10 best martial arts adventure films

Most of martial arts The genre follows the same model: an unlucky character stumbles from accident to accident before encountering kung fu, which teaches them discipline and life-changing skills. They can even win a martial arts tournament without rules or take revenge on those who mistreated them. However, sometimes kung fu training becomes the protagonist’s means of defending himself in his country or against aggressors, breaking the standard formula of the genre.

These consistently used formulas don’t translate into a lack of excitement, as some of the biggest martial arts films of the 2000s use them to deliver intense thrills. Many martial arts films with great stories and excellent action use the model. However, when the story takes the form of an epic journey, action and adventure work hand in hand to create a grand-scale narrative. Whether character-driven dramas or plot-driven stories with a fighting style, some of the best martial arts adventure films break narrative conventions.

10

Ong Bak (2003)

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew

Ong Bak follows Tony Jaa’s character Ting as he leaves his small village for the city, hoping to track down the gang who desecrated the village’s Buddha statue and stole his head. Named after the state called Ong-Bak, the film is a thrilling adventure involving street bike racing, competitive fights, tuk-tuk chases and a ton of Muay Thai. For martial arts fans, it’s a must-see as it features some of Tony Jaa’s best stunts of all time. The story is also well developed, with some subplots that serve as catalysts for more action.

Jaa’s physical prowess is on full display throughout the film’s entire runtime; Ong Bak it seems like it was made to provide him with a stage where he could showcase his skills. However, his characterization suffers considerably because of this. Although your character is taught not to fight unless absolutely necessary, he regularly chooses this as his only form of conflict resolution. The editing is also a little disappointing. While it’s fun to focus on Jaa’s stunt work, it starts to feel like a chore when each stunt double is shown twice in slow motion.

9

Project A (1983)

Directed byJackie Chan

A rare martial arts film with sea pirates, Project A It’s one of Jackie Chan’s craziest movies. In true Chan fashion, there are multiple twists, as well as double and triple traitor agents. But what sets this project apart are its action sequences set on ships, where balance becomes an aspect Chan can play with as he performs unbelievable stunts. However, the film’s best action sequence is a ridiculous bicycle chase that ends in a 70-foot drop to the ground.

Chan plays a Hong Kong police sergeant who is forced to confront corruption within the police department while also trying to deal with the city’s pirate infestation. While he presents his usual mix of comedy and martial arts that sometimes overlap, Project A It’s not a traditional martial arts film. Instead, it’s a plot-driven adventure through the streets of Hong Kong. Pirates are randomly thrown into the mix for thrills, in an arc that almost feels unnecessary. This diverts attention from the central plot of Project A sometimes, which is why this film isn’t rated higher.

8

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Directed by Travis Knight

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Film in 2017, Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of Kubo, a one-eyed boy who can play his magical lute to tell stories using origami. He tells a story about his samurai father to earn money for his sick mother. He doesn’t know how his father’s life ended, but Kubo believes he passed away. Kubo eventually has to go in search of his father’s armor to ward off an evil spirit he summoned by mistake. He is accompanied by a toy monkey that comes to life and a humanoid beetle samurai.

The epic journey to recover components of the samurai’s armor turns into a trip down memory lane for Kubo. The backstory revealed could have been better paced, but that’s just a minor complaint. Kubo and the Two Strings features innovative martial arts while the humanoid beetle samurai uses classic sword fighting to protect Kubo, who in turn uses his father’s samurai armor to fight evil spirits. But the main theme Kubo and the Two Strings it’s memory – how its strength helps people find solace in the face of pain.

7

Hero (2002)

Directed by Zhang Yimou

Set during periods of war in China in the 2nd century BC Hero is an epic melodrama about three assassins, the main character named Nameless and the King of Qin. Unfolding in flashbacks, the film non-linearly offers two versions of the same story: one from Nameless’ perspective and the other from the king’s perspective. Nameless claims he killed all the assassins who tried on the king’s life. However, the king doubts Nameless and offers what he believes to be the truth.

Although there are some intense duels in Herothe film is primarily a beautifully shot poetic meditation on the theme of what makes a hero. Unlike typical wuxia films where sword fighting is highly stylized, the duels in Hero are grounded, putting an end to the unbelievable nature of standard wuxia fights. This makes the action poetic, contextualizing it through the narrative themes that torment the duelists’ minds. The beautifully vibrant setting doesn’t reflect the moral grayness of the narrative, which creates a conflict between the visuals and the themes.

6

The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)

Directed by Kenji Misumi

Although there is no epic quest, The Tale of Zatoichi winds its way to completionand therefore features many subplots that are not centered on fighting. Zatoichi, or Ichi, is a blind masseur who is secretly a master of martial arts. However, he is something of a social outcast because his position as a masseur is considered one of inferior status in feudal Japan, where The Tale of Zatoichi is defined. Even so, Zatoichi becomes involved in the local war between rival gangs because he is a renowned swordsman.

