This is a little thread where I will try and bring some of the latest news about martial arts movies, info about some of the old-time martial arts flick that I have picked up and liked over the years, and list some obscure possibly cheap made martial arts flicks worth picking up. Any additional info, movies, and martial arts movie knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

Tony Jaa, star of "Ong Bak", a very good martial arts movie that most of you have probably seen is coming out with another American release.

In the United States this moview will be entitled "The Protector". Jaa is also going to be doing a sequel to "Ong Bak" with the obvious title, "Ong Bak 2". In this movie Jaa is supposed to be on a journey discovering the hidden secrets of martial arts.

Huge news for Bruce Lee fans in that a new movie is in the works based upon real (or at least family testimony) events, writings, etc. in Bruce Lee's life. Stephen Chow, a long time admirer and fan of Lee's is the likely lead role to play Bruce Lee in the movie. Most of the story is coming from Bruce Lee's brother, Lee Chun-Fai from his first hand accounts, Bruce Lee's own writings that have never before been released, and the families own personal stories and accounts of Lee's life. The movie has already been budgeted for 12.5 million and may start filming early next year. This will be the first movie about Bruce Lee that has the entire participation of all of Bruce's living family, not just his wife Linda.

Been doing a little digging and it appears that Jet Li's retirement from martial arts films may have been a bit premature, like many martial arts actors. Li's blockbuster new movie soon to be released entitled, "Fearless", was rumored to be Li's retirement film from the martial arts genre. However now it is rumored that Li is strongly interested in doing the upcoming film, "Shaolin Fighter". This would be a return to the style of martial arts movies in which Jet Li started his career, and probably his best movies. Li is very much a huge fan, history buff, and practicioner of the Shaolin martial arts. Tsui Hark is heavily recruiting Li for the movie and I can't help but think that martial arts movies, Li's first love, and Shaolin, his favorite style, will be too tempting an offer for him to pass up.

Here is the movie poster to Jet Li's new movie, "Fearless".

I just rewatched "Heroes" last night. Lots of fantasy stuff, but Li's moves are good.

Yeah I agree man. Have you read why Li is wanting to quit making martial arts films? Mainly it's because he is Buddhist and is concerned about all the violence and everything in martial arts film. It might sound a bit stupid since he's done so many movies, but really his old movies, before the "Americanization" were like you say, a bit outrageous, supernatural, old style kung fu movies. I think he wanted the fame and money he got from making it big in the U.S. but that he thinks that the action is a little "too real" and might promote violence. He probably reads the papers and stuff that all harp on the violence in movies, cartoons, and television (but have no problem with real wars and real death). He also is worried about a bad injury that will never be 100% that he sustained in one of his previous movies. I think he'll do quite a few more martial arts movies, especially if he gets back into the more fantasy style of martial arts. You never know with actors, they are rich and want for nothing and have plenty of free time to evaluate themselves psychologically, or even mess themselves up psychologically.

Craps, I believe "grasshopper" was Buddhist too.

I saw Hero last night....

the beauty of the scenes was amazing....nothing realistic but it was poetry in motion...

Cool thread. A sticky would be justified.

Thanks Undisputed, this could be pinned since I'm going to try and update it often.

NP. It's a thread for all the martial arts film buffs. I for one would like get recommendations on upcoming films, or films already released that are worth my while.

A Thai film entitled "Invisible Waves" will be on sale August 11th but rumor has it that thus far there aren't any English subtitles. So unless you can speak Thai this might be a problem trying to enjoy the story but at least you can still see the great action. I have heard that by the time it gets to the states more than likely we will have some subtitles or dubs.

pupy, I trained with the sticks, and when watching the flick, I could not help but put together my own theory on the word "Kali".

Kali=Cali=Caligraphy Motion in writing.

My brain hurts.

Nice thread Joey! Didn't we have one started waaaay back in the dawning of the MMA forum?

Anyway, good to hear that a NEW Shaolin style movie, possibly with Jet Li, is in the works!!! The Shaolin movies are my all-time favorties!!!

I very highly recommend Shaolin vs Ninja. One of the best ol' school flicks bar none!!!

cool man...

Jet Li's Fearless

Saw the trailer before Pirates II (which was terrible) and this movie looks amazing.

I think we did man, I was just lazy and decided to start another one. Pin this thing Heavy.

Okay, this is a straight up quote from one of the sites I go to, not my own writing but I'm lazy right now.


