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Best American Martial Arts movies?

It's my belief that the best Martial arts films in the genre are foreign ones, like The Raid or Ong-Bak or some of Jackie Chan's old stuff like The Drunken Master. All of them have amazing fight choreography that I don't see here in the west.

But today I was wondering if there's any American Martial arts movies capable of getting close to those movies.

Any suggestions?
 
Personally I feel The matrix has probably the best martial arts from non-martial artist but undisputed franchise has some pretty good martial arts scenes. Other than that USA martial arts is kinda rare.

EDIT: actually I just remembered Equilibrium.
 

Beta Stage

Neo Member
Enter the Dragon

Bloodsport

EDIT: I was also going to say The Matrix but I'm not sure if it qualifies as a MA movie or a Sci-Fi movie with MA in it.
 
The first Matrix and Kill Bill have some satisfying martial arts although good choreography plus Hollywood actors isn't as good as good choreography and professional martial artist. I remember Unleased starring Jet Li and Bob Hoskin as pretty good, but I haven't watched it in over a decade.
 
A precarious answer perhaps, but John Wick?


EDIT: Warrior!


Warrior is actually a lot better than it has any right to be. It punches above its weight, even though like Creed, it runs on familiar ground. It's not million dollar baby, but it competently made, unlike something like Never Back Down. (ugh)
 

TEJ

Member
I like Bloodsport, but don't expect it to have super amazing fight scenes like in The Raid or Ong Bak.

KU MI TE KU MI TE KU MI TE
 

HStallion

Now what's the next step in your master plan?
I was going to say Danny the Dog/Unleashed with Jet Li, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins but that I don't believe that was an American production but a European one.
 
It's not American, but a British-French movie, Unleashed aka Danny the Dog was really good from what I remember.

Edit: Damn you, HStallion
 

Kinyou

Member
The skill of Gymnastics, the kill of Karate

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It's not American, but a British-French movie, Unleashed aka Danny the Dog was really good from what I remember.

Edit: Damn you, HStallion
On that note, Kiss of the Dragon with Jet Li is also pretty good, but a French production
 
Try "Drive" (1997)
It's cheesy as fuck and low budget to boot, but it's Mark Dacascos in his prime and really watchable popcorn stuff.

And while we're talking about Mark Dacascos, if you haven't seen Brotherhood of the Wolf, go watch it. It's French, so doesn't really count for this thread, but I'll take any oppertunity to mention it. Also features the always smolderingly hot Monica Bellucci.
 

WaterAstro

Member
No Ip Man in the op?

For some people, it's hard to differentiate action from actual martial arts. American movies tend to be more action with flashy, big moves than long fight scenes.

Kill Bill is pretty good.
 

Turin

Banned
The Jet Li era had some fun movies.

Equilibrium is silly but it's worth checking out.

Blade 2 almost had a traditional martial arts movie feel to it.
 

Klotera

Member
Try "Drive" (1997)
It's cheesy as fuck and low budget to boot, but it's Mark Dacascos in his prime and really watchable popcorn stuff.

And while we're talking about Mark Dacascos, if you haven't seen Brotherhood of the Wolf, go watch it. It's French, so doesn't really count for this thread, but I'll take any oppertunity to mention it. Also features the always smolderingly hot Monica Bellucci.

Another vote for Drive. Cheesy movie, but great action. Unfortunately, no DVD or Blu-ray release in the U.S. I had to buy the UK DVD (warning: you'll need a way to watch PAL discs if you buy this - ripping to PC is easiest).

Brotherhood of the Wolf is also awesome.
 

Zakalwe

Banned
The correct answer is Drive (1997).

Well done everyone who got it right!

Also Blood and Bone with MIchael Jai White has some great scenes. That man makes the invincible hero stuff look realistic.
 
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