Jackie Chan makes some of the best Kung Fu movies in the world.  He has also made some of the worst.  Thankfully, Who Am I? (made in 1998) falls into the former category.  This is a great movie to introduce someone to Jackie Chan with.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4nCBltHak

Jackie Chan’s Who Am I? rates a solid 8/10.  The action is absolutely first rate -- Jackie is fighting at his best here.  The movie is funny, too (as all his movies tend to be).  The only reason it doesnt score higher is because the plot and dialog are so cheesy.  This is standard fare for Jackie Chan movies, but I suspect it was made worse by the dubbing.  If you love Jackie Chan movies, you’ve probably already seen this, but if you are looking for the perfect movie to get someone “new” into his Hong Kong style movies this is it.

The short version is: this is a must have for any Kung Fu or Jackie Chan fan.

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These days Muay Thai is the new, sexy martial art to know -- and the posterboy of the art is none other than Tony Jaa, one of the most ass-kicking martial artists I’ve ever seen. His step into the spotlight was a 2003 film called Ong Bak.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAYUv9wjV48

This movie gets a 10/10, if for no other reason than because it will surprise the crap out of you.  Nobody saw this movie coming.  The action is some of the best I’ve ever seen -- Tony Jaa doesnt use wires, and the choreography is fantastic.  The story is fairly straightforward, and pretty enjoyable even if it is occasionally corny.  If you are interested in Muay Thai, then this is THE movie you need to see.

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Yet another Donnie Yen movie has made it to my Recommended Movies list (big shock).  This time, it is his 2005 hit SPL: Kill Zone.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJgpvEU822s

This movie gets a 9/10.  I would’ve given it a 10/10, but I’m sick to death of Chinese Cop movies.  The most surprising thing about this movie is not Donnie Yen -- I always expect him to be great -- but rather Sammo Hung.  Because he is such a big guy, you tend to forget that he is still a great martial artist.  This movie will remind you.  Full marks for the action.  It only loses points on the story.

This is definitely a must-own.

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I have something of a man-crush on Christian Bale -- let’s face it, the dude is pretty awesome.  Cementing his awesomeness is a little known movie from 2002 called “Equilibrium“:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlqpfV9marA

This movie gets my highest score: a perfect 10/10.  Yes, the story is a ripoff of A Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451.  And sure, the acting may not be the very best.  And ok, ok, the concept of a “Gun Kata” is silly.  It doesnt matter.  The action scenes are fantastic.  In fact, I think they may be some of the very best I’ve ever seen.  Guns AND swords AND martial arts?  If this movie were any more awesome, I think I would die from an awesome overload.

This movie is a must, not only for the martial arts fans, but ANY action movie fan.

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Kung Fu movies have a longstanding tradition of being, well, at least a little bit funny.  Some, however, are more than a little funny -- they are absolutely hilarious.  Kung Fu Hustle is one of those movies, but manages to still be a great action movie on top of all that.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyWhVUCXY1A

This movie is a 9/10, easily.  Stephen Chow is not only a fantastic martial artist, but also a top-notch comedian.  This movie is over the top, but it is supposed to be.  The use of CGI and special effects is often cheesy, but again, it is not a detriment in this case.  Even folks who dont generally like Kung Fu movies will probably like Kung Fu Hustle.

This movie is an absolute must-have for any Kung Fu fan.

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Everyone likes Ninjas, right?  Well, except for Pirates, of course, but they dont count.   Anyway, if you DO like ninjas and kick ass martial arts sequences then you should definitely check out Shinobi: Heart Under Blade.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cNmSwZD8_c

This movie gets an 8/10.  The action is pretty good, but the special effects are occasionally pretty cheesy -- and for a movie made in 2005, there isnt any good excuse for that.  This movie may strike Anime fans as being extremely similar to Basilisk, and with good reason -- they are both based on the same 1959 novel (Yamada Futaro’s “Kouga Ninpou Cho”).

Anyway, if you want a good Japanese Ninja movie, buy Shinobi: Heart Under Blade.

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While not as well known in America as Jackie Chan or Jet Li, Donnie Yen is one of the superstars of the Kung Fu movie world.  One of his best movies is “Seven Swords”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnR7QhSjgSc

First up, the score.  This is easily an 8.5/10.  Much as I love Donnie Yen, I cant rate it higher.  This movie is just plain weird at times.  That said, the action and the special effects are first rate, and whoever designed the swords deserves an award for something, along with the fight choreographer.  This is action-packed, and as long as you can get around the weirdness, you will have a great time.

Summary: this is another one to own.  If you like Donnie Yen or just consider yourself a kung fu movie afficionado, then this is a must-have.

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You should all know by now how much I love Kung Fu movies.  I’m willing to forgive a lot for good enough action scenes.  Fatal Contact is definitely a movie that needs some forgiveness, but it makes up for it -- big time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDQ_p3wU0oc

This movie rates a 7.5 out of 10.  I wanted to rate it higher, because I really really like this movie, but I just cant.  First, the dialog/acting are just terrible.  Second, the movie is really really messed up.  I wont give it away… but lets just say that this movie does NOT have a happy ending.  Why did I like it so much?  Jacky Wu and Ronald Cheng can fight -- seriously.  I’m curious how much wire work there was, because if they did this without wires then I am even more impressed.  The fight scenes flat out make this movie.

Summary: Once again, this is a good movie to add to your collection.

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Little known fact: the French can make a good martial arts movie.  Example?  District B13, an action-packed, parkour filled movie that noone saw coming.  What wont you find in this movie?  Wires and CGI.  All these stunts are real.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CrlgB0ueU

I really want to give this movie a 10/10, but I just cant.  Not only is it French (I mean come on, what do THEY of all people know about fighting?), but the acting is a little too stilted too.  It is a great first attempt though -- and dont worry, word has it they’re making a sequel -- and so I’ll give it an 8.5/10.  The integration of Parkour into an action movie was just brilliant -- why people havent been doing it for years, I’ll never understand.  In fact, one of the main characters in this movie is also one of the co-founders of the sport.  The plot, despite seeming pretty unrealistic to American eyes, is actually grounded in current French reality (if you follow French politics, anyhow).  The action is first-rate.  The characters are believable.  The acting is really the only snag, but hopefully they’ll have gotten better when the sequel comes out.

Summary: Buy it/rent it/watch it/love it.  Then start learning Parkour because, trust me, you’ll want to.

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Jackie Chan is one of the biggest names in martial arts (if not the biggest name).  He’s made more movies than just about anyone else on the planet.  Unfortunately, you very rarely get a chance to see him fight just one opponent -- there are always several, and always with props.  Well if you want something different, look no further than Gorgeous.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DktYHD6oJTk

This movie is a definite 9/10.  Jackie Chan is absolutely first rate.  Not only do you get the normal Jackie Chan experience, with lots of props in his fighting, but you also get too see him fight a single opponent for a pretty reasonable period of time.  In fact, you get to see it TWICE!  This is the movie that proves that Jackie isnt just an acrobat, he is a real martial artist.  The only reason this movie doesnt get a 10/10 is because the story is a little weak.  This is mostly made up for by choosing a great cast, with some great (for Hong Kong, anyway) acting.

It also features Shu Qi (from The Transporter), if you need something pretty to look at.

To summarize -- this is a must-have for any real Jackie Chan fan.