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Martial liberal arts movies have consistently delivered amusement to audiences through their unbelievable choreography , jaw - dropping stunts , and feats of strong-arm art . Coupling these with unbelievable storytelling give you a not bad movie , but when you fuddle in some of the best performances in moving-picture show history , they really become something special . The best functioning inmartial humanities movies do n’t just come from those who can throw the best kicksor fight off the most bad guys , but come from those who turn their armed combat into true art , weaving this with the emotional complexity of their character .
Thesemartial arts movie performances transcend distinctive stunt piece of work , creating a moving-picture show that can unfeignedly be called unforgettable cinema . Each of these actors have forget an indelible bequest on the genre , each for their own unique reason . From intrepid trailblazer of on - screenland combat , to New - Clarence Day smash hit stars , these are some of the best performances , not just in warlike artistry motion picture history , but in the entirety of movie theatre .
10Hugo Weaving
The Matrix (1999)
WhileHugo Weaving starred as the villainous Agent Smith in all three film of the originalMatrixtrilogy , it is his performance in the 1999 archetype that has truly resonated with fans of warriorlike arts movies over the year . The Matrixblends a respect for traditional warriorlike arts , such as kung fu , with a sci - fi assumption like no other , and Weaving ’s performance here is truly one of the highlight . It is incredibly chilling to see Weaving take on the character of Smith , a near - perdurable agent of the Matrix , tasked with keeping ordering among the humans .
Smith is able to synthesize some truly unbelievable stuntwork with the surrealism that audiences have come to await from theMatrix , with his gravitational force - defying fighting way and emotionless demeanor generate Weaving ’s public presentation unbelievable gravitas .
Cold , count , and always menacing , Smith is one of the most iconic movie villain of all time , a status buttress by his unbelievable fight scene in The Matrix . In finicky , the concluding climactic fight in the subway between Smith and Neo ( Keanu Reeves ) has cement its office as one of the greatest fight scene in cinema account . Smith is capable to synthesize some truly incredible stuntwork with the surrealism that audience have fall to look from theMatrix , with his sombreness - defying fighting dash and emotionless demeanor generate Weaving ’s performance incredible gravitas .
9Keanu Reeves
John Wick (2014)
TheJohn Wickfranchise would be nothing if not for its titular friend , the legendary assassin Scheol - bended on revenge after some men broke into his house and killed his hound . Every motion-picture show in the dealership is full of nail - piercingly choreographed scrap scenes , with Keanu Reeves ( Wick ) delivering an incredibly stoical and gritty performance . What bring in Reeves ' performance , particularly in the first installing , so impressive , was the preparation and realism that he bring to the role .
Overall , Reeves underwent over four months of martial arts training to keep up with the fight scene , including lessons in judo , Brazilian jiu - jitsu , and tactical gun training . His vivid regimen mean thatReeves performs the bulk of his own stunts in theJohn Wickfranchise , bringing a refreshing genuineness to the martial fine art picture . reeve ' carrying out as Wick is such an iconic staple of warlike art film that it has been accredit with generalise the style of " gun - fu " fight mode , an exciting blend of on - screen piece combat with more traditional hand - to - mitt methods ( viaSlash Film ) .
8Cheng Pei-pei
Come Drink With Me (1966)
Cheng Pei - pei ’s performance as " Golden Swallow " Zheng in the 1966 wuxia flick , Come Drink With Me , has become as iconic as it was groundbreaking . Not only did it launch the calling of Cheng as an icon of future wuxia moving-picture show , but also redefined the expectations of what roles women could play in warriorlike arts movies . favorable Swallow is a skilled soldierly creative person , sent to deliver her brother from the malefic bandit , the Jade - Faced Tiger ( Chan Hung - lit ) , and her natural action scenes pave the fashion for future strong female leads in martial artwork film .
Cheng brings a refined , fluid , yet lethal fighting style to get along Drink With Me , balancing calculated strikes with a unequalled blend of swordplay . This fight elan perfectly complement the lulu of the movie itself , peculiarly the tap house fight shot , where Golden Swallow is able to off multiple foe with ease . While her choreography is not as tight - pace and intense as more modern warlike arts movies , Cheng ’s performance nevertheless continue a watershed mo in the genre , for woman especially .
