10 Greatest Characters in Martial Arts Movies

[QueenBlast]

My list of the 10 Greatest characters in the history of Martial Arts movies

1) Wong Fei Hung

2) Zatoichi

3) Bruce Lee ...counts as a character. Not just from the Bruceploitation movies but Bruce Lee played himself in ENTER THE DRAGON.

4) Beggar Su

5) Lone Wolf & Cub ..counts as one character. The baby hardly did anything.

6) Pai Mei / White Lotus ....both the same character, right?

7) Young Master ...or whatever Jackie Chan called his screen character he used between the films HALF LOAF OF KUNG FU and DRAGON LORD

8) One Armed Swordsman

9) Ma Fu Yi

10) Terry Tsurugi

Lynn

[The Dragon]

Fang Sui Yi

Yoda

The old Monk From Master of The Flying Guillotine

Young Dragon

Ma ChinYi

Wu Sung

Hu Hui Chen

San Te

Hung Huie Kuan

Wang Wu (One of Chen Kuai Tai's best characters)

Ma Yun Chin

Butcher Wing

Siu Lung

Feng Kang

Fatty (Sammo's Character name in most of his films)

Han

Bolo

The Russian

Frank Dux

The Lizard

The Scorpion

The Toad

The Centipede

The Snake

Mr. Vampire

Yojimbo

I know there are more...

[AbeRudder]

Jaguar Wong!

[Guest Yi-Long]

Many of the characters mentioned above, but also:

- Bruce Lee goalkeeper in Shaolin Soccer

- The funny weird voodoo-villain in Spooky Encounters

- The nun (Ng Miu!?) that gives mute-boy Jackie training in Shaolin Wooden Men.

- The smoking landlady in Kung Fu Hustle

- Clubfoot

- Tony Leung's (almost) blind swordman in Ashes of Time.

- Tong Po ofcourse

- Not Tong, but Po, from Kung Fu Panda! The villain in that movie is also great, in a brilliant escape scene (Tai Lung).

- Mulan

- Rock Lee (Naruto)

- Mugen (Samurai Champloo)

- Chen Zhen or however we spell his name (Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend, etc)

...etc etc.

[crazedjustice888]

Wong Fei Hung

Hung Xi Quan (sp?)

Fong Shi Yu (sp?)

Hu Hue Chen (sp?)

Lam Tsai Wing

Luk Ah Choy

Ma Fu Yi

Pai Mei

San Te

Li Si Kai

I am a little biased....LOL!!!

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

Jaguar Wong!

Hell yeah.... acts like a cocky douche,chews gum, kicks ass, and bangs chicks with pithair... a true man among men!

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

Every Hwang Jang Lee character...

Tommy Lee's albino hunchback from The Hot, The Cool and The Vicious...

Mahashi Ishibashi's blind, whitehaired villain from Dragon Princess...

Dick Wei's San Pao pirate captain from Project A...

Robert Tai's cape wearing, white haired badass from Incredible Kung Fu Mission...

Lung Fei's vampire fanged, okinawan master villain from One Armed Boxer...

Tadashi Yamashita's laser shooting Black Star ninja from American Ninja...

The Three Storms from Big Trouble In Little China...

Gam Kei Chu's Chen Lang, headbutting badass from King Boxer...

Pai Ying's ultra evil villain from Royal Warriors....

I likes the bad guys....!

[shukocarl]

Chao Chi Hao from King Boxer.

Tong Lung from Way of the Dragon

[Shaolivevil]

The Rover(The Rambler)

San Te

Pai Mei

Hung Se Kuan

Fong Sai Yuk

Black Whirlwind(Iron Ox)

Minute Fong

Takuma "Terry" Tsurugi

Jubei Yagyu

Sarutobi Sasuke

[QueenBlast]

Perhaps I should explain a little about my list. The criterion was not suppose to be best performed character but characters that either resulted in multiple sequels or were the archetype for a defined screen character that would go on to be used in other movies. No one could possibly make a list of the best based on characters that showed up in only one single film because you would have had to have seen every martial arts movie ever made to make that list. This is by no means a list of my favorite characters. Just the ones I think made the biggest impact overall.

WONG FEI HUNG - The subject of a long running series of films that ran for 20 years and is reported to be over 70 movies. The subject of four classic Shaw movies. Subject of DRUNKEN MASTER and it's two official sequels. The subject of the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series. Subject of several one shot movies.

ZATOICHI - Appeared in 26 movies and 100 television episodes of his own series. Was recently in a 27th movie by a new actor. Has been remade into numerous characters including Nick Parker in BLIND FURY

BRUCE LEE - Subject of several Bruceploitation movies that dominated the second half of the 70's. Was the lead character in ENTER THE DRAGON played by the actual Bruce Lee. Was the subject of the Hollywood movie DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY which was based more on legend than fact.