August 1, 2006

"Dragon Tiger Gate", the new martial arts extravaganza from director Wilson Yip and star Donnie Yen has been kicking ass at the box office, earning more than 30 million yuan across Asia since its simultaneous release on July 28th. In just three days the comic book adaptation amassed 5 million yuan in Hong Kong and 12 million yuan on the Chinese mainland. This success comes despite some lukewarm reviews from critics who complained that the film had an overly simplistic plot. Unsurprisingly, there is already talk of a sequel being planned.

"The Host", a Korean martial arts film has broken Korean Box Office records. This film was supposibly given little fanfare or hype but has went on to break box office records. This reminds me of "Bloodsport", Bloodsport didn't break any box office records but it was a low budget film with little to no premovie hype and it turned out to be a pretty damn good flick.

The new Bruce Lee movie/biography has another hot Chineese actor wanting the lead role. I already stated that director/actor Chow was being considered for the role but now Donnie Yen is rumored to be one of the lead candidates for the role. Yen is very popular right now with his role in "Dragon Tiger Gate."

Donnie Yen:

Hell yeah! Donnie Yen is the shit!!!!

That guy has some real natural talent! His mother had a career as a martial artist making movies, and he learned a lot from her. That's what makes his style so nice, IMO anyway.

This would be phenominal if Yen gets that part!!!

Still a great thread.

I won't update this much (probably) over the weekend. My second son will be born about 6 to 8 hours from now and with a c-section my wife will be in the hospital until monday afternoon. I will say I bought a very cool martial art flick at Wal-Mart yesterday, in the new releases. I haven't wathced it all yet but the box just showed some cool looking shit and I had to grab it. After about 15-minutes I knew it was a movie I'd like but I have to get to bed, it's really good, it's called "Death Trance" and it was in the new release section in the DVD's at Wal-Mart. It was $11 and change.

Congrats Joey I am really happy for you.

Thanks Heavy, I just got done feeding the little shit. It was hard because I was shaking watching the Karo/Diego fight and having a gut feeling that Karo would lose a close fight no matter what, ah, it happened. But anyways, back on topic, more Martial Art movie news:

I guess you guys got plenty of info on one of my updates I did here several weeks ago, about the upcoming new Tony Ja movie that was announced about a kabillion times during "Ultimage Fight Night" tonight. So be sure and grab a copy of this, especially if you liked "Ong Bak".

"The Korean film "Don't Look Back" has won the International Federation of Film Critics award and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema awards at the 59th Locarno International Film Festival which recently took place in Switzerland. The achievement is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the film is actually the debut feature from director Kim Young-nam, having previously worked as an assistant on the likes of "Woman is the Future of Man". The film is an introspective melodrama which follows the lives of three different people in present day Korea, and has now been invited to a number of other international festivals across the world in countries such as Japan, Belgium, Greece, Germany, India and Argentina." source: KOFIC

this thread:

pin it lads

I'm not much of a scholar of the genre, and haven't watched any of the Chinese productions in years. But a film that's interesting more for its philosophical content than the verisimilitude of the fight choreography is Circle of Iron, also released as The Silent Flute. It was derived from a story idea originally proposed by Bruce Lee, but his efforts to film it never worked out. After his death, David Carradine, James Coburn, Stirling Silliphant, and Stanley Mann worked it into a screenplay, and shot the film in Israel in 1978.

It's late, and I don't want to bore everyone with more detail than would make sense to you anyway if you haven't seen it, but if anyone does elect to watch it (a commemorative edition DVD was released not long ago), I'd be glad to discuss it with you indefinitely.

It's a terribly flawed film and contains more cheese than the State of Wisconsin, and there are reasons for why it turned out that way, but yet--there's this commemorative edition. If anyone gets really interested, I'll post a copy of the plot outline and analysis I wrote in 1978, long before any critical commentary had been published, and long before the commemorative DVD.

Bump! Nobody's seen Circle of Iron/The Silent Flute? The flute alluded to in the title reappears years hence in an unrelated Carradine movie, Kill Bill I & II. Trash doesn't get much more appealing than this. Virtually all the extras are Israeli locals, and all the key shots are shot at genuine archeological sites. So when the killing goes down, it's going down in venues where hundreds, even thousands have been killed before through history, though the film doesn't acknwoledge that.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078975/

Damn, I'm sure I've seen this but for the life of me I can't remember any details. I wonder if Netflix has this to rent? I got me a good DVD recorder now and I'm renting Kung Fu stuff out the wazoo and improving on my already outrageous collection. Thanks for the write up on this by the way, give us more.

