosely adapted as a live-action movie, Dragonball Evolution, which turned out to be a commercial and critical disaster. Owing to its inability to get anything right about the original anime and manga, the movie was panned by viewers and critics worldwide, forcing many to grow skeptical towards anime-to-cinema adaptations in general. However, before Dragonball Evolution presented one of the worst live-action takes on anime,...

Schwarzenegger. Stallone. Van Damme. Gibson. Snipes. Ford. When you make a list of the most popular action heroes of all time, there’s another name that needs to be added to that list – Liam Neeson. Over the last sixteen years, he’s headlined a neverending series of action thrillers that have propelled him to a much higher echelon of fame than he’d ever been on before, with him only ever becoming an action star once he was fifty-six. Ultimately, it was all due to a low-budget, European-financed action flick, which came very close to going direct-to-video and reached theatres in Europe a full year before it opened in North America. That movie is Taken, and we’re going to tell you how it revitalized the career of a man who – at the time – was generally considered a top-tier character actor with limited box office appeal. That’s right – it...

The 1990s was a peak time for martial arts movies, with a distinctive '90s' fusion of old-school kung fu choreography, hyper-dynamic action sequences, and different martial arts styles that thrilled global audiences. Martial arts cinema was making a distinct change at this time as more classic Hollywood elements were being used throughout films as their popularity grew. The best films of this era used those elements while remaining true to Eastern martial arts traditions that focused on stories of honor and redemption to make films that were both exciting and emotionally satisfying.

The 1990s weaving of acrobatic fight sequences with larger-than-life characters made the decade a golden age for performances in martial arts films. Jet Li’s Chen Zhen in Fist of Legend (1996) and Jackie Chan’s Wong Fei-hung in Drunken Master II (1994) both had incredible charisma and depth in their onscreen roles, making the martial arts more than mere action and combat.

The Jet Li science fiction movie from 2001 where the famed martial artist played nine different characters accurately predicted a big franchise trend in the 2020s. Jet Li's best movies highlight his legendary abilities within the action genre, with many titles such as Hero and Fearless showcasing both his physical prowess and his strong acting skills. However, the action genre was not the only one to experience Jet Li's talents, especially in the early 2000s as he branched out into telling other kinds of stories.

Jet Li, during that time frame, tried to establish himself in the science fiction genre through his starring role in the 2001 film The One. While that film ended up being one of his less popular additions, it did allow Jet Li's wushu fighting style to be displayed in new ways and let the film experiment with certain concepts. Some of those concepts ended up becoming popular later,...

After receiving a degree in chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney, Dolph Lundgren started his acting career with a James Bond film (A View to a Kill) in 1985, quickly followed by his iconic performance as Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, and then a string of action films. With a career spanning five decades, the man has kept busy, playing over 100 parts… and now, we have taken on the task of picking some of his best movies. Here we go:

Don’T Kill It (2016)

Directed by Mike Mendez, Don’t Kill It combines action, horror, and comedy while dropping Lundgren into the role of badass demon hunter Jebediah Woodley, who seems more interested in finding his next drink than catching demons. His vocation has brought him to Chickory Creek, Mississippi, where Christmas is being ruined...

It’s astounding how many great modern martial arts movies have received near-universal praise on Rotten Tomatoes. While it’s well known that iconic classics of years gone by, like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, have long been favored by movie critics, these films' legendary status can sometimes overshadow the merits of more recent martial arts triumphs in the 21st century. That’s why it’s important to take the time to praise modern martial arts movies that have pushed the genre into brave new territory in recent years and continued to enthrall viewers with spectacular fight sequences.

Some of the all-time great martial performances occurred in the 21st century, and acclaimed directors like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee have kept the quality of martial arts cinema high. These excellent films boasted spectacular performances from modern martial arts stars like Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh. While martial arts cinema...

A little over seven years after the last attempt to reboot the property failed, Blumhouse have revealed they're working on a new Mummy movie. The horror franchise first launched in 1932 and was part of the Universal Classic Monsters collection, with Boris Karloff portraying the titular entity before passing the reins on to Tom Tyler, Lon Chaney Jr. and Eddie Parker. The years since have seen two rebooted versions of The Mummy franchise, beginning with the Brendan Fraser-led movies from Stephen Sommers, which also included the Scorpion King spinoffs, and Tom Cruise's failed 2017 reboot meant to launch the interconnected Dark Universe.

