The Magnificent Butcher (Lam Sai-Wing, 1979)

Hello all you fans of the martial arts movie genre! Hai!Karate returns with a new film for you to check out, and this one ranks among one of the best and the most entertaining of the lot - The Magnificent Butcher starring the great Sammo Hung!!! Also making an appearance is the legendary Kwan Tak Hing, as well as Yuen Biao, Lam Ching-Ying and Fan Mei-Sheng in this Golden Harvest feature. At the director's chair is the great Yuen Woo-Ping. There's some backstory to this feature, but we'll get to that shortly...

The Magnificent Butcher opens on a market scene as these flicks often tend to do. We come upon Butcher Wing(Hung) who manages to get into some hijinks as he makes his way throughout the market. But one of those episodes lands him in hot water with Master Ko Tan Bin(Lee Hoi-Sang) and his disciples. Master Ko, who is quick to anger, decides that this will be the chance he needs to give Master Wong Fei Hung(Tak Hing) his comeuppance. And there lies one of the most renowned scenes in kung fu movie history - Ko and Fei Hung's battle through a lesson in the "gentle" art of calligraphy.

Ko informs Wong Fei Hung of Butcher Wing's error and Wing is promptly punished as the master heads out of town on a trip to buy medicinal herbs. Meanwhile, a man by the name of Lam Sai Kwong(Chiang Kam) arrives in town with his wife Cheung Yuet Mai(Tong Ching) to look for his long-lost brother. Yuet Mai catches the eye of Tai Hoi(Fung Hak-On), the scurvy son of Master Ko. He hatches a plot and kidnaps Yuet Mai. Around this same time, Beggar So rambles into town - and I do mean ramble, as he falls out of a rickshaw. He happens upon a despondent Sai Kwong and promises to help him get his wife back. This soon leads to a run-in with Wing and Tai Hoi, who had deceived So into thinking Wing was the kidnapper. They wind up fighting - So giving Wing the business - and the truth is then revealed.

The brothers are reunited, and set out to get Yuet Mai back. But in the process, they unknowingly rescue someone else who Master Ko cherishes and set about a course of events that involve blackmail, murder and a eventual showdown between Butcher Wing and Master Ko. One that promises to be jam-packed with action!

The Magnificent Butcher is striking as a movie overall but can tend to be slightly plodding in some of the scenes. It's a real comedic vehicle and one that would lead to Sammo Hung gaining superstar power in Hong Kong cinema - and also spawn a few movies centering on his weight as a selling point. You do get a good grasp of his fighting prowess in the film in a comedic sense as well as the fight scenes thanks to good collaboration between he and Yuen Woo-Ping, especially the acrobatic elements. Now, I mentioned the fight scene between Wong Fei Hung and Master Ko. That scene pops so much because you have to take into account that Kwan Tak Hing was in his 70's and performed most of this scene without a stunt double. It was one of a handful of movies he did for the Golden Harvest studios, such as The Skyhawk which was reviewed here.That's not to say Lee Hoi-San was a slouch. He brings all of his skill to the foray from a lengthy career that saw him in various supporting roles including a highly visible stint at the Shaw Brothers Studios.(Side note - he originally was set to play a minor comedic role but in the second revision of the script, he was entrusted to play Master Ko.)

You may have noticed Beggar So is played by a different actor. Sadly, the man that made the role famous, Simon Yuen passed away right before production began. That prompted a script rewrite as well as re-casting, which brought veteran Fan Mei-Sheng into the picture. It adds another bit of fun to the film even though it must've been hard for Woo-Ping to see being that this was his father's famous role. Also in The Magnificent Butcher are decent turns by Yuen Biao and Wei Pak, formerly one of the Five Deadly Venoms. They get a bit of shine but not too much. This is strictly a Sammo Hung vehicle. All in all, you'll get a kick out of seeing The Magnificent Butcher. It's not a major must-see, but it's one all fans of the genre should peep.The DVD is widely available, and it is on YouTube. Bit of advice - look for the original version if you can if you want to avoid some bad voiceover work.

