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In the world of martial arts cinema, there is certainly a wide range of fighting styles. Stars of the genre typically have common techniques, methods, and manners of combat that are consistent across their movies. In some cases, actors have an especially ruthless take on martial arts. Bruce Lee set the standard for this approach in his classic 1973 film Enter The Dragon.

Someone like Jackie Chan would be a good exception to this category. Although he is a master martial artist, he usually relies on more technical and non-lethal combat styles. Nevertheless, he remains an icon, and Jackie Chan still has upcoming martial arts movies. Beyond the household names, there are still a number of actors in the genre with an extremely brutal style of fighting.

Michael Jai White Known For: Blood and Bone (2009), Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

Although Michael Jai White holds black belts across seven different areas of martial arts,...

Martial arts movie protagonists are usually well-equipped when it comes to combat, but it can be quite entertaining to watch them learn to fight for the first time over the course of a story. For the most part, the characters of martial arts movie legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan start their stories already well-versed in kung fu or other fighting styles. But some films take the opposite approach, taking the time to describe how their heroes learned to defend themselves before facing off against some impressive foe.

The training montage is a classic trope commonly relied upon for the genre, which sometimes makes entire stories out of the concept. It can be quite compelling to watch a given protagonist go from completely useless in a fight to an adept martial artist, inspiring legions of viewers to do the same. Some of the best martial arts movies ever made...

The stories of Shaolin monks have long been a classic component of martial arts movies and have served as the basis for countless classic fighting films. As a discipline that combined Zen philosophy and martial arts with a rich 1500-year history based around the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China, the tales of Shaolin monks relate directly to legendary stories in Chinese folklore. With rich, incredible real-life inspirations to draw from, its no surprise Shaolin monks have consistently been a major tenet of martial arts cinema.

Many of the best Shaw Brothers productions were related to the intense training and unique skillset of Shaolin monks. With movies from legendary stars like Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh, and perhaps the greatest Kung Fu star of modern times Jackie Chan, Shaolin monks were seen in all-time classics like Shaolin Temple and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. For those looking for engaging martial arts movies that blend philosophy,...

Jackie Chan is celebrated as one of the greatest kung fu film actors of all time. His classic kung fu movies have their own unique blend of physical comedy, complicated fight choreography, and elaborate stunts. They were not only full of action but were connected to the traditional martial arts to the skill, discipline, and incredible kung fu techniques. Though he went on to become an action star around the world, in his earlier kung fu movies, Chan captured the best of both worlds: the raw power of bare-knuckle fighting and the elegance of the old school martial arts.

What sets him apart from other martial arts actors is his gift for blending comedy with heart-pounding action. Whether portraying a mischievous, incorrigible student in Drunken Master or a sympathetic, bullied orphan in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Jackie fully embodies the characters he is portraying and his films all have...

Jackie Chan is the kind of guy who crosses generations and is still recognized by everyone today. But it’s crazy to think about how he got to where he is, especially since it’s pretty rare for a martial arts star to blow up worldwide like he did. The truth is, from the very beginning, he knew exactly what he wanted, and he never backed down for anyone.

Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon (Credits: Touchstone Pictures)

He had the chance to work with the biggest and best Kung Fu studio, but the terms just didn’t line up with what he wanted. It’s surprising he turned it down, especially since he didn’t have much of a name for himself back then. But looking at how far he’s come, it’s a move that deserves respect.

Jackie Chan Always Aimed For International Fame Jackie Chan in Ride On...

Kill Bill's action sequences draw inspiration from classic kung fu movies by Shaw Brothers, with nods to their iconic styling techniques. The iconic yellow tracksuit worn by Uma Thurman pays homage to Bruce Lee's costume in Game of Death, with a strong revenge plot connection. Tarantino's Easter eggs in Kill Bill, such as the Deadly Viper assassins and Pai Mei character, reflect his deep appreciation for kung fu film history.

It's no secret that Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan of martial arts films, and references to famous movies abound in Kill Bill, his epic revenge tale split into two movies. Aside from his non-chronological plots and violent action sequences, pop-culture references are one of Tarantino's most famous trademarks. Kill Bill draws its references from a wide net, but most influential are the classic kung fu movies produced by studios like Shaw Brothers.

These kung fu homages...

New Trailer for Cuckoo: "Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father's boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen's mute half-sister Alma. Something doesn't seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family."