The official Blumhouse Twitter page have unveiled that a new Mummy movie is in the works from writer/director Lee Cronin, who recently excelled with Evil Dead Rise. The post features a script page with the title scratched out featuring Cronin's credit with "Original Screenplay by" and both...

Martial Arts movies are one of the most beloved niches of the action genre, and the 1990s was a standout decade for these projects. Including both intricately crafted and moving portraits of complex characters and downright cheesy movies that are fun until the very end, the diversity of these films provides something for all audiences. The best martial arts movie performances won't be found in these films. However, plenty of icons of the genre take on fun comedic roles that allow them to show off a sillier side of their personalities.

However, no matter how much humor is added to the story, this never takes away from the explosive action onscreen. Many of these are great martial arts movies for beginners because of the comedic elements and the characters who don't take themselves too seriously. Letting loose and watching films that allow the viewers to relax and enjoy themselves while...

Jackie Chan is easily one of the most iconic actors out there, widely known for his martial arts cinema and playing a huge role in The Karate Kid universe. Along with Chan, Chinese-born Singaporean actor Jet Li is also quite famous in the martial arts genre, and the two iconic actors shared a great friendship.

Jet Li in a still from High Risk | Credits: Upland Films Corporation Limited

However, one movie of Li’s parodied and mocked Jackie Chan, which obviously didn’t sit well with him, causing tensions between the duo. Jackie Chan himself confirmed in an interview that he was not a big fan of how he was mocked and portrayed.

Jet Li’s $11 million movie that caused tensions between him and Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan can easily be one of the most remarkable actors out there and is a major reason why fans are buzzing for the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends.

Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky was a surprise worldwide hit despite starring mostly unknown faces, especially Stallone himself. The story of the action legend being almost homeless and out of money before he wrote the screenplay for the sports drama in three days and sold it to a studio is nothing short of legendary.

With Stallone, the studio took a gamble and reportedly only assigned $1 million for the production mostly because the actor insisted on playing the lead man. While it ended up being highly profitable with a worldwide gross of $225 million, Stallone himself could not recreate the feat with another franchise he created decades later.

Sylvester Stallone reaped huge profits with just a $1 million investment with Rocky A still from Rocky | Credits: United Artists

Sylvester Stallone is one of the biggest action stars of the ‘80s and the ‘90s and has still managed to be one of the most recognized stars around the world.

He has beaten up Ryan Reynolds, and been beaten to a pulp by Ryan Gosling. He’s tussled with guys like Dwayne Johnson, Jet Li, Jean Claude-Van Damme and Jackie Chan.

Now, after decades of working in the world of stunts on movies like Green Lantern, Drive and Punisher: War Zone, Jeff Wolfe has fulfilled a longtime dream of directing his own movie, with the zombie drama Outbreak arriving in a handful of theaters Friday.

The film stars Billy Burke as a park ranger grieving his missing teenage son when a mysterious outbreak threatens his small community. It’s a zombie movie, but not what audiences may expect from the genre. There’s action and scares, but also human melancholy and a deep mystery.

Wolfe has a lot riding on Outbreak, which is one reason he spent last week putting up fliers around Santa Monica near the Laemmle Monica Film Center,...

Love stories can be found even in movies that are primarily about action. Martial arts movies might have offered audiences some of the most epic fights in cinema history, but they have also produced some of the greatest romance stories. The action genre often intertwines physical combat with emotional depth, with love and relationships playing a crucial role in the process. Interpersonal connections are more often than not the driving force behind the characters’ motivations, making them stand out as some of the key elements of the plot.

Romantic love, in particular, is a central emotional force in martial arts films, making the genre far more than just displays of impressive kick techniques you shouldn’t try at home. In these emotionally complex storylines that balance action and emotion, love is never just about passion — it is about the sacrifices and personal growth that come with it.

Tai Chi Master...

Brendan Fraser has had a career with highs and lows, spanning almost three and a half decades from his first performance back in 1991. Fraser is known for his charisma and versatility, able to portray a wide variety of characters in multiple genres, from action-packed thrillers to more serious dramas to zany comedies. His movie star's persona and natural command of the screen helped him become an A-List Hollywood mainstay during the late 1990s.

