07.30.10 | Brian Sieck | Staff NotesPrint this Post
There’s something I need to get off my chest. Recently, the late legend Bruce Lee’s Enter The Dragon was on AMC, and it got me to thinking that I couldn’t remember the last recent film I saw that featured a really intense and fantastic hand-to-hand combat scene. Now, I hate to be a guy who says, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” and in fairness I’ve yet to see films such as Fighting and Never Back Down, but honestly I don’t really have interest in them, as I’ve convinced myself that they can’t really be good. After all, they’re actually just cheap knockoffs of Rocky, The Karate Kid, etc. I know that doesn’t necessarily mean the fight sequences can’t be good, but I’m just not excited about Channing Tatum as an action star. In fact, it seems there are very few bona fide fight stars these days. I’ve never really been a Jackie Chan fan (After all, he’s an stuntman first, and a martial artist second), and while Liam Neeson had some great scenes in Taken, there wasn’t really anything extended in the way of fisticuffs. Anyway, my point is that I really had to reach back a little bit to come up with something decent.
OK, so there was the scene between Neo (Keanu Reeves) and multiple Agent Smiths (Hugo Weaving) in Matrix Reloaded, Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) taking on Gogo (Chiaki Kuriyama) and plenty of Crazy 88s in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, and the great scene between Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro in The Hunted. All three of these films take us to 2003, and it’s what I could come up with “pretty much” off the top of my head. Has it really been seven years since a good fight scene has been produced? I guess one could catalog a litany of Asian martial arts films over the last decade, but I’m primarily focusing on American films (even though Bruce Lee was my homeboy). Besides, I’m not all that interested in the high-flying Asian style of movie fighting—that uses wires to make the actors take flight—that has become increasingly popular in the last ten years or so. (Yes, I know, the Matrix movies utilized some of that tactic as well, but I’ll forgive them). It’s with all this in mind that I started to get a little nostalgic.
Now, it’s not my goal to document every great fight scene in the history of filmmaking, but who could forget the climactic tussle between John Wayne and Victor McLaglen in The Quiet Man? Most would argue that this is one of the most popular movie fights ever. There’s also Paul Newman getting roughed up by George Kennedy (a favorite of mine who also happens to share my birthday) in Cool Hand Luke. Later, as martial arts became popular, two superstars in Lee and Chuck Norris battled in Return Of The Dragon. Norris would eventually face off against another legend in David Carradine for a great scene in Lone Wolf McQuade. Now, that’s fighting!
This already takes us to the 1980s, which was the decade that made up most of my formative years. Therefore, I fondly remember Clint Eastwood scrapping with William Smith in Any Which Way You Can, Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy settling their differences in 48 Hrs., and Arnold Schwarzenegger rescuing his daughter (Alyssa Milano) by throwing down with Vernon Wells in Commando. (After all, who wouldn’t want to rescue Alyssa Milano?) There was also Mel Gibson, in happier times, utilizing a triangle choke to try to take out Gary Busey during the tremendous brawl in Lethal Weapon. Additionally, who doesn’t remember the classic, and somewhat ridiculous but still fun, dust-up between “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Keith David in John Carpenter’s sci-fi tale They Live?
What I’m getting at here is that I think sometimes people have become a little too sensitive in the politically-correct age of personal laptops and Starbucks coffee to really get into some serious head stompin’. Believe me, I’m not trying to sound like a ruffian. Violence in the real world is unfortunate, but violence in the movies is awesome. Isn’t that one of the reasons why films exist? That’s why I want to make an impassioned plea to filmmakers across the country to get back to real butt-kicking. Everyone wants to see a Pat Morita beating the tar out of Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove and Sean Kanan in The Karate Kid III, or the legendary Bruce Leroy Green destroying Sho’nuff in Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon, even if the movies aren’t that great. Please! I implore all of you, or else Harvey Weinstein and I are gonna have to tangle… I am kind of looking forward to the upcoming film The Expendables, featuring a who’s who of action stars. Maybe there will be some good knockouts in that, but I won’t hold my breath. Am I missing a decent fight in the last decade? Help me out film fans.
Are you missing out on decent fights in the last decade? Of course. The biggest issue I see is that you really do not mention much of non-US fight actors outside of Jackie and Bruce. But let's concentrate on the past decade.