In Theaters August 9

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Anchor Bay Entertainment Acquires “Cursed In Baja” Ahead Of Its World Premiere At This Year’S Frightfest: "The founders of the revitalized Anchor Bay Entertainment, Thomas Zambeck and Brian Katz, have acquired the worldwide rights to the horror film Cursed In Baja, which will make its world premiere at this year’s FrightFest on August 23, 2024.

Barbara Crampton (You’re Next) and...

Donnie Yen's Drunken Tai Chi remains his sole classic kung fu film in a career dominated by martial arts movies. Yen's range shines through in his varied martial arts projects, from wuxia to comedy to period pieces and more. Despite Drunken Tai Chi's success, Yen believes it was a one-time experience due to the evolving nature of the genre.

Donnie Yen's first and only contribution to the old-school kung fu movie genre is Drunken Tai Chi, a movie the actor starred in 40 years ago. In his long career in the industry, Donnie Yen has headlined a long list of movies, most of which being martial arts films. His work has yielded a number of films that are often hailed as some of the best kung fu films in recent decades, including the four Ip Man movies, Iron Monkey, and Once Upon a Time in China.

While all of...

Martial arts movies often rely on predictable tropes for plots, leading to similar stories across the genre. Training montages and origin stories are common themes in martial arts films, focusing more on preparation than final fights. Recurring tropes like cursed swords, rival schools, and mysterious tournaments inject drama and action into martial arts narratives.

Martial arts movies have a certain unique core of tropes that are fell on again and again for their plots, creating a horde of movies in the genre with similar stories. Even the best martial arts movies can be surprisingly light on narrative engagement, mostly relying on the action to speak for itself. But there's only so many ways characters can be compelled to face one another in hand-to-hand combat, and the same handful of excuses are reliably brought out for many films of the genre.

Even outside of narrative excuses for the characters to get to the action,...

Martial arts sequels often strayed far from original movies, with little connection and lackluster results. Return to the 36th Chamber featured a new lead and different tone, but still delivered enjoyable Kung Fu fun. The Next Karate Kid, Drunken Master III, and Iron Monkey 2 were disappointing sequels that lacked original movie authenticity.

Martial arts movies were notorious for having sequels that had little or nothing to do with the original movies. As name recognition and star power were often enough to draw in audiences, there have been countless martial arts and Kung Fu franchises that provided a flimsy justification for sequel status only to deliver a movie that strayed absurdly far from its original premise. While some of these movies were often smashing successes, thinking about them as true sequels meant stretching viewers’ suspension of disbelief to its absolute limit.

The many examples of martial arts sequels that have nothing...

Bruce Lee's impact in bringing Kung Fu to the West and influencing subsequent movies cannot be overstated. Snake in the Eagle's Shadow set the stage for Jackie Chan's signature comedy Kung Fu style. King Boxer and Crippled Avengers were international successes that showcased the best of Kung Fu cinema.

The 1970s was an incredible time for Kung Fu movies, as it was the heyday of the world’s biggest martial arts stars and there were so many great films to check out. From incredible historical epics to slapstick comedy movies, Kung Fu cinema during the 1970s was vast and varied as some truly unique films were being made, and the genre was being discovered by an international audience. With fast-paced fight sequences, expertly choreographed battles, and intense martial arts showdowns, Kung Fu movies were truly at their peak during this decade.

The success of Kung Fu movies during...

Shaw Brothers redefined martial arts cinema, blending action with drama and fantasy, leaving a lasting impact on the genre worldwide. Films like Killer Constable and Invincible Shaolin showcase the studio's intricate plots, exhilarating action, and emotional depth. The iconic works of Shaw Brothers, from The 36th Chamber of Shaolin to The Five Deadly Venoms, set a high standard for action cinema.

The Shaw Brothers are synonymous with classic kung fu movies, having produced some of the best martial arts films that continue to stand the test of time. Their influential works, spanning nearly nine decades, have revolutionized the wuxia genre, which masterfully blends martial arts action with Chinese historical drama and elements of fantasy. From the iconic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and the cult classic The Five Deadly Venoms to the groundbreaking Come Drink with Me, the Shaw Brothers' filmography is a treasure trove of cinematic gems.

These films...

Merian C. Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack's classic monster movie "King Kong" was released in 1933, so the monster turns 91 years old in 2024. That means he's definitely too old for this sh*t.

In Adam Wingard's 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong," the 70-year-old nuclear gorilla-whale and the 91-year-old mega-ape, both drawn by an ineffable, in-born monstrous instinct, had to fight. Over the course of many decades, Godzilla movies have taught us that if two kaiju ever appear in the same film, they instantly hate one another and have to start wailing on each other. It won't be until a tertiary monster appears — usually an "evil" one — that the primary and secondary monsters put aside their differences and team up to hang a beatin' on the new guy. This is what happened in "Godzilla vs. Kong." At first, the title monsters were enemies. When Mechagodzilla appeared, however, Kong and Godzilla pounded the interloper into the dirt.

