robokungfu (Level 8)

One of the biggest travesties in the history of unnecessary editing came in the form of the American release here of Jet's best film since Fist of Legend. The proper, 140 minute version is masterful. This goes to show the placement of fight scenes juxtaposed with the growth of a character are important to let the audience care. I'm wagging my finger at you, Hollywood!

Tony Jaa decided his movies needed even less story and more goddamned knees to faces. A disappointing final fight pulls this down just a bit from being as good as Ong Bak. The fluid master shot of Tony fighting his way up a circular stairwell and the painful scene where he breaks the bones of about 50 guys in black suits make this a classic.

The most hardcore Wing Chun movie since Prodigal Son is also one of Donnie Yen's greatest efforts. Snappy and tight choreography highlight the fights as they should in a movie about an efficient fighter. Also of note is the inclusion of Riki-Oh star Terry Fan Siu Wong. He doesn't punch through heads but is good enough to make you really wish he became a bigger star than he did.

Not as action-heavy as most of the entries, Kill Zone is a focused effort to showcase Donnie Yen, Jacky Wu Jing, and an aging but hardassed Sammo Hung.

John Woo's triumphant return to Chinese films shows the old master has few gems left. This is everything the Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige period films tried to be. The choreography of the battle scenes is intricate and beautiful to look at.

Take Oldboy and replace big chunks of the brilliant storytelling and nuanced acting with more action and you get this. I crave good kicking choreography in my martial arts fests. This one more than satisfies me especially during the final 20 minute brawl-a-thon.

Jeeja Yanin is the most adorable ass-kicker since Moon Lee in her Princess Madam days. Practically every fight is a one vs. the world affair and is as satisfying as some of Jackie Chan's old work in that department.

This movie is a comeback affair of sorts. Firstly, Jet Li's redheaded underachieving clone, Vincent Zhao, makes a startling comeback as a leading man. Also, this is Yuen Wo Ping's first directorial effort in 16 years and he hasn't lost a step. The film is modern in a few minor, annoying ways (most notably the BAD CG) but there's a whole slew of terrific wire-enhanced brawls.

The spiritual sequel of sorts of SPL (Killzone) just isn't as good. This movie gets special mention because of the groundbreaking melding of MMA and traditional Hong Kong kung fu choreography. The brawl between Collin Chou and Donnie Yen is one of the best fight scenes in the last ten years.

I normally wouldn't rate a movie highly just because of one fight scene but the King of Fighters-inspired brawl (The director said he was inspired by Street Fighter II but this is totally KoF) on a boat is really damn good. The other fights are alright, but unless you like to watch Asian dramas religiously you're really going to suffer as a viewer at times.

I LOATHE CG blood. It's the main thing that ruined Ninja Assassin for me. Zatoichi overcomes being an annoyance with frequently clever fights and oddball characters.

This probably marks the point Zhang Yimou really sold out but damnit he crafted one fun movie. The slow sensuality that underscored all of the action scenes in Hero is downplayed here, thankfully.

The bad Chinese accents and the obviousness that Chow Yun Fat is NOT a martial artist can't detract how good everything else is. If I didn't watch movies because of accents I wouldn't be the devoted Arnold fan I am. Anyhow, Michelle Yeoh gets to really shine in the classic weapons room showcase.

Versus is a gore/kung fu fanboy's wet dream if there ever was. I'm sure a story was probably filmed but Kitamura probably realized the movie could work without one better.

The only Jackie Chan movie on here is the only Jackie Chan movie from the last 10 years that is really worth anything. The fact Jackie can move these days without the aid of a walker is astounding let alone how well he performs here. The fights have a much needed seriousness to them Jackie's been missing for far too long.

The subplot with Bridget Fonda is worthless, boring and interrupts the best action Jet's done in his American career. Logic is thrown away to work in a fresh action scene and adversary over and over.

Hey, it's Corey Yuen, AGAIN. It's nice to see an American action film that delivers the goods without a shaky camera and a trigger-happy editor.

As an accomplished and seasoned master of the girls with guns sub-genre of the 1980s, Corey Yuen can make any hot woman seem like a competent ass-kicker. There's plenty of good stuff to go around.