RATING: 3.5. OUT OF 5 DRAGON PUNCHES

Yagyu Secret Scrolls aka Ninjitsu Part 1 (Yagyu Bugeicho, 1957)

Hello to all you fans of the martial arts movie world and others!! Hai!Karate comes back with a new review for you, a flick that caught my eye about 5 years ago. That movie comes from the great Toho Studios of Japan, known as Yagyu Secret Scrolls aka Yagyu Bugeicho!! (It's also known as Ninjitsu, which leads to some slight confusion. More on that later.) Released in 1957, this film features a powerhouse cast led by none other than the iconic Toshiro Mifune. Also starring Koji Tsuruta and Mariko Okada, this film is directed by the great Hiroshi Inagaki. The movie is remarkable for a number of reasons, mainly the face that we see Toshiro Mifune AS A NINJA folks. Mind. Blown. So let's get down to the nitty gritty on this picture...

Yagyu Secret Scrolls begins out in a plain with the looming sight of Mt. Fujiyama in the background. We see a samurai striding through cautiously before being attacked by another wearing a ronin-gasa who dispatches him easily. A woman and a young boy look on and prepare to join in but are stopped by a ninja in a tree who turns out to be Tasaburo(Mifune) who is in awe of the swordsman. His awe is justified as the man is actually Jubei Yagyu of the Yagyu swordmaster clan of the Tokugawa regime. After a brief confrontation, Tasaburo escapes in a burst of purple smoke. In the next few scenes, it is revealed that the "Martial Chronicles" are in danger. These three documents, held by three separate entities hold a vast array of information that could topple the empire and the Yagyus with it. One man, Fugetsu Yamada, wants the Chronicles to expose the Yagyus and save the nation from their machinations. Enter Tasaburo and his brother, Senshiro(Tsuruta) to execute the mission on his behalf to get the scrolls by any means.

From that point on, we are treated to a flurry of activity where each ninja goes on their mission -and wind up being involved with women that pose a bit of a risk to their goals and wind up putting them into conflict with each other. In Senshiro's case, he winds up being assigned to infiltrate the Yagyus, and Tasaburo gets to contact Princess Oki(Kyoko Kagawa).The two wind up in conflict, with Senshiro being opposed to Tasaburo's growing romance with the princess, choosing to focus on duty more. By the end though, both men have their eyes squarely set on the scrolls - and Jubei Yagyu.

(photo credit: Vintage Ninja)

Like I said before, Yagyu Secret Scrolls is an intriguing film. Seeing one of the most recognizable actors in Japanese film history as a ninja is slightly surprising, but is not totally unexpected. Mifune's martial skill was quite impressive throughout his career, thanks to the training he received from Yoshio Sugino, a master of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū which is one of the oldest forms of Japanese martial arts dating back to 1480 by some accounts. By studying this form, Mifune had more than enough knowledge to look the part. By this time he had already become well known in Japan for portraying samurai or ronin especially in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy where he played Miyamoto Musashi and Koji Tsuruta played his rival, Sasaki Kojiro. Mifune as Tasaburo brings all of the gruff charm you expect from the actor, with a little bit of tenderness as well. Tsuruta as Senshiro does display some cool and calculating moments here, and to see him and Mifune interact brings a stronger buttress to the film's plot. As for the ladies... well, the unfortunate part is that their characters are merely foils for the plot to move along. Princess Oki is confident but we see her being whittled down. Mariko Okada, who is highly regarded, is striking in her role but winds up taking a backseat to the action as well. I guess it was par for the course in those days with Inagaki.

A little earlier, I had touched upon the point of the film's title. The reason for that is, there's another film that was released that same year, by Toei Studios with the title of Ninjutsu Gozen-Jiai: Torawakamaru, The Koga Ninja. Toho may have wanted to avoid some confusion, hence the name of their films. That aside, Yagyu Secret Scrolls stands out because of the painstaking details with regards to the ninja. You see a great deal of their weaponry on display from the difference of shurikens to Tasaburo and Senshiro's different garb depending on the situation. Inagaki's film style also calls for a number of duels, and true to form, each is set up to provide some thrilling action. A tip of the hat goes to Jotaro Togami for his steely and ruthless portrayal of Jubei Yagyu, who comes off very Vader-like in his scenes. Overall, the film moves swiftly and packs a lot in without sacrificing too much. It's plain to see why Toho scrambled to make a sequel.(I'll get to that in the review for the next film.) For those who like their ninja action with a little less hokiness, Yagyu Secret Scrolls does the trick. You can grab a remastered DVD from the fine sites of Kurotokagi and JapaneseSamuraiDVD.