Chow Yun-fat has appeared in approximately 115 movies, becoming a major success with Eastern and Western audiences alike. Jackie Chan, a global media personality, has appeared in approximately 150 movies, showcasing his slapstick fighting style. Sammo Hung, a martial arts legend, has worked both behind and in front of the camera, appearing in approximately 200 movies and choreographing fight scenes for Jackie Chan.

While there are plenty of martial arts stars who have been in numerous movies, there are very few who hold the honor of appearing in more than 100. As a fast-paced, action-packed genre, some martial arts stars worked as furiously hard as their own characters and didn't slow down for anything. With some martial arts stars maintaining careers over many decades, it only makes sense that there would be a committed few who have amassed filmography numbers in the hundreds.

While certain names like Jackie Chan and Andy Lau will be familiar to Western audiences,...

Arrow Video is excited to announce the January 2024 lineup of their subscription-based Arrow platform, available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Arrow kicks off the New Year on January 5 with a deep dive, courtesy of the star of The Stylist and After Midnight as well as the director of 12 Hr Shift and Torn Hearts.

Brea Grant Selects (UK/ Ire/ US/CA): “I am thrilled to be teaming up with Arrow to share some of my all-time favorite horror movies with you. From the delightful to the horrifying, these movies remind me of why I wanted to make movies in the first place.”

Titles Include: Ringu, The Stylist, The Leech.

Also on January 5, audiences in every territory can discover a new short homage to the Spaghetti Westerns of years gone by.

They Call It… Red Cemetery (UK/Ire/US/Can): Among the crosses of an old cemetery,...

The best fight scenes focus on showcasing the skills of the actors rather than relying on flashy effects or too many cuts. The connection between the actors involved in a fight scene is important for the final result. Martial arts icons fighting in movies often lead to timeless, fantastic scenes.

Many martial arts icons have faced off with each other in incredibly well-made action scenes. The choreography of a martial arts fight scene is what can make or break it, but the connection between the actors involved also plays an important part in the final result. The best fight scenes are full of action and showcase the skills of the actors rather than relying on flashy effects. The rawness of outstanding martial arts fight scenes and the dedication of the actors is why the genre has persisted as long as it has.

The physical prowess and immense skill of these...

Shout! Factory’s Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 3, covering the years 1976 to 1980, coincides with Shaw Brothers Studio’s creative zenith, when a decade’s worth of honed techniques and emergent competition at the Hong Kong box office propelled the studio to new artistic heights. That, though, means that this is the period that’s been most thoroughly mined by specialty home video labels looking to preserve the legacy of the studio’s work and Hong Kong genre movies in general. Most of the classics of these years, such as Lau Kar-leung’s The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple, have already been released on home video. Notably, Cheh’s work, the usual highlight of these Shout! collections, is somewhat underrepresented here due to a smaller selection pool of titles.

This collection, though, still represents a stellar opportunity to discover some of the less-heralded gems of the Shaw Brothers Studio’s golden era,...

Rapper and filmmaker Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, also known as RZA, will serve as this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival ambassador.

The festival will take place in New York City from Nov. 1 to 5 and will include a conversation with The Marvels director Nia DaCosta, as well as the world premiere of A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, co-directed by RZA and Gerald Barclay.

Urbanworld showcases narrative and documentary features, short films, web originals, music videos, spotlight screenings, conversations and live staged screenplay readings. In addition to the Wu-Tang doc, the festival will shine a light on Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, and Galila Bekele and Armani Ortiz’s Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story.

RZA’s film chronicles Wu-Tang’s iconic performance with the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra, which backed the group’s live score to a real-time, onstage screening of martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin,...

Some martial arts actors have built their careers on playing villains, often stealing the show with their formidable fighting skills. Wang Lung Wei, Lu Feng, Lo Lieh, Collin Chou, Benny Urquidez, Lateef Crowder dos Santos, Darren Shahlavi, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Bolo Yeung, Yayan Ruhian, and Hwang Jang-lee are exemplary martial arts movie villains. These actors have left a lasting impact on the industry, with their villainous performances standing the test of time and making them some of the greatest martial arts movie villains.