BEGGAR SU - Who technically began in the movie SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW but officially debuted in DRUNKEN MASTER. Appeared in several other movies in the next decade either as Beggar Su or as a character similar to Beggar Su.

LONE WOLF & CUB - Was the subject of a 6 movie series and 26 television episodes. Archetype of other characters including the movie THOUSAND MILE ESCORT

PAI MEI / WHITE LOTUS - Archetype white bearded villain who has appeared in several movies since SHAOLIN AVENGERS and has recently shown up in KILL BILL VOL. 2

YOUNG MASTER - the name Jackie Chan gave this screen character after joining Golden Harvest. An archetype mischievous student character that has appeared in at least six Jackie Chan movies and in several other late 70's early 80's comedies by other stars.

ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN - A character that Jimmy Wang Yu played six times, twice officially, and was reinvented as the One Armed Boxer for two other Wang Yu movies. Other one armed characters have shown up in other movies including the Shaws TRIPLE IRONS and THUNDERBOLT FIST.

MA FU YI - Most memorable of the Shaolin Temple characters. Although appearing in only two movies created an archetype screen villain for actor Wang Lung Wei that would be repeated in countless other Shaw productions as well as beginning a tradition of the traitor student in other Shaolin movies.

TERRY TSURUGI - Lead character in the STREET FIGHTER series. Archetype character for the new wave Japanese antihero that appeared in other Sonny Chiba movies and movies by other actors.

[Cesare]

Tsing Yi (Last Hurrah)

Yi Lo (Have Sword, Will Travel)

Li Bu Yi (Return of Bastard Swordsman)

Li Xun Huan (Sentimental Swordsman series)

Snake (5DV)

Toad (5DV)

Xiaolou (Vengeance)

Leung Yee Tai (Prodigal Son)

The Four Constables (any adaptation; mostly TV stuff, I know - but they're too cool to be left out)

Master Shan Xiong (Martial Club)

Wu Song (esp. in Delightful Forest and All Men Are Brothers)

Lu Tien Kang (Soul of the Sword)

...

and so on...

10 is not enough...

[punt44]

You are all weak. We are forgetting the one, the only:

Wong Chun San

Ghostface Killer

Bitches...

Seriously, he's like the Darth Vader of kung fu villains. I wish I could make a series of over-budget prequels about his upbringing and eventual turn to darkness. But sadly, I am not George Lucas.

[Cesare]

Some may be forgetting, some others are ignoring him on purpose. Ghost Face Killer falls into the BBB ("badass but boring") category.

*yawn*

Pretty much like the rest of the flick.

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

Perhaps I should explain a little about my list. The criterion was not suppose to be best performed character but characters that either resulted in multiple sequels or were the archetype for a defined screen character that would go on to be used in other movies. No one could possibly make a list of the best based on characters that showed up in only one single film because you would have had to have seen every martial arts movie ever made to make that list. This is by no means a list of my favorite characters. Just the ones I think made the biggest impact overall.

WONG FEI HUNG - The subject of a long running series of films that ran for 20 years and is reported to be over 70 movies. The subject of four classic Shaw movies. Subject of DRUNKEN MASTER and it's two official sequels. The subject of the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series. Subject of several one shot movies.

ZATOICHI - Appeared in 26 movies and 100 television episodes of his own series. Was recently in a 27th movie by a new actor. Has been remade into numerous characters including Nick Parker in BLIND FURY

BRUCE LEE - Subject of several Bruceploitation movies that dominated the second half of the 70's. Was the lead character in ENTER THE DRAGON played by the actual Bruce Lee. Was the subject of the Hollywood movie DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY which was based more on legend than fact.

BEGGAR SU - Who technically began in the movie SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW but officially debuted in DRUNKEN MASTER. Appeared in several other movies in the next decade either as Beggar Su or as a character similar to Beggar Su.

LONE WOLF & CUB - Was the subject of a 6 movie series and 26 television episodes. Archetype of other characters including the movie THOUSAND MILE ESCORT

PAI MEI / WHITE LOTUS - Archetype white bearded villain who has appeared in several movies since SHAOLIN AVENGERS and has recently shown up in KILL BILL VOL. 2

YOUNG MASTER - the name Jackie Chan gave this screen character after joining Golden Harvest. An archetype mischievous student character that has appeared in at least six Jackie Chan movies and in several other late 70's early 80's comedies by other stars.

ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN - A character that Jimmy Wang Yu played six times, twice officially, and was reinvented as the One Armed Boxer for two other Wang Yu movies. Other one armed characters have shown up in other movies including the Shaws TRIPLE IRONS and THUNDERBOLT FIST.

MA FU YI - Most memorable of the Shaolin Temple characters. Although appearing in only two movies created an archetype screen villain for actor Wang Lung Wei that would be repeated in countless other Shaw productions as well as beginning a tradition of the traitor student in other Shaolin movies.