7Jackie Chan
Rush Hour (1998)
While the iconic Jackie Chan had been acting in martial arts moving picture for almost 20 years , the 1998 release of the buddy - funniness martial arts movieRush Hourwas what really launched him to A - leaning status in the Western reality . Chan portrayed Chief Inspector Lee , a Hong Kong police police officer with unbelievable martial arts accomplishment , who reluctantly works alongside Detective James Carter ( Chris Tucker ) to place the kidnapped child of a diplomatist ’s daughter . Rush Hourwas the closing of everything that made Chan such an incredible martial arts actor - slapstick clowning , exciting stunts , and gymnastic fight style .
Rush Hourwas the culmination of everything that made Chan such an incredible warlike arts histrion - slapstick clowning , exciting stunt , and acrobatic fighting style .
As Lee , Chan arrange himself apart from other soldierly arts movie performances by using the surroundings to the role ’s advantage , such as the use of pool cue stick as weapons in one ofRush Hour ’s most iconic scenes . Lee is also a character who is unafraid of fault , with Chan ’s persona often getting hurt but always managing to come out on top . Chan ’s gymnastic prowess and acting maturity is on full display inRush Hour , making it one of his funniest and most iconic part of all prison term .
6Jet Li
Hero (2002)
A true fable of the martial artistry world , Jet Li is an histrion with an incredible filmography and a variety of diverse roles , but it is his Nameless role in the 2002 wuxia movieHerothat truly stand out as one of his dear . Herotells the story of Nameless as he fight to overcome three major rivals , with Li ’s eccentric push with strength and grace of God to defeat them all . The motion picture itself is a visual feast , with each fight view meticulously choreograph to suit Li ’s signature tune fight style .
Nameless is a alone character , capable to produce some of the greatest combat scenes in movie history while still deliver the worked up complexity audiences have come to wait from any Jet Li grapheme .
Nameless , aside from being one of the coolest characters in the literary genre , is able to mull over worked up intensity level alongside this incredible choreography . One of the best examples of this is the iconic courtyard fight vista against Donnie Yen ’s character , Long Sky , where Li ’s Nameless is capable to employ the surreal lack of gravity of the berth to his reward as he engages in an vivid sword scrap . Nameless is a unparalleled character , able-bodied to produce some of the great fight shot in movie historywhile still give birth the worked up complexity audiences have descend to expect from any Jet Li case .
5Donnie Yen
Ip Man (2008)
Donnie Yen ’s portrayal of the real liveliness Wing Chun soldierly creative person master , Ip Man , in the motion-picture show of the same name has been lauded as one of the most impressive line drawing in martial prowess motion picture history . InIp Man , Yen ’s titular character is specify by make a muted , dignified temperament couple with an level resolve . This combination draw Yen ’s portrait of Ip Man one of the most inspiring in martial arts movie house , particularly when this is shown alongsidethe flick ’s flawless fighting stage dancing .
hankering ’s engagement scenes are a true masterclass in involution and preciseness , accent Ip Man ’s mastery of Wing Chun , a field of martial fine art that prioritizes faithful - quarters scrap and straightaway work stoppage . Beyond the gauze-like physicality of the role , Yen is able to imbueIp Man ’s fight with a gritty and honest sense of humanity . He does n’t fight for personal aura , but to protect his house , residential district , and students , making each strike palpate like a reaffirmation of Ip Man ’s unfaltering moral compass .
4Uma Thurman
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’sKill Billmovie series is a true homage to the greatness of the soldierly arts genre , and Uma Thurman ’s personation of The Bride is what do it so particular . It is a hitch de force performance that fetch together fierce animalism , emotional intensity , and a unfeigned sense of retribution as the Bride hunts down the group of assassins that massacred her hymeneals dry run . The depth that Thurman brings to the persona is dumbfounding , and louse up the expectations out of those expecting a distinctive action movie .
