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Martial arts movies have long been a favorite genre among action movie fans. Ushering in the era were early samurai movies such as Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, those these movies were more or less swordsman ship movies not what I consider martial arts movies. My all-time top ten greatest martial arts movies are in no particular order:

1) Drunken Master - The original Drunken Master is some of Jackie Chan's best work. Groundbreaking for a film that's about 30 years old. An early look into the comedy/drama/action movie that Chan's made famous. His Drunken Boxing style is amazing.

2) Enter the Dragon - I have to give credit where credit is due. This movie has to be one of the all time most watched martial arts flicks ever. All hail Bruce Lee.

3) Street Fighter - Sure this movie is super cheesy but just take a look at some of the awesome action sequences that are used even in todays movies. Romeo Must Die directly copied the "patented" xray shot that was used 33 years earlier. Plus as a bonus you can also catch Sonny Chiba in...

4) Kill Bill Vol 1 - This movie rocked and has a special guest appearance by Sonny Chiba. Vol 2 is rather weak on the martial arts but this one is amazing. The soundtrack done by the RZA and Quentin directing put "American" martial arts movies on the map (Most of this movies was filmed in China with Woo-Ping doing the choreography.

5) Ong-Bak the Thai Warrior - This is the movie that put Tony Jaa on the map. A splendid combination of Jet Li and Jackie Chan. A rare look into the Muay Thai martial arts. Jaa is simply breathtaking and has amazing control of his body. Also check out Jaa's latest The Protector (That's the American name).

6) The Matrix - This movie brought martial arts main stream. Simply brilliant, take a sci-fi flick and set it in the future where everybody knows kung-fu.

7) Hero - The fight between Donnie Yen and Jet Li has to be one of my all time favorite action scenes. Donnie Yen is the man. This movie not only boasts a great cast but is also one of the most visually stunning movies I have ever seen. A great story with great acting, this is the movie to beat.

8) The Karate Kid - OK I know what your thinking... "Is he serious". Um, yes I am. This movie rocks. I loved it as a kid and I own it now. I could watch this movie in thirty years and still appreciate it.

9) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - An all star cast and 10 academy award nominations made the world take martial arts as a serious genre. The Michelle Yeoh/Zhang Ziyi battle is something I watch just by itself.

10) Seven Swords - Featuring Donnie Yen this movie rocks. Fresh out on the Dragon Dynasty label who promises to bring high quality martial arts flicks to us peons.

Well that's about it I guess. My current top ten in martial arts flicks. My disclaimer is as follows, I couldn't possibly have seen all the martial arts flicks out there so sorry if I missed your favorite one.

Learn more about this author, Erik M. Dell.
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