Ichi’s daily life and how his dynamics with people evolve over time take up the majority of the film’s running time. Tale of Zatoichi. In fact, the film is much more of a drama than an action film. It still feels like an adventure because Zatoichi’s exchanges with people – including the romance subplot and his friendship with an enemy – come together to form an arc of exploration for Ichi, who is by nature a wanderer. Ichi’s story is not one of adrenaline-filled fightswhich creates expectations for the fights. Of course, this also distracts from Ichi’s superior martial arts skills.

5

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

An adventure through several chambers, each representing a different facet of kung fu training, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin stands out compared to other martial arts films because it’s almost entirely a training arc. The story follows a boy who becomes involved in a local rebellion against the local government, only to find his friends and family killed and his school liquidated. He tries to avenge his friends, but is unsuccessful. Wounded during his escape, he seeks refuge in a temple, where the monks let him stay out of mercy.

Most of the film revolves around the boy’s training. The 36th Chamber of Shaolinone of the greatest martial arts films about Shaolin monks, also addresses the guarding of knowledge, as one of the boy’s motivations is to train lay people. It’s interesting that the film could have a formulaic revenge arc, but it’s a martial arts adventure. This puts it in the top half of the best films in the subgenre.although it may feel anticlimactic if viewers are expecting a final showdown.

4

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) and vol. 2(2004)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Although they were released as separate feature films Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 they are basically just a really long movie that had to be split in half due to runtime concerns. They tell the story of a woman who was a murderer and was shot on the day of her wedding rehearsal, while still pregnant, after deciding to give up the murder and settle down. Miraculously, she survived. And many years later, she wakes up from her coma. She goes on a journey to get a gun and then sets out to avenge her unborn child.

Although the overall plot is about revenge, the films cover so much ground and such a long journey for the protagonist that the story also becomes an adventure. The Kill Bill duology was inspired by many martial arts films and this shows in the elaborate sets. A bloodbath like any Tarantino film, the Kill Bill the duology doesn’t focus enough on the adventure. It’s still among the best in the subgenre, but this shortcoming puts several films above it.

3

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Directed by Ang Lee

Action film and melodrama in equal parts, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is without a doubt Michelle Yeoh’s best film. An elaborate story about a powerful sword that everyone wants to possess, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a feminist approach to the wuxia genre. Most of the film’s main characters are women, and it explores how each of them sacrificed something of personal importance for tradition. Their arcs within the film involve reconciling that sacrifice or taking a stand against the system that demands such a sacrifice.

Most stunts in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are played by the actors themselves and the only CGI used in the film is to edit the wires that held them up. With stunning cinematography and a stirring original soundtrack, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon It is a delight for the senses and also for the heart. He advances sequence after action sequence, pausing to discuss the conflict between love and duty, especially in the context of honor. These thrilling moments place it among the greatest martial arts adventure films, although there are two even more powerful.

2

The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

George Lucas says that Akira Kurosawa is The Hidden Fortress inspired Star Wars: A New Hopewhich shows how iconic he is. A relatively light-hearted film by Kurosawa standards, The Hidden Fortress is an adventure story about two brothers trying to make their fortune. However, they unwittingly become involved in a samurai general’s plan to expose his daughter to all perspectives of human life while crossing enemy territory on their way home. Toshirō Mifune as the general has some splendid fight scenesbut martial arts are not the focus of the film.

From digging graves to falsifying identities and participating in a fire ritual, the two brothers go through all sorts of experiences throughout the film, which explores how humans are affected by their environment. Although Kurosawa’s usual approach to thematic storytelling involves subtlety only in dialogue but never in symbolism, The Hidden Fortress only subtly hints at character progression the general’s daughter and two brothers. Her arcs are a masterclass in storytelling and elevate The Hidden Fortress to become one of the best in the subgenre.

1

Everything Everywhere at Once (2021)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

A unique Daniels film that won as many as seven Oscars, Everything everywhere at the same time It’s an epic story about a woman who unexpectedly connects to different parallel universes and manages to access their lives. Everything everywhere at the same timeThe true meaning of is a deeply philosophical approach to what it means to find satisfaction in life. Exploring generational trauma, queer trauma, personal dissatisfaction with unfulfilled dreams and loss of love, the film barely uses martial arts as a fighting tactic.

The grand scale and the absurd Everything everywhere at the same time set the protagonist’s adventure through parallel universes as she searches for ways to subdue the woman who threatens to destroy them all. The journey becomes emotional, confronting her with the idea of ​​her perfect lifeand making her reevaluate her decisions. Existential in every sense of the word, Everything everywhere at the same time is a masterpiece in action cinema as it uses emotional narratives to define the nature of the action in each sequence. It’s the best of martial arts adventure category.