Martial arts movie stars often play heroes, but there are also many great martial arts villain actors. One of the most important rules of martial arts movie-making is that the villain has to be as strong and as menacing as possible. Usually, that entails making the villain an extremely formidable fighter, in order to create the highest possible stakes for the hero or heroes to overcome.

Some martial...

Two decades ago, :a[Quentin Tarantino]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/quentin-tarantino-movies-ranked/' target='blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} unfolded an odyssey. In the six years since :a[Jackie Brown]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/jackie-brown-original-empire-feature/' target='blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} hit the screen, the filmmaker best known for his devotion to dialogue had been working on something completely different – a four-hour action epic, swirling his love of old kung fu movies, revenge westerns, anime flicks, and his ongoing fascination with pop cultural ephemera into his most experimental and adrenaline-pumping work. And it all came under a title that wasn’t just a neat name, but a directive – its own two-word narrative pitch: Kill Bill.

With his :a[Pulp Fiction]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pulp-fiction-review/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} star Uma Thurman, Tarantino went big – so big that the studio demand his...

Old-school kung fu movies, like those featuring Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, had a major impact on the action genre, captivating audiences worldwide. Some underrated kung fu classics, such as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and My Young Auntie, showcased impressive fight sequences and subverted gender roles. These old kung fu movies, while initially accessed through poorly dubbed English versions, still left a lasting impact on the genre and continue to be enjoyed today.

Old-school kung fu movies have dominated the action genre at a global level since the 1960s up to the 1980s, boasting stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. While Lee changed martial arts movies forever with cult classics like Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, Chan added a humorous punch to the kung fu formula. With most of these movies being produced at meager budgets by Hong Kong studios, these enthralling action flicks ended up...

There are Kung Fu movies. Then there are Hong Kong Kung Fu movies. Starting in the ’70s, Hong Kong filmmakers dominated the martial arts genre with a unique brand of Hong Kong ballistic action, white-knuckle stunts, and exquisite fight choreography. Towering Hong Kong studios like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest were the prolific grindhouses that brought us Bruce Lee and so many other action movie stars at an astonishingly bounteous rate.

If you’re already familiar with Bruce Lee’s work in Hong Kong cinema and aren’t sure where to go next on your martial arts movie journey, or which stars’ filmographies you should be checking out, here are five pivotal Hong Kong martial arts films worthy of your attention. Each of these movie either launched or are part of venerated Hong Kong franchises, so you’ll have plenty to watch once you dive in!

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin a.

In the pantheon of the best action films ever, many of the same worthwhile titles come up: Die Hard, Speed, Aliens…And of course there’s Predator, The Killer, Runaway Train – well, not according to Variety, at least, who made some glaring omissions and curious inclusions on their list of “The 50 Best Action Movies of All Time”.

This ranking of the best action movies has, expectedly, come under scrutiny, with many readers wondering, Where’s this movie? and Where’s that movie? Of course, even with the prestige of Variety, this list of “The 50 Best Action Movies of All Time” is still just opinion. Still, we can’t help but notice a few things here…

The 50 Best Action Movies of All Time https://t.co/NWrrY0jfzE

— Variety (@Variety) July 14, 2023

Where are movies like Predator and True Lies? Predator stands as a fan favorite with some terrific action sequences and...

Marko Zaror's ability to amaze action fans is beyond incredible, and he brings that talent into the spotlight once more with his new martial arts films Fist of the Condor. Directed by Zaror's frequent collaborator Erenesto Diaz Espinoza, Fist of the Condor debuts on the martial arts-centric streaming platform Hi-yah! on Friday, April 7. For martial arts fans, Fist of the Condor is packed with amazing fight scenes, and is a passionate tribute to martial arts on film and in life.

In Fist of the Condor, a group of martial artists from different styles and nationalities are each in pursuit of a book said to impart ancient wisdom about fighting and using the human body to its fullest potential. Gemelo (Marko Zaror) is also interested in seizing the book's knowledge, and it is up to his twin brother Guerrero (also Marko Zaror) to defeat his oncoming opponents to keep the...

Quentin Tarantino has a knack for putting himself in his own movies in a creative fashion. Ranging from full-on roles to small cameos, he sometimes seems to have as much passion for acting as he does directing. Even before Tarantino made his directorial debut with "Reservoir Dogs," one of his first gigs in Hollywood was a cameo on "The Golden Girls," where he played an Elvis impersonator in a brief part of an episode. However, his first true role would come in "Reservoir Dogs," where he played the part of Mr. Brown and delivered that now-infamous monologue about Madonna's song "Like a Virgin." Mr. Brown would be killed off fairly early in the movie, but Tarantino's affinity for acting didn't stop there.