Though best known more recently for his Oscar-winning leading role performance as Charlie in The Whale, Fraser has forged a career that is littered with underrated gems. Some of Fraser's best films, such as Bedazzled and Airheads, show off his comedic timing and impeccable presence while also delivering the same subtle intensity in more nuanced roles in films like Gods and Monster. Fraser's talent has never been in doubt, and even though some of his filmography never...

While most ordinary TV shows aren't too interested in introducing new characters into the mix at all when they reach their final season, let alone feature one who becomes a breakout best character, "Cobra Kai" is no ordinary TV show. Currently, the show's sixth and final season just bowed its second of three parts, and it's become apparent that the villainess Zara Malik is arguably the final season's best new character. A student from the Iron Dragons participating in the Sekai Taikai tournament, Zara is a mysterious girl who lets her beauty, popularity, and especially her fists do the talking for her. As "Cobra Kai" wraps up its various storylines before the final episodes drop on February 13 of next year, Zara could turn out to be a pretty dangerous and dramatic wild card.

What's even more exciting than that is the accomplishments and potential of the actress behind Zara: Rayna Vallandingham.

Some of the most beloved martial arts films are those that go all out with their storytelling. Over-the-top martial arts films have an exaggerated display of either comedy, violence, or martial arts skills or all three at the same time. However, when done right, these heightened elements don't make it appear as though a film is trying too hard. The over-the-top antics are often grounded by the strong performances of a film's cast and the innovative approaches to fight choreography.

Jackie Chan is a familiar face in plenty of over-the-top martial arts films, as his career is largely defined by those with risky, extravagant stunts regularly paired with slapstick humor. However, as previously mentioned, humor and death-defying stunts aren't the only ways for films to be considered over-the-top. Riki-Oh and Shaolin Soccer are two films that feature absurd amounts of violence and superhuman martial arts skills, respectively, delivering an entertaining...

The Expendables is a franchise that promised action movie fans the ultimate dream: to bring together the greatest action stars of multiple generations under one explosive banner. While the series has delivered its fair share of crowd-pleasing moments and some of the Expendables' biggest stunts, not every casting coup has lived up to its potential. Despite assembling an impressive roster, including Stallone and Schwarzenegger teaming up with rising stars, with each entry, several performers found themselves in roles that failed to capitalize on their unique skills.

From martial arts icons to new actors, these performers deserved better than their brief or underwhelming appearances in the franchise. Whether limited by screen time, poor character development, action sequences that failed to showcase their abilities, or no action sequences at all. These stars represent missed opportunities in a series built on celebrating action cinema.

Jet Li Expendables' Fight Scenes Wasted The Martial Arts...

Kung fu movies are famous for their dazzling fight scenes in which characters show off their mastery of the martial arts. Considering the majority of onscreen combat is largely choreographed, most of the moves portrayed in these films wouldn't be effective in an actual fight. With that said, some cinematic kung fu techniques are central to the fighting style and have been practiced and perfected by experts in the trade.

Actors like Jackie Chan who still has upcoming movies, showcased many of these moves to the world and gave the genre widespread popularity. Films like Kung Fu Panda 4 took these techniques to another level, adding fictional power elements. In kung fu films, characters frequently use moves that look relatively simple to perform. It's easy to think that the technique might be straightforward to replicate, but it takes years of practice to successfully apply. The fact that these characters can...

The age-old practice of beauty and wellness has prevailed since the dawn of the Greek and Roman empires. Today, Hollywood can put even Helen of Troy to shame over its obsession with Botox and plastic surgery. Meanwhile, the martial arts legend Jet Li leaves beauty in the eyes of the beholder and rejects the concept of going under the knife.

Jet Li in Once Upon A Time in China [Credit: Orange Sky Golden Harvest]

His authenticity toward himself in an era where physical appearance matters just as much as one’s inner growth has earned a separate stratum of respect and recognition in the public’s eye. Jet Li, the legend behind such films as The Forbidden Kingdom and Once Upon a Time in China, uses his platform to preach the message of self-esteem even after disappearing from Hollywood for almost half a decade now.