Here's an outline that I've used in classes that should provide at least rudimentary details. Again, this is not the greatest martial arts film from a technical standpoint. I'm a more accomplished martial artist than anyone in the film except the fight choregrapher/resident master, Kam Yuen, so I know for certain how bad most of the action is:


EDAC 299X
EXPERIMENTAL/DEVELOPMENTAL
TOPICS IN ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
FILM STUDY GUIDE
CIRCLE OF IRON/THE SILENT FLUTE
The Blind Man
Monkeyman
Death
Changsha …………………………………..David Carradine
Cord ………………………………………...Jeff Cooper
Zetan ……………………………………….Christopher Lee
White Robe …………………………………Roddy MacDowell
Man-in-Oil …………………………………Eli Wallach
Morthond …………………………………..Anthony de Longis
Black Giant ………………………………..Earl Maynard
Tara ………………………………………..Erica Creer
SYNOPSIS
Episode 1 – The Competition. Competitors are eliminated down to Cord and Morthond. Cord is disqualified for hitting Morthond while he is down; Morthond is awarded the medallion and the right to seek Zetan and the Book of Enlightenment; and Cord argues with White Robe, who criticizes him for his non-conformity, rule violations, and lack of self-control and forbids him to seek Zetan.
Episode 2 – Street Scene et seq.. Cord awakens from a nap by the roadside and sees the Blind Man for the first time. He then follows Morthond out of the city gate as he departs on his quest for enlightenment. Morthond breaks his vow of silence to argue with Cord, who now refuses to fight because “It serves no purpose.”
Episode 3 – The Ruins. The Blind Man passes Cord and Morthond by the roadside, enters the ruins, and is attacked by multiple armed bandits. Cord responds to the sounds of battle by entering the ruins to investigate; Morthond uses the opportunity to elude Cord and continue his quest. Cord sees the Blind Man defeat the several bandits and intercedes himself to kill one who attempts to throw a bladed weapon at the Blind Man, but in the instant Cord’s attention is focused on killing the bandit, the Blind Man disappears.
Episode 4 – The Sandstone Grotto. Cord follows the sound of the Blind Man’s flute to a massive sandstone grotto. When he inquires whether the Blind Man is Zetan, the Blind Man replies, “Whatever you think I am, or want me to be, I am.” When Cord asks him to be his teacher, he answers, “Tie two birds together, and though they have four wings, they cannot fly.”
Episode 5 – The Monkey. Cord and the Blind Man encounter a monkey on the road. The monkey tries to circle the Blind Man but he does not allow it. The monkey leaves in frustration, and the Blind Man explains the personality and tactics of the monkey to Cord: “The way of the monkey is to play the fool. While you laugh at his antics, he bites you from behind. Unmask his ego and you expose a coward, disguised as a monkey.” But when he criticizes Cord for talking too much and listening too little, Cord rejects the lesson as having no value, and the Blind Man disappears again.
Episode 6 – The Death of Morthond; the Monkeyman’s Lair (the First Trial). Cord sees Morthond stumble blind from the mouth of a cave. Morthond’s eyes have been torn out by a monkey. He gives Cord the medallion, asks him to assist him to “die with honor,” and Cord complies. Cord then enters the cave to face the First Trial.
In the main chamber of the cave, Cord witnesses a battle between the monkey leader (Monkeyman), armed with a single-headed spear, and a Chinese seeker, armed with a three-sectional staff. The troop of monkey spectators work themselves into a frenzy of howling and screeching, beating the stone floor with sticks and mimicking their leader. Monkeyman disarms the seeker, throws his own weapon aside, and kills the seeker in a weaponless fight. He takes the seeker’s medallion as a trophy and struts boastfully around the chamber.
Monkeyman confronts Cord with a series of questions about his identity, purpose, and affiliations (questions designed to extract information from Cord that can be used to defeat him), and suggests that unless Cord came to beg, he will get nothing from him. Cord states his identity and purpose, but nothing more. Monkeyman ridicules him for his non-conformity, much as White Robe had done in Episode 1. The spectators continue to howl in response to their leader’s sarcastic remarks.
Monkeyman advises Cord to go in peace. Cord refuses, but says he would rather not fight. Monkeyman tells him there is no other way, a fight ensues, and after breaking his confidence and planting doubt in the minds of Monkeyman's supporters, Cord reduces him to a coward in retreat. Having lost, Monkeyman must tell Cord the direction to Zetan, and offers a cryptic clue about the nature and identity of the Second Trial: “Look for a rose.”
Monkeyman admits Cord is the first to pass him, but says, “other seekers have other trials.” Cord ridicules him for his arrogance and ineptitude and leaves the cave in triumph.
Episode 7 – The Man in Oil. In the desert, Cord encounters a man standing in a barrel of oil. He offers to help him get out, but the man reports that he filled the barrel and got in it himself ten years earlier in an effort to “rid myself of the bottom half of me.” He claims that all his efforts to find enlightenment had been thwarted by his sexual impulses, and encourages Cord to give up his quest and join him in the barrel. He laughs at Cord’s vow of chastity, informs him that he won’t keep it, and urges him to castrate himself “before it’s too late.” Cord leaves him there.
Episode 8 – The Camp of Changsha (the Second Trial). Fireworks and music attract Cord to a desert camp in the night. He finds an orgiastic celebration in progress and is greeted by a warrior prince who offers him water. He sees a beautiful woman with a ruby rose on her veil. The warrior prince and his party then enter a tent, followed by the Black Giant (a seeker). Cord follows.