The director would go on to have minor roles in his other films, whether narrating or playing a background character of some kind. Tarantino was no stranger to acting,...

“Lord Buddha is against killing, under any circumstances.”

The 1984 Martial Arts Epic The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter will be available on Blu-ray April 5th from Arrow Video. It can be ordered in advance Here

After one of its lead actors (cherub-faced actin icon Alexander Fu Sheng) unexpectedly died midway through production, master director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) retooled his latest martial arts epic, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, as the ultimate action spectacular in tribute to the fallen star.

Loosely based upon the legendary Yang dynasty chronicled in Chinese folklore, the film starts as the family patriarch and all but two of his sons are brutally wiped out in a bloody battle. One surviving son (Fu Sheng) returns to his mother and two sisters, deeply traumatized; the other (Gordon Liu) escapes and joins a nearby monastery while in hiding. Once he learns his sister (Kara Hui) has been captured by their enemies,...

When it comes to martial arts films, The Karate Kid was a game changer when it came out in 1984. Its lasting cultural impact was a landmark advancement for the western understanding of the martial arts. But was it a genuine representation of Karate?

Den of Geek consulted Dr. Hermann Bayer, an expert authority on Okinawan Karate and the author of the upcoming book Analysis of Genuine Karate―Misconceptions, Origin, Development, and True Purpose. Dr. Bayer remembers firsthand how The Karate Kid stimulated the Karate boom in the mid-eighties because he was a practicing Karateka then. But as a martial scholar, he’s pragmatic about his opinions.

“First and foremost, we have to bear in mind that we are talking about a movie, not about a documentation or a piece of research,” says Bayer. “This means that we need to concede that fascinating viewers by something pretty, amazing, or spectacular to...

This Saturday, 36 Cinema is relaunching with a screening of the 1978 martial arts masterpiece “Heroes of the East”, with live commentary by the RZA! This poster was specially made to honor the film and our one-of-a-kind live event. Artwork by Robert P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien

Heroes of the East (aka Shaolin Challenges Ninja) (1978) Gordon Liu stars as a Chinese kung fu student who weds a Japanese woman (Yuka Mizuno) who turns out to be a martial artist as well. When he accidentally insults her family, he’s forced to duel seven Japanese martial arts masters, who each specialize in a different style, to prove how good his kung fu really is. Directed by the great Lau Kar Leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin), this Shaw Brothers classic is one of the greatest kung fu movies of all time!

Live commentary provided by RZA and Dan Halsted. Viewers will be able...

Shaw Brothers is a company that needs little introduction to fans of kung fu, responsible as it was for genre-defining films such as “Five Deadly Venoms” (1978), “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (1978) and the subject of this review, “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter” (1984). The movie was produced by Mona Fong and the Shaw Brothers. It was directed by Lau Kar-leung, who was also the martial arts choreographer for the film and co-wrote the script with Kuang Ni.

Kar-leung was a long-time collaborator of Gordon Liu, who starred in several notable titles which he directed, including “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, “Legendary Weapons of China” (1982) and “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter”. Liu’s co-star in the movie, Alexander Fu Sheng, another prolific Shaw Brothers actor, was sadly killed in a road-accident during filming, which meant his role was partly re-written and consequently Liu is the main protagonist. The film was nominated...

It’s a bit of a stretch to label the work of Lau Kar-leung as “arthouse” cinema, as was very much working to a prescribed format during his time at Shaw Brothers. Yet if Chang Cheh’s movies were rock’ n’ roll, all out action blockbusters, then Lau Kar-leung’s were more classical. Bringing a purity to martial arts action hitherto not seen. The choreography would be intricate and his work express the more philosophical side of the arts. Yet there is an anomaly amongst his cannon. One that has a viciousness that would rival any Chang Cheh feature. That production is “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter”.

At the battle of Golden Beach, General Yang and his Son’s are betrayed. Only the 6th Brother (Fu Sheng) makes it home, but is driven mad by his experiences. 5th Brother (Gordon Liu) is left for dead and helped to...

Reuniting Gordon Liu with Wong Yue and Lau Kar-leung after “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, “Dirty Ho” is considered one of the best martial arts comedies Shaw Brothers ever produced, while also managing to stray away from the revenge plot the company’s movies usually featured and to present a Manchu character as the hero, instead of a villain.