Jet Li Sets the Record Straight Regarding 1 Thing Jet Li...

When it comes to action flicks, Jet Li doesn’t pull punches—literally or figuratively. The martial arts legend has one clear reason why Hollywood keeps trading in the real, gritty moves for flashy CGI: not all actors can actually fight. According to Li, authentic martial arts on screen require an actor who can handle real, complex choreography.

Jet Li in The One (2001) | Credits: Hard Eight Pictures

But in a time when special effects can conjure up almost anything, who needs a training montage? CGI might be a shortcut, but it’s missing the spark that only true martial artists bring to the screen.

Jet Li Opens Up About Why Hollywood Shifted from Real Martial Arts to CGI in Action Movies Jackie Chan as Mr. Han in The Karate Kid | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Jet Li didn’t hold back when it came to calling out Hollywood’s shift from real fight scenes to CGI.

Milla Jovovich is set to star in new action thriller 'Protector'.The 'Resident Evil' actress has reportedly signed up to play a former war hero in the film, which has been compared to Liam Neeson's 2008 classic 'Taken', with Adrian Grunberg directing from Bong-Seeb Mun's screenplay.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jovovich will play Nikki, who has left her violent past behind her so she can focus on raising her daughter.However, she wakes up in an abandoned factory and finds out Chloe has been kidnapped, leading her on a journey into the criminal underworld.With the police and military hot on her heels, she has to do everything she can to find her daughter.Production is set to get underway in New Mexico over winter.The 48-year-old actress has starred in numerous sci-fi and action films during the course of her career, including '...

Veteran action movie ace Sammo Hung, Japanese actor Kurata Yasuaki and action choreographer-turned director Tanigaki Kenji had a ball on Thursday in Tokyo as they took a light-hearted trip down memory lane to discuss the state of martial art action movies from Hong Kong.

In a panel discussion held in the confines of Tiffcom, the rights market aligned with the Tokyo International Film Festival, the three were seemingly selected to represent the past, present and future of the genre.

“Hong Kong’s place in the film world is well deserved. We worked so hard for it,” said Hung. “Nobody paid attention to us for ages, so we could do what we liked. Then, finally, our time came.”

Hung (real name Hung Kam-bo) has over 250 film credits according to the Internet Movie Database in roles ranging from actor and stuntman to producer and director. These include “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,...

Blu-ray.com has announced the new collection of martial arts films coming to Blu-ray from the iconic Chinese film studio Golden Harvest. The 8-disc collection is called Golden Harvest Vol. 2: Shining Stars and the set will be hitting retailers just in time for Christmas on December 17.

The description reads:

Some of the biggest names in Hong Kong martial arts and action scenes collide in Golden Harvest Vol. 2: Shining Stars! Featuring eight classics spanning from the seventies to the nineties, this collection features punches and performances from Brandon Lee, Jimmy Wang Yu, Angela Mao, Jet Li, Sammo Hung, and the legendary Chuck Norris.

The new Blu-ray set includes:

Beach Of The War Gods (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin & English Dub DTS-hd Master Audio 2.0 Dual Mono / 101 min.)

At the end of the Ming dynasty, a wandering warrior assembles a team of mercenaries to defend a coastal village from the tyranny of Japanese marauders.

The martial arts subgenre has been around for quite some time, with the 2000s being a particularly significant year that produced many memorable films. Martial arts films found early success during the '70s and '80s, with Hong Kong producing the most notable films. Thanks to the work of martial artists like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen, martial arts films had a sort of revival from the late '90s into the 2000s.

Many of the best martial arts films of the decade have left an indelible mark on the action genre, inspiring other parts of the world to try their hand at creating neatly choreographed sequences on par with Eastern films. The best martial arts films are not only influential in the film industry, but they also balance electrifying fight scenes with striking visuals and a compelling story.

Related 10 Best Martial Arts Movie Performances Of All...

Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan reveals his one condition to star in the 2025 comedy action movie Love Hurts. Quan won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of time-traveling husband Waymond Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Love Hurts revolves around a familiar premise about an average nobody turning into an action hero. Quan plays a mild-mannered realtor, Marvin Gable, who's a hitman hiding in plain sight.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Quan shared the one big condition to starring in Love Hurts. As a big fan of Hong Kong action movies in the '80s, the actor found that era to be "really special" and part of the reason was actors like Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Jet Li performing their own stunts. With Love Hurts, one thing he requested was to "do all the fights," "every punch, every kick" by himself. He...

The Expendables 2 was the only one of the four Expendables movies that actually accomplished what Sylvester Stallone set out to do with the all-star action franchise. For years, Stallone was best known for headlining two major franchises: the Rocky franchise, about an underdog boxer becoming a world champion, and the Rambo franchise, about a Vietnam War veteran reckoning with the fact that the only thing he knows how to do is kill. But in 2010, Stallone added a third franchise to the roster: The Expendables, about a band of aging mercenaries secretly making the world a better place.

Although it was conceived by screenwriter David Callaham, once Stallone took over the project, The Expendables became an excuse to get every big action movie star on the same marquee. Stallone is backed up by Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke, and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis make a...

An icon of the martial arts movie genre, Jet Li has been responsible for putting some absolutely incredible fight scenes to screen over the course of his legendary career. The Singaporean martial artist and actor was once a national Wushu champion, pivoting into an acting career at the young age of 18 in 1982 with The Shaolin Temple. Since then, Jet Li has had a lauded cinematic career, single-handedly reviving the Hong Kong martial arts movie while leaving a wake of fantastic hand-to-hand combat scenes.

The best action scenes of Jet Li's show off the performer's impressive dexterity, agility, and years of dedicated martial arts training, reflecting his skill onto the screen. In addition to unarmed combat, Li is quite proficient with martial arts sword fights and improvised weaponry, making for an impressive breadth of variety in his greatest hits. From the iconic Once Upon a Time in China series to his...

Siu-Wong Fan, also credited as Louis Fan in some of his work, is a martial artist and Hong Kong actor who made a name for himself as the titular character in Riki-Oh. Fan's father worked for the Shaw Brothers Studio and, after learning wushu at a young age, it was clear his talents were destined for film. While Fan does have a prominent role in quite a few Ip Man films, most of his work is as a supporting character.

Throughout his career, Fan has worked alongside some of the biggest kung fu movie stars of all time. Actors like Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen are just a few people Fan has had the opportunity to work with and prove his martial arts skills are not to be underestimated. The best of Fan's work can be found in a range of kung fu films, from the dramatic origin story of...

Pedro Pascal is presently a widespread name in the industry with countless projects under his collar. He has been a pop culture icon by playing prominent roles in significant IPs like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us. However, his claim to fame was when he played Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones.

Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Game of Thrones significantly contributed to elevating Pedro Pascal’s stardom. The audience and critics loved his performance as the Dornish Prince. Pascal revealed that to prepare for the role of the Red Viper, he had to train under a Wushu Master who had fought alongside Jet Li in his early career.

Pedro Pascal went through a hard training session for Game of Thrones Pedro Pascal fighting against The Mountain in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Pedro Pascal‘s Oberyn Martell, aka the Red Viper, was...

The '90s saw the mainstream rise of martial artist actors like Jet Li and Jackie Chan, resulting in some of the best kung fu films to be released within the decade. The introduction of such stars and films brought an increased interest in the genre and influenced a variety of American films, including The Matrix. As fans of Hong Kong cinema themselves, The Wachowskis asked famous martial arts director Yuen Woo-Ping to help with their film's fight choreography.

Chan himself has been quite an influence on kung fu films. Starting in the late '70s, Chan was just one of the actors to lead kung fu comedies, which revived interest in the genre within the following decades. Chan and Li are just a few who started working in Hong Kong cinema before moving to American films after their breakthrough. As a result, the best kung fu films the decade...

One of the best possible fight match-ups for the upcoming John Wick spinoff centered on Donnie Yens Caine character already happened in a 90s martial arts classic. Yen made his John Wick franchise debut opposite Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4. His character Caine, a blind assassin who uses motion-sensing doorbells to lure henchmen into his traps, quickly became a fan-favorite. Hes a legend in this franchise purely because hes the one who killed Wick as a duel proxy for the notorious Marquis.

