Most talented Kung fu martial artist, other than Bruce Lee

[Drunken Monk]

It was interesting to go through this thread. I had never thought about Bruce Lee being undercranked but I suppose it makes a lot of sense as quite literally everyone was doing it at some point or another. Since he's been heralded kung fu cinea's "fastest ever" I just assumed he'd always used his own speed. But I am certainly not someone who sees Bruce as some super man. I think his die hard fans are often a little too dedicated and can't hear a wrong word said about the man.

As for talented (on screen) martial artists, the more I see of him, the more I love Philip Ko Fei. That man was a shapes master. Granted, I haven't seen him in a lot of 80's kickboxing stuff (save for one or two Bruceploitation films, maybe) but during the shapes era, the man was a BEAST.

[Drunksnake]

There are so many great Kung Fu/Martial arts practitioners and actors past and present I struggle with this question. I do feel that one of the most awesome yet under used and often overlooked performers is Yuen Wah. He could have done so much more in his heyday. Ok he got a fair amount of roles here and there but would have been cool to see him in his own Drunken Master, Dreadnaught or Magnificent Butcher type movie like the other Little Fortunes. Oh what could have been. 

[Graeme Of Death]

17 hours ago, Drunksnake said:

There are so many great Kung Fu/Martial arts practitioners and actors past and present I struggle with this question. I do feel that one of the most awesome yet under used and often overlooked performers is Yuen Wah. He could have done so much more in his heyday. Ok he got a fair amount of roles here and there but would have been cool to see him in his own Drunken Master, Dreadnaught or Magnificent Butcher type movie like the other Little Fortunes. Oh what could have been. 

Yuen Wah was always one of my favourites from the Golden Harvest 80s heyday. Amazingly talented acrobatic performer. Anyone know of any films where he has a more good guy or lead role?

 

[ShawAngela]

On 4/25/2020 at 4:08 AM, Graeme Of Death said:

Jet could barely tie his shoe laces without the use of a stunt double. I didn't think anyone would be surprised at that?

It's a very hard comment...

Did you watch the documentary Dragon's from the Orient ? Here, you can see the real Jet Li, and you can see how fast he is is his kicks and so on, and he was already like that when he was a child. No tricks here, no doubles and he is great.

On 5/30/2020 at 6:55 AM, Drunken Monk said:

As for talented (on screen) martial artists, the more I see of him, the more I love Philip Ko Fei. That man was a shapes master. Granted, I haven't seen him in a lot of 80's kickboxing stuff (save for one or two Bruceploitation films, maybe) but during the shapes era, the man was a BEAST.

How true it is !!

Did you watch The loot ? He has some very good fights in it.

On 5/30/2020 at 7:50 AM, Drunksnake said:

There are so many great Kung Fu/Martial arts practitioners and actors past and present I struggle with this question. I do feel that one of the most awesome yet under used and often overlooked performers is Yuen Wah. He could have done so much more in his heyday. Ok he got a fair amount of roles here and there but would have been cool to see him in his own Drunken Master, Dreadnaught or Magnificent Butcher type movie like the other Little Fortunes. Oh what could have been. 

He is one of the main  heroes of a whole ATV series called Days in shaolin.

On 5/31/2020 at 1:14 AM, Graeme Of Death said:

Anyone know of any films where he has a more good guy or lead role?

He is one of the main  heroes of a whole ATV series called Days in shaolin.

[NoKUNGFUforYU]

Donnie Yen. I don't know why this has to even be discussed.

[Iron_Leopard]

3 hours ago, NoKUNGFUforYU said:

Donnie Yen. I don't know why this has to even be discussed.

True. I'd rather fight Bruce Lee before Donnie Yen.

[Drunken Monk]

I suppose it depends on our preferred styles too. While I might say a shapes specialist is the greatest on screen fighter because I love shapes, someone might prefer an 80’s kickboxer-style actor like, say, Donnie Yen. Although some actors have done it all.

I think Donnie Yen has proven to be the most consistent on screen martial artist. It can be argued that Jackie’s up there too but his modern output isn’t nearly as entertaining as Donnie’s. Up until the 2000’s, perhaps it was neck and neck.