The prince offers Cord food and drink, and when Cord in turn wishes him “peace,” laughs at the idea, stating that the whole world is in commotion, that he neither knows what peace is nor wants it. He introduces himself as Changsha, and says it is his wish “to provide everything that is needed.” When he sees Cord’s obvious interest in the girl with the rose (Changsha’s ninth wife, Tara), he gives her to Cord. When Cord protests that he has taken a vow of chastity, Changsha laughs knowingly—it is clear he has no confidence in Cord’s will to withstand the temptation.
Black Giant challenges Changsha, they all adjourn to the center of the camp, and the men battle as the revelers work themselves into a frenzy of strongly sexual excitement in response to the violence. Changsha delights in killing Black Giant, takes his medallion, then lectures his corpse: “That knowledge, that gift, which is what you really wanted from me, you have it now.” When Cord asks when he can fight Changsha, Changsha laughs, “After we sleep, my boy.”
Tara, sent by Changsha, comes to Cord’s tent. She persuades him to bathe and sleep with her despite his vow of chastity. His attitude comes full circle, and he asks her to stay with him forever. She agrees, but insists they sleep first. When Cord awakes, the camp is gone and Tara has been crucified. He leaves in anguish, vowing revenge against Changsha.
Episode 9 – The Meeting with Death. Cord camps alone near some ruins and is awakened by a terrifying voice that refuses to identify itself, saying only that it is “Stronger than Zetan.”
“Death,” says Cord. “I know you. Why are you so ugly? Or do you wear a different face for every man?”
Cord throws down his staff. “Should I go to my knees?” he asks. “Are you waiting for fear to freeze my heart before you carve it out? Come any time, welcome guest.”
Death retreats when it cannot provoke or intimidate Cord.
Episode 10 – The Fourth Encounter with the Blind Man. The Blind Man catches Cord at the river attempting to “step twice on the same piece of water,” and tells him it can’t be done. They go through a logical discourse in which the Blind Man tells Cord that the method of his teaching (i.e., not giving Cord a precise answer to every question but, rather, suggesting ways for Cord to learn the answers himself) would result in his enlightenment.
The Blind Man asks about the Second Trial, and Cord relates the events to him. Cord recognizes that in trying to possess Tara, he destroyed her. The Blind Man tells him, “Each moment that passes changes you. You do not—cannot—possess even yourself. How can you hope to possess anyone or anything else?”
Cord asks the Blind Man again to be his teacher, and the Blind Man consents, on the conditions that Cord be patient and not make judgments about anything he sees and not ask questions until he, the Blind Man, decides to give an answer. Cord agrees. They then experience several encounters with different groups of people, at the conclusion of which Cord again rejects the Blind Man’s teaching, though he learns at last why the teacher seems to know everything wherever they go: He has been there before.
Episode 11 – The Second Encounter with Changsha. Cord enters Changsha’s camp and is immediately recognized by the prince, who first identifies him as “the very same Cord,” but then reverses his observation: “No, not the same Cord.” Cord asks the way to Zetan and is challenged by Changsha. When Cord says he would rather not fight unless he has to, Changsha attempts to appeal to his anger over Tara’s crucifixion. But Cord accepts personal responsibility for her death. Changsha feigns recognizition that he has perhaps really changed, and offers him friendship, inviting him to stay with him in a world where “the sun will never rise or set.” When Cord rejects the offer, Changsha attempts to schedule their fight for daybreak along the beach. Cord insists that it take place immediately, the spectators assemble to dance, and the two fight to a stalemate. Changsha then informs Cord he is “the Chosen,” and directs him across the water to the island of Zetan.
Episode 12 – The Meeting with Zetan. Cord meets Zetan, who congratulates him and makes overtures for friendship. Cord, conditioned by the trials, remains wary and defensive. When Cord asks when they fight, Zetan laughs and offers to rehearse him in the ceremony whereby he will become the Keeper of the Book. Cord accompanies him to the terrace, samples the Seat of Harmony (the Keeper’s throne), and Zetan tries to persuade him to accept the duty of Keeper without looking at the Book, as he himself had done in his youth. Cord insists upon seeing the Book, however, and it is brought to him. Each page is a mirror in the form of the Asian yin/yang symbol (a “Circle of Iron”). Zetan tells Cord there is no enlightenment beyond knowledge of self and begs Cord to “release” him. Cord laughs, and leaves.
Episode 13 – The Fifth Encounter with the Blind Man. Cord returns from Zetan’s island, meets the Blind Man on a mountaintop, and is accepted as an equal.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Following are several questions pertaining to the film viewed in class, Circle of Iron. You may respond to any one of them, provided you generate a minimum of three (3) double-spaced pages of written criticism. You will not be graded on grammar, spelling, or style. Your grade will be based on two criteria only: 1) how thoughtful and complete an answer you provide to the questions asked; and 2) how well you support your generalizations with evidence in the form of specific details.