In Guangzhou, a jewel thief named Ho enters a “competition” of who will give the most gifts to a number of courtesans residing in a boat brothel, with Wang, a man who poses as a travelling antiques dealer from Peking. Dirty Ho, as is his nickname, soon finds himself out of his depth on numerous occasions, both in terms of riches and martial arts. Ending up poisoned by a hit in the head, the young man finds himself having to obey and train under Wang in order to receive the antidote,...

RZA pays tribute to Bruce Lee on the rapper’s new song “Be Like Water,” which features in ESPN’s upcoming “30 for 30” special about the iconic martial artist.

“Bruce Lee’s teachings extended beyond physical martial arts. He was full of philosophy and mindfulness,” RZA said in a statement.

“His quote ‘Be Water my friend’ is profound and multi-tiered in definition. It inspires the idea that in adapting to life situations, sometimes we have to flow smoothly as a stream, while other times we have to crash like a Tsunami.

Bobby Diggs, aka RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, used a curious analogy when speaking with TheWrap about Hulu’s upcoming scripted series tracking the rise of the legendary rap group: He said it was like “making sweet potato pie.”

RZA was describing both his and co-creator Alex Tse’s feelings towards seeking involvement from members from the real Wu-Tang Clan. We’ll let him explain it from here.

“We know that we’re making sweet potato pie, and we know that it takes ingredients. And we know that this guy does got some good nutmeg, and this guy got some good butter. But we know where to get nutmeg and butter from too. And we’re making this pie. Some members will be in town and they’ll say ‘Oh we’re going to come by the writers’ room.’ And maybe they don’t come in time. Some members, they’re right there.

“The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin” is a 1978 Kung Fu action film, mixing up a melting pot of action, politics, Buddhism, comedy, high drama and lots of cool moves. This is a film for men by men filled with men! The only female character is one of the students at Mr Ho’s college, who pops up occasionally, but atypically in this historical setting, a woman gaining an education! Apart from this one brave participant for femininity, this is a man-tastic film!

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The late director Lau Kar-leung (also known known as Liu Chia-liang) was and is one of the great action choreographers of cinema. He worked his magic from the golden age at Shaw Brothers with “The One Armed Swordsmen” in 1967, up to the modern kung fu era with his kinetic choreography in the 2005 wuxia film “Seven Swords”. His fight choreography is masterful, but he eventually took the step into direction,...

In a genre spanning several decades and literally thousands of films, it is difficult for a kung fu film to stand out, particularly when up against classics of the genre with big name actors or from well-established studios. One of the most noteworthy things about this Taiwanese film from 1983 is the extensive use of samples from the English-dubbed version in albums by Gza and Raekwon. This has probably contributed to its cult status, as it has a surprising number of fans considering its humble background featuring a prolific but not especially notable cast.

Sun Yu Ting is a man who has dedicated his life to kung fu. To this end, he is in search of a master, and the acid test of someone worthy of teaching him is their ability to defeat him in combat. He bumps into a young Shaolin monk, Hsu Shi, who has slipped...

RZA is on the cusp of two professional milestones. This November, his legendary hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, will ring in its 25th anniversary with a series of Down Under concerts. And early next year, he will bring audiences his third film as a director, “Cut Throat City.”

Born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, the artist began releasing features six years ago. Rather than a career pivot, moviemaking represented coming full circle in the entertainment industry: the very first Wu-Tang album (“Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers”) took its name from the 1978 film “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.” In it, a fugitive college student travels to a Shaolin temple to master kung-fu, plotting revenge on his tyrannical government. During “RZA: Movies, Music, and Martial Arts” — his recent Hall H talk at San Diego Comic-Con — RZA recalled why Liu Chia-liang’s epic resonated for him and his bandmates.

“Being black in America — especially as I...

Over a sixty-year career, Lau Kar-leung wrote, directed, choreographed, and appeared in over 100 movies, including martial-arts classics like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The Museum of Modern Art celebrates his work in a 10-movie series, “The Grandmaster: Lau Kar-leung,” running July 5–17. Born in 1937 in Guangdong, Lau entered the movie industry as an extra and stunt man in the 1950s. Trained in martial arts by his father, Lau began choreographing fight scenes, most notably with director Chang Cheh. He was the first action choreographer to be promoted to director at the Shaw Brothers […]...

Over a sixty-year career, Lau Kar-leung wrote, directed, choreographed, and appeared in over 100 movies, including martial-arts classics like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The Museum of Modern Art celebrates his work in a 10-movie series, “The Grandmaster: Lau Kar-leung,” running July 5–17. Born in 1937 in Guangdong, Lau entered the movie industry as an extra and stunt man in the 1950s. Trained in martial arts by his father, Lau began choreographing fight scenes, most notably with director Chang Cheh. He was the first action choreographer to be promoted to director at the Shaw Brothers […]...