The end of John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed to set up Caine for a spinoff. After being freed from the High Tables control, Caine returned to Paris to finally reunite with his daughter. But when he got there, he was approached by Akira, the daughter of the Continental manager he killed earlier in the film, hoping to avenge her father. This set up an interesting tale about the cycle of violence,...

Belgian martial artist-turned-actor Jean-Claude Van Damme has many incredible characters under his black belt, but one of my favorites comes from a silly source: The Expendables 2. At 10 years old, Van Damme enrolled in karate school, though I highly doubt he knew the level of success the decision would garner. After earning the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978, he moved to Hollywood to become an actor. Ultimately, Van Damme landed his big break as ninjutsu practitioner Frank Dux in the 1988 martial arts flick Bloodsport one of my favorite Van Damme cult classics.

Van Damme's career-launching role in Bloodsport made him a hugely popular action star during the late '80s and well into the '90s. In my opinion, some of his biggest and best career highlights include Kickboxer (1989), Lionheart (1990), Double Impact (1991), and Universal Soldier (1992), though flicks like Hard Target (1993), Timecop (1994), and Street Fighter (1994) also come to mind. Eventually, Van Damme's...

Michelle Yeoh's iconic fights feature martial arts legends, showcasing her prowess in the action movie genre. She has battled against Jet Li, Wang Xueqi, Sammo Hung, and more, proving her skills against recognized stars. From classic Wuxia epics to Marvel blockbusters, Yeoh consistently demonstrates her mastery in swordplay and combat.

Michelle Yeoh is one of the most celebrated martial arts stars of all time, and it's no surprise that she's been able to cross fists with some truly legendary names in the action movie genre. Originally a model with a background in dance, Michelle Yeoh became a symbol of female kung fu as she built her career as an actress, frequently collaborating with some of the most famous stars around to hone her natural talent. Many of Michelle Yeoh's best fights feature recognizable faces in the martial arts and action movie space.

In many cases, these big names are...

Asian cinema has gifted the world with a plethora of iconic fighting movies that blend intense action with rich storytelling and cultural depth. Together, these films represent the diverse and dynamic world of Asian fighting movies, captivating audiences with their artistry and action. A few favorites include:

Enter the Dragon (1973) – Bruce Lee

A classic with Bruce Lee’s,”Enter the Dragon” sets the stage for martial arts films with groundbreaking choreography and charismatic performances.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – Directed by Ang Lee

This movie was extremely popular across the globe and introduced audiences to the poetic beauty and elegance of wuxia cinema.

Ip Man (2008)

This movie is a biographical martial arts film that tells the story of the legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man, who later became the mentor of Bruce Lee, and his resistance against Japanese occupation in China during the 1930s.

The Raid: Redemption (2011)

“The Raid: Redemption” showcases...

After yesterday’s rumors and confusion, we now know that Hong Kong director and cinematographer Corey Yuen has died. Interestingly, according to the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Yuen passed away in 2022, but the media kept his death a secret at the request of his family. While the Federation did not reveal a date of death, we know the Righting Wrongs, The Transporter, and Doa: Dead or Alive director died of complications from Covid-19. On Monday, news about Mr. Yuen’s death was revealed on Chinese-language social media by action legend Jackie Chan, who trained alongside Yuen under Sammo Hung Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, and Yuen Biao at the Peking Opera School.

Corey Yuen started as an actor, contributing to 114 projects and playing roles in films like The Jade Raksha, Long ya Jian, Ai Nu, Brutal Boxer, and more. He worked alongside cinema’s greatest martial artists, including Chan, Michelle Yeoh,...

Corey Yuen, the actor, action choreographer and director of “So Close” and “Doa: Dead or Alive,” died in 2022, the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers confirmed to Variety.

Local and English-language reports say that Yuen died of Covid-19 on an undisclosed date in Hong Kong. He was born on Feb. 15, 1951 as Ying Gang-ming.

His death was initially kept private at the request of his family. But on Monday, the news was revealed on Chinese-language social media by fellow action star Jackie Chan, who paid tribute to Yuen and others in the industry who had died.