1. The prologue of the film states, among other things, that the story is set “in a land that never was but always is.” From this we can infer it was the authors’ intent to present universal truths about human existence, i.e., truths that are valid for all people in all places and times. Can you think of corresponding struggles or learning experiences from your own personal experience or your observations of others? If so, what learning or change occurred as a result? (Be certain to relate personal experience directly to things in the film; i.e., draw specific correlations to the film, item by item.)
2. Cord endures several severe trials in his quest for enlightenment, and his performance and behavior in response to them are not always perfect. Indeed, one could argue that the first trial actually occurred at the competition in the opening scene, and that Cord failed by reason of his cheating. Do you think that even though Cord started out by making mistakes and continued to make them throughout the story, he nevertheless deserved to be “the Chosen”? If so, list the mistakes at each trial, the learning that occurred as a result of these errors, and tell why Cord’s character changed sufficiently to render him worthy of “enlightenment.”
3. In their first conversation, the Blind Man responds to Cord’s worshipful comments by telling him “My skills are not there to impress you.” This establishes at the beginning of the teacher/student relationship that the teacher refuses to be an object of worship. In all their subsequent encounters except the last, they go through a process in which Cord attempts to worship the teacher (often evaluating himself unfavorably in comparison), then becomes dependent upon him for concrete answers to each question posed, but finally balks at the Blind Man’s criticism of his impatience, “blindness,” and habit of talking, rather than listening, particularly “to that which has not been spoken.” A) Do you think the Blind Man criticizes Cord because he doesn’t like or respect him, or is there evidence that he both likes and respects him? Was it the Blind Man’s intent to keep Cord subservient and inferior to him, or to genuinely educate him into becoming his equal by forcing him to grapple with problems that would empower him through experience? And C) Do you agree with the Blind Man’s method, or would you propose a better one? Explain.
4. Changsha and the Man in Oil can be viewed as two extremes on the issue of sexual conduct. Changsha is a prime example of the Oriental prince or chieftain who maintains a harem, pursues pleasure at will, and delights in providing it to others (though he knows it may be destructive to them.) The Man in Oil, on the other hand, is so overwhelmed by the way his sexual impulses have dictated the course of his life that he resorts to an extreme effort at self-castration by slow torture in order to free himself. Whose approach does Cord’s seem to resemble before the episode with Tara? What about after? 5. Changsha’s role in Cord’s quest is complex in that he seems comprised of contradictions. He offers Cord food, drink, and pleasure, yet clearly delights in killing the Black Giant, whom he initially welcomes as cordially as he does Cord. He later crucifies Tara with no apparent remorse, and even after Cord substantially convinces him that he is “not the same Cord,” Changsha continues to try to deceive Cord in numerous ways to keep him from completing the quest and attaining enlightenment. (Indeed, it could be inferred that Changsha would, if possible, kill Cord by deception rather than allow him to pass.) Yet after they fight, all efforts at deception cease and they become friends. Why? Is Changsha truly evil, or does his capacity for evil emanate from Cord? Would the Blind Man’s statement in the initial conversation with Cord—“Whatever you think I am, or want me to be, I am”—help to explain this?
6. Assume that the opening competition is actually the first trial. Compare this scene and all its participants—leaders and followers—with the scenes at the Monkeyman’s Lair, Changsha’s camp, and the island of Zetan. Do the efforts to deceive ever cease? Do all of the leaders derive their power from the frenzied adoration of their followers? Are White Robe, Changsha, and Zetan merely more sophisticated manifestations of the Monkeyman (“While you laugh at his antics, he bites you from behind”), susceptible to the same tactics (“Unmask his ego, and you expose a coward”)? If so, how do Cord and the Blind Man differ from them?
7. This film presents a view of human existence and the nature of learning much different from what many of us may believe: A human being is a process, rather than a static entity; knowledge is acquired only by patience and experience, and even then is a fleeting thing that never reaches a plateau during one’s lifetime (note Changsha’s commentary on knowledge in addressing the Black Giant in death); peace and harmony are consistently rejected as being analogous to death; change, struggle, self-awareness and awareness of others, patience, and experience are the routes to a very personal knowledge that, again, does not culminate in any state of “enlightenment” during one’s life. Do you agree with this assessment of the human experience?