Continuing a summer of extraordinary Asian cinema programming in New York City, which has seen over the past two months retrospectives on Sylvia Chang and Chang Cheh, the New York Asian Film Festival and the upcoming Japan Cuts, comes a retrospective starting July 5th at the Museum of Modern Art on the films of Lau Kar-leung. A choreographer, actor, and director, Lau was the central figure in the Golden Age of martial arts cinema, a period which began in 1967 with the break-out success of The One-Armed Swordsman, reached its classical perfection with 1978’s The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and came to an end in 1994 with Drunken Master II. That Lau choreographed the former and directed the latter two is no coincidence. It was his commitment to verisimilitude in stunt choreography, in training the actors under his command, from the biggest stars to the most minor extras, in traditional kung fu fighting styles,...

Mike, Chrs and Justin review the newest Lynne Ramsay film You Were Never Really Here, starring Joaquin Pheonix. Find out why we dubbed this film, the "anti-Taken". 

Every week we start by talking about films and TV shows we've been watching as well as any news that piques our interests. This week, Mike goes over the season two premiere of Westworld.  Justin talks a little more about the Marvel movies he watched leading up to Avengers: Infinity War. Also Chris finally saw the kung fu classic, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin in theaters. We also discuss whether or not the idea of Netflix buying movie theaters is a good thing. 

Our next episode will be on Avengers: Infinity War, our next Thursday.

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Email Mike, Chris or Justin at: casualcinemedia@gmail.com

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Although only sparsely released theatrically in the United States, the recently deceased director Liu Chia-Liang’s 1978 Hong Kong kung fu epic is widely considered a highpoint in the evolution of the genre. Its official mainstream release came on dvd in 2000 under the title Shaolin Master Killer.

Before Hugh Jackman's Wolverine takes one last "hurrah" on the big screen next year, check out his collection of Funko Pop! figures, Dorbz, and keychains. Also: cover art and details on the new graphic novel edition of Officer Downe, a look at Jeaux Janovsky's Inktober cartoons, details on the Stern Pinball digital arcade, info on El Rey's "Way of the Turkey" marathon, and two clips from Maker Studios' revamped Polaris YouTube Channel.

Images and Release Details for Funko's Logan Collectibles: From Collector Corps via Funko: “He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice!

The adamantium-filled, self-healing superhero Wolverine is getting an all-new Funko treatment!

Collect Wolverine and his retractable claws as Pop!s, Dorbz, and a Pocket Pop! Keychain!

Be sure to look for exclusive figures! Collect the Logan tank top.

Pop! and Dorbz only at Hot Topic, and Weapon X Wolverine Pop!

After a three-decade hiatus, Shaw Brothers Holdings promises to conquer movie theaters once again.

Nikkei Asian Review reports that the Shaw Brothers Holdings recently appointed media mogul Li Ruigang as chairman. Under the leadership of Li, Shaw Brothers plans to spend 1 billion yuan ($147 million) and to produce eight films next year, all in the hopes of reclaiming the company’s former glory.

The world famous Shaw Brothers dominated Hong Kong’s golden age of cinema in the 60s and 70s. Back when the late Run Run Shaw led the company, the studio produced an impressive oeuvre of martial arts classics such as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), Five Fingers of Death (1972), Come Drink With Me (1966), Killer Clans (1976), One-Armed Swordsman (1967), Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969) and many others. Stars like Ti Lung, David Chiang and Fu Sheng, as well as filmmakers like Chang Cheh, Chu Yuan and Lau Kar-leun become household names and global icons.

Beyond Fest must have their check in the mail, because ol' Jack Burton himself is coming to the festival for a 30th anniversary screening of Big Trouble in Little China. Filmmaker James Gunn will be on hand to discuss the cult John Carpenter movie with the beloved actor, and that's only one of many events fans will want to mark on their fall calendars.

Taking place September 30th–October 11th at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, Beyond Fest 2016 will also feature screenings of Phantasm: Ravager, Phantasm: Remastered, George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead in 3-D, Martin, In a Valley of Violence, The Wolf Man (1941), The Bad Batch, Raw, and City of the Living Dead.

A 4K restoration screening of Romero's The Crazies will also take place, as well as a live performance by composer Fabio Frizzi and his orchestra during a showing of The Beyond: Composer's Cut.

