The Chop Sockey Thread

[Lomax]

I just wanted to start a thread discussing films, anime, tv shows, comics, books, video games, etc. about kung fu or any other martial arts. I'm a big fan of kung fu films from the 70's and 80's (especially Jackie Chan films). Actually, it was my love of martial arts in media that got me back into comics in the early 2000's when I saw Birds of Prey #62 in my LCS. I was sold by the cover that looked like a movie poster of Lady Shiva. That got me hooked into DC comics (that and the No Man's Land trades).


One of my favorite movies was Jackie Chan's 1978 Drunken Master. I got it at a local K mart for $2.00 on VHS. Of course the movie that still blows me away is Police Story. It was the late night movie on USA network years ago and I stumbled upon it towards the end of it. That last fight in the mall is incredible.

So, what is everyone else's kung fu inspired media?

[ljacone]

I am a big fan of Buce Lee's library of films and any time one of them is on G4 I will inevitably click over to it. Growing up, these were staples of Sunday afternoon on WPIX Channel 11 and WOR Channel 9 in New York and most of them hold up very well.

As a horror fan, one which I really enjoy is the Hammer/Shaw co-production Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires AKA The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula. Essentially it involves Dr. Van Helsing traveling to China where meets up with the titular Seven Brothers and they battle the Seven Golden Vampires, Chinese-style vamps who are all under the command of Count Dracula. It's a mish-mash of wildly different styles but in the end is a whole lot of fun.

As far as comics, I am a big fan of Iron Fist insofar as him being Power Man's partner. His solo books never did much for me but his kung-fu fighting style always matched up visually nicely with Luke's brawling. There's a great bit early on in their run where Luke uses a block which Danny had taught him during a fight and Danny is just beaming with pride that his "student" utilized the method he taught him. Then Luke just clobbers the guy in the face and Danny thinks that he still has much to learn...

[Arthur Ratnik]

[TheDLA]

Drunken Master is amazing. Love that movie.

I really like The House of Flying Daggers. Amazing use of colors in the cinematography.

[Lomax]

When I got my very first DVD player in 2000, the first DVDs I got was the Bruce Lee box set. That was the first time I remember seeing any of his other films outside enter the dragon. Definitely the most influential martial arts actor of all time, he single handily popularized an entire genre and also became an important positive role model and figure for the Asian community. Before Bruce Lee, Asian actors were typecast in negative stereotypical roles and treated as second class citizens on movie lots (and society in general).

Luke, I love the whole Power Man/ Iron Fist dynamic from the 70s. Marvel took two of the hottest fads in grindhouse cinema at the time (Blaxploitation and Kung Fu) and they ended up melding better than peanut butter and chocolate in a Reese’s cup. Marvel should either make a Power Man and Iron Fist TV series or a film set in the 70s.

I haven’t seen House of Flying Daggers in quite some time. It was a great film though. I think I’ll have to rewatch it soon.

Chris, where did you find that Enter the Dragon parody? It was hilarious. Black Stevie Wonder looking guy in a red track suit with a megaphone and a helmet with a flashing alarm? Greatest home security system ever.

Well, that’s all I got to say, so there is one way to end this:

[ljacone]

Fistful of Yen is from the Kentucky Fried Movie!

[Formosin]

Take him to Detroit!
You have our gratitude.

[Arthur Ratnik]

[Lomax]

I never knew Bruce Lee had another script he was working on before his death. Looks cheesy as hell, I have to see it. It's stuff like this why I wanted to start this thread in the first place.

And now, THE END (it's a real ball buster)

[TheDLA]

Okay, I don't know how I've never heard of Circle of Iron - but I must see this movie.

[Lomax]

Shaw Brothers 1982 film Sword Stained with Royal Blood. Great final fight scene with weapons. To get the full grindhouse movie experience, watch the two videos in order:

[Mad Nei]

This is a movie that impacted me greatly as a kid. The idea of elemental color coded ninjas was just a cool concept to me. By chance a long time friend also seen the movie way back when and began the task of hunting down the film just going by plot description. After finding the American name Chinese Super Ninjas he was able to buy two copies. One that I own to this day. After watching as a adult the middle of the film feels like padding it is really the beginning and ending portions that are the best parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmK-JrAb ... re=related

[Lomax]

One of my favorite anime series has to be Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken). It's The Road Warrior meets Kung Fu drama. It's also one of the most violent fighting series I've ever seen. The series is heavily edited to not show any blood or gore (which is why when somebody explodes from Kenshiro's pressure point attacks, it's shown in shadow or the blood is turned white ) The movies, however, feature new animation of these grusome death scenes. You can watch episodes here on crackle for free

[Arthur Ratnik]

One of the greatest opening sequences ever!

[Lomax]

There is a new videogame coming out next week called Sleeping Dogs. It's essentially Grand Theft Auto Hong Kong. it reminds me of those late 80's-early 90's John Woo Triad crime films like Hard Boiled or A Better Tomorrow. The hand to hand combat system is quite similar to Batman Arkham Asylum's system. The shooting and driving also looks solid.

[Lomax]

video review for sleeping dogs

[Lomax]

Jackie Chan's newest action film Chinese Zodiac trailer. Rumor has it that Jackie is stepping down from these kinds of roles and is going to focus more on his directorial work. This film is also a sequel in the Armor of God franchise. Not sure about a timetable for an American release. 12/12/12 for Asia.

[Lomax]

Big plans for this thread in the month of September. Stay tuned.

[Lomax]

Just stumbled across this film trailer. I love Japanese folklore horror stories.

[Lomax]

Here is a documentary called Best of the Martial Arts Films narrated by John Saxon. Tons of footage from various 70s and 80s classics. A great sampler of these kinds of films.