As for Netflix as a provider, you could try looking it up under either title, Circle of Iron or The Silent Flute. If it's not available there, a simple internet search of the title will find you a provider. The comemmorative edition is good, because there's lots of commentary on why one thing or another worked well or bombed out.

Let me know if you can't find this anywhere, Joey, and I'll get it to you in DVD or VHS.

Friggen kick ass writeup Coonan. I put in a bid on one on Ebay.

Huge martial arts movie project that may soon be in the works, with such names as Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and director Peter Jackson, check out this article.

Peter Jackson sought for Chan-Li project

Written by Mark Pollard
Monday, 14 August 2006


China-based newspaper Star Daily reports that Peter Jackson is being sought as director for an upcoming Jackie Chan-Jet Li movie project. According to Monkeypeaches, the news source cites an anonymous insider for the tip. Jet Li has also reportedly been offered $9 million for his participation.
In an earlier posting, Monkeypeaches also cited The Beijing News for carrying an article on a likely story for the Chan-Li project. It appears to be inspired by China's classic fable Journey to the West. In a twist on the original story, screenwriter John Fusco (Hildago) has a teenage boy in present-day New York with a passion for kung fu movies whisked away to ancient China after picking up a magic cudgel from a pawnshop owner. The cudgel belongs to the Monkey King and in an effort to find a way home the boy searches for the imprisoned anti-hero to free him from his long confinement at the hands of the God of the Heavens. In doing so, the boy learns about the true meaning of kung fu and the redeemed Monkey King is free to go on his epic journey after helping his rescuer to get back to his own time.

The current rumor is that Li will play the Monkey King himself while Chan will play “Lan Caihe,” one of the Eight Immortals who aids the boy in his quest.

The film is reportedly being jointly produced on both sides of the Pacific by Casey Silver Productions, Relativity Media and Shanghai Film Studios. Bill Badalato (Around the World in 80 Days) is attached as one of the producers.

A time-traveling Journey to the West screen adaptation isn’t a new idea. In 1995, Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) played a reincarnation of the Monkey King who, having stepped out of time in present day Hong Kong, reluctantly goes back to fulfill his destiny in the entertaining two-part, comedy adventure series A Chinese Odyssey. Six years later Russell Wong (Romeo Must Die) starred as the Monkey King along with Bai Ling in The Lost Empire, a poorly-received network TV movie that followed an American journalist’s trip through time where he frees the Monkey King and fights by his side.

Jackie Chan is presently promoting his latest completed film, Rob-B-Hood, an action comedy scheduled for release in Asia in September. The action star is also getting ready to step into a third Rush Hour movie with returning co-star Chris Tucker.