Thailand: Tony Jaa. Fight fans have to watch this awesome martial artist who does not use wires and does not use stunt doubles. Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong (The Protector is a shorter version) are the must watches from him. Yes, he has trouble with acting sometimes and emotions, but as a fighter he is just awesome. There is a continuous stedicam shot in Tom Yum Goong that goes on for several minutes uncut as he fights up a spiral staircase. It is breathtaking.
Hong Kong: Two great action films that feature Donnie Yen that I found include some of the best action of the previous decade include SPL and Flash Point. Donnie Yen has started to incorporate MMA techniques into his fight choreography and he has created a nice hybrid that works quite well. Flash Point starts off as more of a cop/triad inspired flick, but later (and especially the ending) you will see fight scenes that are incredible brutal and will make you wonder how he can pull off beautiful kicks and all of a sudden end up in a triangle submission. They actually beat the stuffing out of each other and Donnie called it one of the most difficult movies he has ever done. SPL has a great fight scene between Yen and Sammo Hung that also incorporates MMA techniques. I can’t recommend these two highly enough.
Vietnam: The Rebel (2007): Johnny Tri Nguyen seems to be a rising star in MA films.
I have dozens of others from the past 10 years, but I think this is a good start.
I am going to have to argue about your Jackie Chan statement. He actually first started off learning Peking Opera and then later became a stuntman. His earlier films like Drunken Master (the first) and Young Master showcase some excellent fight scenes
i can't agree more with masterofoneinchpunch about Tony Jaa - some of the longest and most intense martial arts sequences i've ever seen on film (i've seen Ong Bak and its sequel). amazing martial artist, but as mentioned, a bit weak on acting. still, great action scenes that are extremely realistic.
i saw Donnie Yen in the movie Ip Man (about the life of Bruce Lee's kung fu teacher) and i must say that it impressed me beyond belief. i watched a borrowed copy, then i bought it, then i watched it over and over. amazing fight scenes that are technically amazing as well as very "emotional" at times - a concept Bruce Lee subscribed to.... "emotional content". check 'em out!
I agree that there have been some very talented Asian fighting actors in the last 10-15 years. But I would like to see two guys slugging it out again in scenes like The Quiet Man and Cool Hand Luke. Not everything "action" needs special effects, just some decent choreography with great actors. These were fights that you could envision happening in real life and it gave the stories and the characters more depth.
roddy piper against keith david in they live.
Best h-t-h scene ever is in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V. Watching the exhausted soldiers pulling themselves through the mud to defeat the enemy is excrutiating!
Sean Connery on the train in from russia with love
The interminable martial arts dustups cited above are totally unrealistic. If a martial artist is any good, his techniques end a brawl in a hurry. If his opponent keeps bouncing off the tables or chandeliers to get back into the fight, as per the vast majority of martial arts films, the whole thing is a sham. Steven Seagal, whose current films are unwatchable, did present some realistic exchanges in his early offerings (like "Above the Law"). In film fights since then, there is more honesty and more entertainment in watching paint dry.
– Al Hooper
The absence of DARKER THAN AMBER (featuring a fight between Rod Taylor and William smith, where bones were actually broken!!!) disappoints me.
It's the film that Bruce Lee saw that made him hire Robert Clouse for ENTER THE DRAGON.
No one has yet mentioned Jet Li, a more than adequate successor to Bruce Lee. His early movies, e.g., Black Mask, show incredible fighting skills. On a lesser note, action hero Jason Statham has put together some wonderful action scenes, even though he usually is pitted against multiple opponents, instead of one on one.
Everyone has failed to mention the fight between John Wayne and Randolph Scott in the Spoilers. The two of them also had a great fight in Pittsburgh.
Sorry, you lost me when you said of Jackie Chan, "after all, he’s an stuntman first, and a martial artist second."
What about the exhausting struggle between Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston in The Big Country. I also think of Spartacus and Marcellus(spelling ?) that ends with him struggling to loosen Spartacus grasp as he drowns in the pot of soup.
I think most of you guys are not reading what the author wrote "Am I missing a decent fight in the last decade?"
Jet Li is awesome, but his best fight scenes take place in the 90s and 80s not the past decade (with a few exceptions, but the later films are hard to compare with the Once Upon A Time In China series and Fist of Legend). Some do complain about the overuse of wires with Jet Li, but you can always take the early Jackie Chan or later Tony Jaa if that bothers you (Jackie Chan fans should check out my Drunken Master review on this site).