One of the movie ’s most memorable vista comes when The Bride has to battle the Crazy 88 at the House of Blue Leaves . The Crazy 88 are a grouping of 88 Yakuza assassins , yet The Bride , armed with a katana , is able to take them all down with relative simplicity . Thurman ’s stunts , combined with the stage dancing of this view , has made it one of the most iconic fights in warlike arts movie story , and solidifies her performance as The Bride as a true basic of the music genre .
3Bruce Lee
Enter The Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee is a martial creative person who take no initiation . Potentially the most iconic and influential soldierly artistry movie star of all time , Lee has revolutionize generation after propagation of histrion to try and follow in his footfall , and has set the bar incredibly high for those who prove and match him . The pinnacle of his martial arts acting vocation came with the 1973 release ofEnter The Dragon , a movie free one month after Lee ’s tragic death , and is one of the most commercially and critically successful martial prowess movies ever made ( viaThe Guardian ) .
Lee ’s operation inEnter The Dragonis far more than just what viewer see on screen , but the manifestation of his entire life history .
Lee play a Shaolin master who is recruited by British intelligence to bear an espionage mission at a martial art tournament lead by a suspected drugs ' smuggler . Lee ’s performance in the celluloid is far more than just what viewers see , but the demonstration of his entire career . Physics - defying choreography and seamless combat modulation blend in with Lee ’s signature intensity and pep pill to craft a warlike humanities movie carrying into action like nothing else before or since . Enter The Dragonis Bruce Lee ’s legacy , and includes a public presentation from the histrion that continue to exalt the genre to this day .
Custome Image by Milica Djordjevic
2Michelle Yeoh
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Michelle Yeoh is potentially the most famous soldierlike creative person of the 21st centuryso far , with a career that shoot into the limelight following the release of Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon . In the picture show , Yeoh plays Yu Shu Lien , a warrior who give chase to the thief of her lover ’s sword , the Green Destiny . Yeoh manages to voyage the emotional complexity of Yu Shu Lien with the demanding animalism of the role , making her performance one of the most memorable and iconic in the history of the genre .
Yeoh manages to navigate the worked up complexity of Yu Shu Lien with the call for animalism of the role , making her carrying into action one of the most memorable and iconic in the chronicle of the musical genre .
bow Tiger , Hidden Dragon ’s fight scenes are legendary , with Yeoh ’s intricate choreography contributing greatly to this . In finicky , the swordfight between Yu Shu Lien and Jen Yu ( Zhang Ziyi ) was a watershed moment for martial prowess movies , with Yeoh ’s power to execute the intense stunt work with ease earning much congratulations from critics and audiences . Yeoh plays a character who is n’t just combat with her opponent physically , but mentally as well , with the tantrum acting as a conversation between two character with conflicting note value and desires . Yeoh ’s performance in this motion picture is apparently a masterclass in martial artistry and aroused deepness .
1Pat Morita
The Karate Kid (1984)
It is difficult to try and conceive of a soldierly arts moving picture role more iconic than Mr. Miyagi inThe Karate Kid . Pat Morita ’s fabled enactment of Daniel LaRusso ’s ( Ralph Macchio ) karate overlord transcends the bound of Eastern Orthodox warlike arts movie theater . Morita ’s operation is not just one that teaches Daniel the Okinawan fashion of karate , but is a life moral in humbleness , balance , field of study , and life itself .
From his " wax on , wax off " lesson to various other legendary quotes , Mr. Miyagi ’s sapience has become the stuff of cinematic caption , and Morita ’s depiction of the karate master is the determinate , and greatest , warriorlike art flick performance of all sentence .
What ready this functioning all the more special is that , unlike other caption of the music genre such as Bruce Lee and Michelle Yeoh , Morita was not a soldierlike artist by nature . Mr. Miyagi is not fix by his strong-arm strength and fighting volume , but by his teaching methods , his Wisdom of Solomon , and his occasional lighthearted caper . From his " wax on , wax off " lesson to various other fabled quote , Mr. Miyagi ’s wisdom has become the stuff of cinematic legend , and Morita ’s depiction of the karate master is the classic , and greatest , martial art movie public presentation of all clock time .
source : Slash Film , The Guardian .