Yuen and Chan were contemporaries and trained together with Sammo Hung Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu and Yuen Biao at the Peking Opera School. Together, they were sometimes referred to as the Seven Little Fortunes or The Lucky Seven and made their mark during the heyday of Hong Kong cinema from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

Jet Li’s 1994 film Fist Of Legend caught the attention of the Wachowskis as they were looking for someone prolific in Hong Kong action styles for The Matrix. They contacted Yuen Woo-ping, who had earlier worked with the legend Jackie Chan in Drunken Master. Yuen was initially hesitant but eventually brought his expertise into the film.

Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving in The Matrix | Warner Bros.

After The Matrix, Yuen returned to work on the classic Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, he was soon called back to Hollywood and it was Quentin Tarantino who needed his slick action choreography in his films, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2.

Martial Arts Legend Yuen Woo-ping Was Convinced To Do Stunt Choreography In The Matrix Yuen Woo-ping | Debbie Cerda, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lana and Lilly Wachowski had a vision that most people couldn’t understand, when they were making...

Gordon Liu's iconic roles in kung fu epics showcase his traditional kung fu styles and choreography. The variety of fight scenes in Legendary Weapons of China makes it a standout film for Liu. Kill Bill Vol. 2 ties back to Liu's previous projects, showcasing his kung fu skills on a larger scale.

Gordon Liu has one of the most impressive filmographies of any kung fu movie star, with multiple iconic titles to his name. A Chinese actor and martial artist, Gordon Liu studied real kung fu from a young age, eventually getting his big break in the film industry thanks to a production company owned by the famous Shaw brothers. While Liu doesn't quite have the same level of acclaim as breakout stars like Jackie Chan or Jet Li, his career spans some standout kung fu epics.

Gordon Liu's movies tend to be period pieces for the most part,...

Only at Fantasia Fest could you confuse the sound of a movie premiere for feeding time at the local cat cafe. As attendees continue to cycle through the latest edition of Montreal’s historic three-week genre event (held this year from July 18 to August 4), the time-honored tradition of audience callbacks once again has guests meowing at the screen.

Yes. Meowing. At the screen.

“It’s something that I always have to remember to warn new filmmakers about because they’re so excited to see a big room, but when they hear that meowing, it terrifies them,” co-festival director Mitch Davis told IndieWire. “It implies that the audience maybe doesn’t have much of an attention span. The film hasn’t even begun yet, and the crowd is making noise. But the actual experience of watching a movie with them is the complete opposite.”

Other film festivals have similar traditions. At Cannes,...

Kung fu movies thrill audiences with astonishing choreography and blend reality with entertainment in iconic martial arts moves. Techniques like the realistic Eagle Claw and acrobatic Butterfly Kick showcase martial arts prowess in popular films worldwide. From the legendary Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury to Jackie Chan's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, kung fu movies continue to captivate audiences.

Kung fu is a very difficult martial art to master and has been at the core of many iconic films. A major appeal of kung fu movies is, unsurprisingly, the breathtaking choreography and intense discipline of many signature moves that make the martial art so uniquely special. Some kung fu moves used within these movies are as fictional as the characters who perform them, such as the ridiculous, but still iconic, Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill series.

However, other moves, as well as looking incredible,...

Donnie Yen, renowned martial artist, stars in action-packed upcoming films like The Prosecutor and Ip Man 5. Exciting news for fans as Yen reprises his roles in a Caine movie spin-off and confirms the sequel Flashpoint Resurgence. Yen will bring his real-life skills and screen presence to various projects like the Sleeping Dogs adaptation.

Donnie Yen is one of the most exciting action stars working today, and viewers can look forward to several of his upcoming movies. As a major figure in Hong Kong action films and Hollywood productions, Yen has built up a reputation as one of the most acclaimed martial artists currently on the scene, as hes starred in countless action films opposite stars like Jet Li, Sammo Hung, and Jackie Chan. With his incredible screen presence and the real fighting skills to back up his performances, seeing Yens name on a cast list is often enough reason...

In March 2023, rumours spread that renowned Chinese actor and martial artist Jet Li had died . Thankfully, that isn’t true. The Romeo Must Die actor is very much alive and well. But it does raise the question: What happened to Jet Li? Why doesn’t he appear in Hollywood movies anymore? The Rise of Jet […]

What Happened To Action Star Jet Li? Written by Sergio Pereira for Fortress of Solitude...