Jet Li is just as busy with the U.S. release of his Huo Yuanjia kung fu biopic Fearless coming to theaters Sept. 22nd and his next feature, Rogue, already in post-production and slated for release in 2007.

Source: Monkeypeaches.com, Yahoo! Movies

Last Updated ( Friday, 25 August 2006 )

Thanks, Joey. Like I said, the film has a lot of shortcomings, but some powerful redeeming factors. Most of the problems are the result of different stakeholders with different agendas having creative control of the product at different stages of production. Some of the musical score is great, while other parts suck; some of the editing is perfect, while other sequences are perfect trash; and of course you can't help wondering how much better the film might have been if Lee himself were alive and had played the roles of the Blind Man, Monkeyman, Changsha, and Death.

So much is missed out of that era by Bruce's death, so many more movies he could have made. Bolo made movies way up 'til the late 90's, and Lee would probably still be in great shape.

I know the story about this, watching many of these movies based on the Monkey King as a kid. This is FUCKEN Awesome!!

Cool SW20, whenever you want give us any info you have about it.

"Fearless" starring Jet Li in possibly his last martial arts role, GREAT MOVIE.

I finally got to go see this flick and I wasn't disappointed. Very good story with a true martial arts movie legend, great story setting, and awesome fight choreography rank this movie as one of my all time favorite Li films. I'm tired at the moment but maybe I'll go into more ellaborate detail in a review later on.

"Undisputed 2", a new movie replacing the Wesley Snipes/Ving Rhames boxing movie will be more of a mixed martial arts themed movie. Michael Jai White will star along with Scott Adkins. White will be playing the part of "Iceman" Chambers, taking over the same character that Ving Rhames played in the first movie. In this movie Chambers is in trouble with the law again, imprisoned on trumped up drug charges in a Russian prison. So this is basically the exact same story, but with more of a eastern martial arts tone to it. Obviously the story is going to be unoriginal at this point but White is a really talented martial artist and the fight scenes should be good at the worst. Michael Jai White is one of those actors who is vastly underused in Hollywood and it is a damn shame he's not offered more roles than what he gets.

I should probably see more of his movies. He came along at a time when I was getting burned out on martial arts, so I didn't pay him much attention. Likewise with Jackie Chan. They're unquestionably proficient, technically, but the protracted comic fight scenes in Chan's movies and the excessive reliance on special effects in Li's kind of put me off.

What do you think of Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Joey? I never saw it until a week or two ago on cable, and haven't read up on it, but thought Ichi was a great, if somewhat unbelievable and fantastic, hero figure.

I love Jet Li's movies but many hate his old stuff because it's more classical Chineese (supernatural) martial arts. If you haven't watched "The Once Upon A Time In China" series, then try to watch 'em soon. "Fists of Legend" was great, or I thought so, and "The Shaolin Temple" is THE classic Jet Li movie. Another good one, from the 90's of Li's is "Swordsman 2".

I really liked Zatoichi. I've seen a couple of them, maybe 1&2, unless it was the same actor in 2 different movies. Ichi is friggen cool, first time I saw it I thought, "now this is some crazy sh*t". My wife still thinks it's the absolute stupidest movie of all time but I think it is so different it's great.

I got that movie on DVD in perfect quality but its in chinese so I have to use english subtitles. But I don't mind. It was released out there last year so my friend has had this movie on DVD for months and months.

Jet Li was the shit in Unleashed "get em danny"

That last Zatoichi with the sister and lil brother thing was great. Real Bushido stuff.

I was a bit impressed with the final dance sequence.

Do you have the title, Simba? Having seen one, I'm interested in the others now. A yakuza hero puts me in mind of the old Maverick TV series. The idea of a blind warrior is appealing too, not because it's particularly believable, but simply because it's a perfect means of demonstrating the blindness of the sighted.

They're all called, Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman, but with different storylines. I think one the originals was protrayed by Toshiro Mifune, but there may be a couple of older ones filmed in Japan in the 50's or 60 's.

In regards to "blindness of the sighted", many who are training in today's martial arts, are missing the boat when it comes to focus, reflex, and 360 awareness.

is Bruce Lee

Yes, Bruce is Lee.

is he a chinese mestizo?

is he in the movie?

Netflicks is the shit man, they have lots of old kung fu movies. I have
Zaitochi The Blind Swordsman" vs. "The One Armed Swordsman" on it's way in the mail as we speak.