Fantastic Fest has already revealed an amazing lineup over the past month, but their newly announced final wave of programming should cause even more fans to make room on their calendars between September 22nd–29th.

Fantastic Fest's final wave of programming has several big treats in store for horror comedy fans, as Bruce Campbell will be in attendance for screenings of the first two episodes of Ash vs Evil Dead Season 2 (ahead of the first season's October 2nd premiere on Starz).

Another WolfCop, the sequel to 2014's WolfCop, will make its world premiere, and a special screening of the first episode of HBO's Westworld series will also take place.

The creature feature Colossal will be shown as the festival's closing film, and A Monster Calls and The Autopsy of Jane Doe are also scheduled to screen. For full details, we have the official press release below. Which film are you...

The date to set the record button is January 15th, 2016 as Film 4 bring us some classic movies from Shaw Brothers, from the world of Kung Fu and Wu Xia.

It starts with a Classic

The season will kick off with a Gordon Liu classic “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, then will continue for a further 3 Friday nights which will include Shaw Brothers classics such as King Boxer (Lo Lieh), Come Drink With Me (Cheng Pei-Pei) and The One Armed Swordsman (Wang Yu).

I have to say, they have chosen some great movies and anyone who is a fan of Kung Fu and Wu Xia cinema need to watch these and record then watch again. The second season (Which stars in April) will include The Five Deadly Venoms and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, so far.

Also every movie will play with original language and English Subtitles.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin...

Ralph Macchio's birthday -- he turns 54 on November 4 -- reminds us that, not only do we love the Karate Kid, but we love even more a training montage.

You know, that staple of feel-good, fist-pumping, sweat-exuding movies, especially from the aerobicized '80s, that shows rapid-cut clips of the star getting in shape or mastering some arcane fighting technique, usually set to some inspirational, synth-heavy anthem.

By the end of that decade, the training montage had become such an overblown cliché that it fell out of favor, which is why we cherish the few new ones that come along and relish the old ones that still make us feel like slackers. So cue up Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," raise a glass of raw eggs, and drink a toast to the best training montages ever.

11. 'G.I. Jane' (1997)

Training to become the first female Navy Seal, Demi Moore's Lt.

Craig Lines Aug 11, 2019

We salute some of the finest work of The Shaw Brothers, as we look back at The 36th Chamber films...

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

If you've watched more than a handful of Chinese martial arts films, you'll be familiar with the iconic Shaw Brothers logo that adorns so many credits sequences. The brothers in question - Runme, Runje and Runde, later joined by little brother Run Run - set up the first incarnation of their film studio (Tianyi) in 1925 and, by the 1960s, dominated the Chinese film industry. Their Movietown studio in Hong Kong was one of the largest and most technically advanced in the world and the martial arts films it made in the 1970s led the charge of bringing Chinese cinema to the west.

At the height of the kung fu boom, the Shaws were producing 30 to 40 films per year and the quality was shockingly high.

The USC School of Cinematic Arts will partner with Celestial Pictures in December 2014 and January 2015 to present 7 feature films from the Shaw Brothers catalog. They have films available on DigiBeta and DVD, and are interested in finding other venues across the U.S. that might be interested in booking their titles across the next year, and to help them out, I wanted to share some information with everyone:

Celestial Pictures owns the Shaw Brothers film library, the world's largest Chinese film collection, with over 760 feature films originally released over half a century's time frame. The library has inspired countless filmmakers with its vast pool of classics including "Five Deadly Venoms," "Hex," "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," " One-Armed Swordsman," "King Boxer" and "The Flying Guillotine." These award-winning Shaw Brothers films have been digitally restored frame-by-frame, and distributed in cinemas and on home video, television, and new media markets worldwide.

Celestial Pictures is eagerly looking for the right partners to arrange Shaw Brothers Film Festivals so as to introduce our classic collection to more Us audiences especial to youth markets. In the past few years, we have been partnered up with numerous institutions and organizations including University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Cinefamily and New York Asian Film Festival, and we hope to extend our path further by collaborating with new partners around the States.

To contact Celestial Pictures directly about their library and possible collaborations, please be in touch with Josephine Ng:

josephine.ng[At]celestialpictures.com...

The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop empire built on a foundation of kung fu movies — and last night at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the RZA detailed some of the connections. First on the bill: a screening of the 1978 Shaw Brothers classic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, which had a resurgence of popularity in 1993 because of the Wu-Tang debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Then the Wu-Tang's producer/leader and Elvis Mitchell (curator of the presenting organization, Film Independent at Lacma) engaged in a half-hour conversation about...