TERRY TSURUGI - Lead character in the STREET FIGHTER series. Archetype character for the new wave Japanese antihero that appeared in other Sonny Chiba movies and movies by other actors.

I understand the purpose of the thread, But chose not to follow it! You'll have 20 posts naming the same 10 characters....

[punt44]

You'll be sorry for calling him boring once he kicks down your door, throws a metal plate at you, and proceeds to beat the kung pow chicken out of you.

Seriously tho, Wong Fei Hung is a VERY boring character. He's just your atypical stoic chinese hero. At least Ghost Face Killer has some layers to his villainary.

My favorites are:

Ghost Face Killer-Already explained myself

Abbot White-The Abbot White from Ninja Hunter. Gets his kung fu prowess from duing young women. Wish it worked like that in real life, or maybe it does. Plus as a side gig he has a stable of ninjas to do his biding which included burning the Shaolin Temple, killing nuns, and bagging girls for him. What a badass. Seriously Ninja Hunter doesn't get enough credit from Kung Fu Fans. They are too busy obessing over Stephen Chows new movie with an Alien, or Tony Jaa's new flip kick movie.

Pale-Face-That guy from Hot, Cool, Vicious. Large Monkey arms, and hunchback kicks Flash Legs, and Wong Tao's asses. Plus he nails that hot ass taveran owner. His voice echos for God's sake, it ECHOS! Pretty much the most badass hunchback ever.

Born Invincible Chi Gung Guy- This dude is pretty much the same character as Abbot White, sans the ninjas, and raging libido. Hence he's lower on the totem. Plus he has the squeeky ass voice.

Again if I had money to throw around. I'd create a movie we're these guys hang around at like a coffee shop. Musing of lifes pleasantry's, and reminescing of past villanry.

FYI you guys are seriously boring.

[QueenBlast]

I understand the purpose of the thread, But chose not to follow it! You'll have 20 posts naming the same 10 characters....

Not necessarily there are quite a few other characters that could also qualify for the top 10 such as Fong Sai Yuk, Chen Zhen, Nemuri Kyoshiro, San Te, Yojimbo, even Kato. Even if the same 10 characters were picked everyone would still have their preferred order as to who is the more important. I am not saying that you can't have a great character that only appeared in one movie. I am just saying that the standards for the top would most likely be far reaching beyond a single film. I have my own favorite characters that I felt did not make the cut. A few years ago the American Film Institute did their own list of 100 greatest characters which was a combination of characters that appeared in only one movie such as T E Lawrence, Norma Rea, George Bailey, and Rick Blaine with franchise characters like Chaplin's Tramp, Tarzan, Rocky, and James Bond. If we were to do the same here then there would be plenty of room for one shot characters such as the Venoms and Master Han. But I think the top 10 would most likely end up with most if not all the characters I picked.

Seriously tho, Wong Fei Hung is a VERY boring character. He's just your atypical stoic chinese hero. At least Ghost Face Killer has some layers to his villainary.

That all depends on which movie you are talking about. He is not stoic and boring in films like DRUNKEN MASTER. And you are talking about a character that began when they were still doing traditional movies and survived into the 70's after being reinvented, then survived the new wave in the 90's by once again being reinvented.

I would like to also point out about these arguments as to the quality of certain characters. There are so many versions of the same movie floating around. Dubbed and undubbed, wide screen and full screen, translated by distributor A or distributor B, edited for television or to remove an X rating or uncut, First run version or grindhouse version or foreign version, pristine print or washed out dirty print or print from a bootleg VHS of a bootleg VHS of a bootleg VHS. For one movie each member may have seen a different version and had a different experience. Where a character may have been cool in one print would probably look weak in another print. This is especially a problem when someone is promoting a character they saw during the films original theatrical run and right now the only way for the rest of us to see that movie is a bootleg of an edited version shown on Black Belt Theater where that characters best moments were edited out for being too graphic. I was never a fan of THE STREET FIGHTER until a friend showed me the uncut version. Up til the mid 90's all that was available was the R rated version. A big difference when you saw the disgusting uncut version, but it gave me respect for the movie I did not have before. Another good example is the Jackie Chan movie HEART OF THE DRAGON which I recently got a bootlegged restored version of. When I first saw it's dub version called FIRST MISSION I thought it was one of Chan's worst movies. But with the fight scenes restored I actually liked it. I could bring up other examples but they would be obscure movies many of you have never seen.

[AlbertV]

1) Leung Chang

2) Wong Fei-Hung

3) Silver Fox

4) Bak Mei

5) Fong Sai-Yuk

6) San Te

7) Hung Hei-Kwan

8) Ip Man

9) Tsurumi Tsurugi (aka Terry Tsurugi)

10) Koryo (aka Tina Long)