I’ll always take Operation Condor over Tiger Cage 2 though!

 

[Josh Baker]

Watching bits of Iron Fisted Monk again makes me realize how excellent Sammo Hung is as an onscreen martial artist. It's hard to find other who are as precise and sharp in his movements, and have the same kinetic energy. He's a fabulous fight choreographer as well, and seems to be proficient in any weapon you throw at him.

Edited May 31, 2020 by Josh Baker

[ShawAngela]

@Josh Baker, it's off topic, but I love this avatar of yours focusing only on Bruce's eyes !

[Jonny]

On 5/29/2020 at 4:55 PM, Drunken Monk said:

It was interesting to go through this thread. I had never thought about Bruce Lee being undercranked but I suppose it makes a lot of sense as quite literally everyone was doing it at some point or another. Since he's been heralded kung fu cinea's "fastest ever" I just assumed he'd always used his own speed. But I am certainly not someone who sees Bruce as some super man. I think his die hard fans are often a little too dedicated and can't hear a wrong word said about the man.

As for talented (on screen) martial artists, the more I see of him, the more I love Philip Ko Fei. That man was a shapes master. Granted, I haven't seen him in a lot of 80's kickboxing stuff (save for one or two Bruceploitation films, maybe) but during the shapes era, the man was a BEAST.

I just watched him in tiger over the wall, with Hwang Jang Lee .. I always enjoy watching him. 

[Cognoscente]

On 4/14/2020 at 12:16 PM, sym8 said:

Where do we begin? Staying away from the usual suspects, I would choose Billy Chong. He only made a handful of films but they are all great entertainment, what could have been if he was at one of the big studios.

I never understood why he couldn't make the move to Seasonal, which was an off-branch of Eternal. For example, Ng See-Yuen's Anti-Corruption was a 1975 collaboration between Eternal and Seasonal.

As was the case with Seasonal's Dance of the Drunk Mantis, Eternal's Crystal Fist (also 1979) had the same choreographers: Brandy Yuen Jan-Yeung, Yuen Shun-Yi, Chin Yuet-San and Yuen Kwai. Both movies had Jonathan Ting as the art director, Pau Kwok-Lan as the costume designer, Poon Hung as the editor along with Frankie Chan Fan-Kei as the composer.

[sym8]

13 hours ago, Cognoscente said:

I never understood why he couldn't make the move to Seasonal, which was an off-branch of Eternal. For example, Ng See-Yuen's Anti-Corruption was a 1975 collaboration between Eternal and Seasonal.

As was the case with Seasonal's Dance of the Drunk Mantis, Eternal's Crystal Fist (also 1979) had the same choreographers: Brandy Yuen Jan-Yeung, Yuen Shun-Yi, Chin Yuet-San and Yuen Kwai. Both movies had Jonathan Ting as the art director, Pau Kwok-Lan as the costume designer, Poon Hung as the editor along with Frankie Chan Fan-Kei as the composer.

From what I understand he was a bit of a d..k to work with,so you can have all the talent in the world but if your not liked because of your attitude the door will close on you or stop opening altogether 

[Cognoscente]

Too bad, because he probably deserved a second chance more than Conan Lee (Ng See-Yuen was beaten up by Triads because of him). Imagine if it was Billy who was Chow Yun-Fat's sidekick in Tiger on the Beat.

[ShawAngela]

3 hours ago, sym8 said:

he was a bit of a d..k to work with

What do you mean, please ?

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

12 minutes ago, ShawAngela said:

What do you mean, please ?

dick

[Cognoscente]

A few Chinese sites claim that he alienated the HK filmmaking community because he was too stubborn, proud, controlling, and he had a bad temper.

[DarthKato]

Hmm...Well, I guess overall I would say Jackie Chan. Back in his prime he was really good and entertaining(With his brilliant combination of comedy and balls to the wall action). And he made some of my favorite movies: Police Story, Drunken Master, Rush Hour, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Rumble in the Bronx, the list goes on. , But having said that, I haven't really liked much of anything he has done in, oh, the last 10 years or so. But I still think he is an amazing guy,