The problem with an overrealistic fist fight is that it will be over quickly, most likely end up on the ground and look quite ugly. The martial art aesthetics can be quite beautiful. Some can be more realistic while some are more operatic.
Seriously though, is there a better fight scene than the last one with Donnie Yen and Collin Chou finale in Flash Point (2007).
DARKER THAN AMBER--Mike Malloy, what a great choice. I recently saw the uncut version of the climactic fight, and it is indeed bone-crunching.
More recently: the fabulous Zoe Bell vs. one guy after another in ANGEL OF DEATH (2008), particularly the one-on-one battle in the bathroom; and little JeeJa Yanin vs. everybody in CHOCOLATE (2008). Ouch!
My answer would indicate that I believe he is not missing a decent fight in the last decade. I may be behind the times, but all the CG and frenetic action where you cannot tell what is going on in close quarters leaves me cold.
I completely understand your frustration. Everything is "shoot 'em down" or "blow 'em up" these days. that's why looking to the East is a great relief. While there are many martial arts films to praise...and criticize, you do have to see Donie Yen in "Ip Man". The hand-to-hand combat is phenomenol!!! I have seen many action movies and martial arts movies and this one is one of the best. The only movie from the west that had as good fighting, but not as much as I wanted, was the "The Perfect Weapon" with Jeff Speakman.
I will also recommend Ip Man (can't wait to see the sequel). Chocolate is also pretty awesome (also fun for fight fans to notice all the homages throughout the film). There is a lot of good Thai action movies (not as always keen about the plots though) that DO NOT USE CGI SPECIAL EFFECTS (or very little
).
One of the reasons I keep pushing some of the HK films (or Thai) is that they are not as frantic with the quick cuts ala Michael Bay (heck even Christopher Nolen overdoes this) and they do not overuse stunt people, poor editing or poor camera set-ups. While the hey-day of action was late 70s to mid-90s and the use of CGI and wirework has been increasing, there is still great work to be found especially with Donnie Yen, a bit of Jackie Wu and several others.
There are good fight films out there still.
rod taylor was the best! "darker than amber" with big bad bill smith. "dark of the sun" with peter carsten. three good fights in "the high commissioner" fights and scrapes in "the liguidator". did you know that rod taylor is the only actor to play three detectives on screen taken from novels? first brian "boysie" oakes in "the liquidator" then scobie malone in "the high commissioner" and followed by travis mcgee in "darker than amber" what a tough guy!
Robert Shaw and Sean Connery (from Russia with Love) - then Lee Marvin & John Wayne; short and to the point was Paul Newman & Ted Cassidy in Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid; All the Jason Bourne fight scenes are classics.
There were no good fight scenes in the last decade! CGI and substance-sniffing film editors (a lethal combination) have made directors far too lazy and their films unwatchable.
How about the fistfight in the train washroom in Richard Fleischer's "The Narrow Margin," some five decades ago?
Jason Bourne. Each movie has a great fight scene.
I agree with the Jeff Speakman reference, but if we are just talking the last decade, what about Jason Statham in the Transporter Trilogy? Some incredible fight scenes in wide open spaces like warehouses and in close quarters like on buses. The DVDs have some making of features that show how much choreography went into the h-t-h combat sequences.
Yes, but how little of this "choreography" actually ends up on the screen (unless one wants to count the seven or so shots it takes just to get Statham up off a couch so a car can crash into his living room).
"Transporter 3" and films of its ilk invite one to gawk rather than to look; if they gave one a chance to look, even for a moment, they'd self-destruct.
Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston in The Big Country
I agree with Dirk that The Transporter is worth mentioning. Particularly the fight scene in the garage in the first movie. It was creative but still had edge. Still, there is something to be said for one-on-one fight scenes vs. the less believable man vs group of thugs scenes. How about Colin Firth and Hugh Grant kicking the crap out of each other in Bridget Jones Diary? I'd rank it as among the closest the decade can offer to the sort of light-hearted, inevitable, humorous feel the fight in The Quiet Man had (not that I would class the movies together).
mike malloy is right on with the failure to include DARKER THAN AMBER... I read that William Smith was in such superb condition that he beat Arnold Schwarzenegger in arm wrestling and arnold was too childish to "forgive" him for it.
What about Dolf Lundgren as DRAGO boxing with sylvester stallone in ROCKY? what about jean-claude van damme fighting BOLO YEUNG in BLOODSPORT or Jean-Claude van Damme fighting Dolf Lundgren in UNIVERSAL SOLDIER?