RATING: 3.5 OF 5 DRAGON PUNCHES

Dirty Ho (Laan Tau Ho), 1979

Welcome back, martial arts movie lovers! Today, I'm happy to jot down some words in praise of one of the best kung-fu comedies ever put together, from the Shaw Brothers Studios, Dirty Ho!!! Now I know the title alone is bound to make you collapse into some giggles a la Beavis & Butthead or make you think of an ODB refrain from his first album, but Dirty Ho is actually a loose translation from Cantonese. The more accurate title is "rotten head Ho" but that doesn't exactly move audiences into the theaters, does it? Anyway, let's dig deeper into this classic starring Gordon Liu, Wong Yue and Kara Hui, directed by the great Lau Kar Leung!!

Dirty Ho starts out with a highly entertaining opening credits scene introducing the two protagonists, Ho Chi(Yue) and Master Wang(Liu)displaying some excellent martial skills in back to back scenes. From there, the movie jumps to open in an opulent brothel in Canton. Master Wang is surrounded by a bevy of lovely courtesans, listening to music and drinking wine. He asks the madam about a special room for the night, allowing for the jump cut to show Ho Chi irate about being snubbed for the room. A back and forth ensues with both men trying to get the attention of all the women by showing off their jewelry - only thing is, Ho Chi is a notorious jewel thief. Their first encounter and the two that follow are all extremely hilarious and all end with Ho Chi somehow getting bested by the clumsiness of Master wang. Or so it seems...

Ho Chi finds Master Wang at the brothel again, after finding out that Wang took his rather large box of stolen jewelry and donated it to charity. He goes in to snuff Wang once and for all, even if he is in the presence of Tsui Hung(Kara Hui) who is innocently playing the lute. What happens next is another fisticuff-laden feast for the eyes as Ho Chi is thwarted by Tsui Hung - but it's actually Master Wang who beats Ho back by using her as a shield. In the aftermath, Ho Chi runs away once the authorities are called, but suffers a nasty cut on his head that grows worse by the day no matter how many patches of medicine he puts on it. He seeks out Master Wang who reveals that he gave Ho Ching the cut and wants him to be his disciple to keep him out of trouble. In turn, he'll give Ho the antidote over time. Ho Ching begrudgingly agrees to the deal. But both men are in for a hard road, because the other secret that Wang has been hiding is that he's really the 11th Prince of the ruling Manchu Empire, and that someone wants him dead enough to enlist the help of General Liang Jing Chieng, played by the legendary Lo Lieh! Through intricate plots and fights, Prince Eleven aka Master Wang trains Ho Ching in the fine arts of fighting well and being a gentleman - but can they both make it back to the palace in Peking in time for the Emperor's birthday so he won't get into trouble and most importantly, stay alive?

Let's make it plain - Dirty Ho is one of the best films of the genre ever made. I don't say that lightly. One has to consider all of the elements of this movie. First, this film was made during the time where Lau Kar Leung was at the top of his game in direction and fight coordination. Gordon Liu was THE star of the studios, just another role removed from the film that would forever immortalize him as the "Master Killer", Priest San Te in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin in 1978. Wong Yue was fast becoming a favorite of the studio as well, building off a steady stream of roles that showcased his innate comedic timing and fighting skill, most notably in The Spiritual Boxer. He and Liu had worked in a few films prior to this one, and their natural ease with each other shines throughout the picture. From the opening scene in the brothel, both men will have you in stitches. One prime example comes in the second scene where Ho Ching tries to get his merch back from Wang, only to run into a gang of disabled thieves known as the "Handicapped Devils". The one-liners are incredible:

Ho Ching: How come you use both arms?!

One Armed Handicapped Devil: I have to exercise both of them!

Ho Ching: You'll ruin your image!!

A good deal of Dirty Ho is the intertwining of witty slapstick with some elegant and spectacular martial arts. Yue's charming and precocious acting ability serves him very well here as "Dirty" Ho Ching, a thief who's nature inspires Prince 11 to take him under his wing. As Prince Wang, Gordon Liu keenly walks the line between being an effete jewelry merchant who loves wine and antiques and being someone who feels trapped by his lineage. In this way, he bonds with Ho Ching because he feels that he too is trapped in being someone he doesn't want to be. Their dialogue lays fine groundwork for the movie and some remarkable scenes. First, lets get back to the scene with Tsui Hung. Note that she takes quite a bit of punishment in the scene especially in her midsection. Kara Hui Ying-Hung, who'd go on to be an award-winning star in her own right, actually revealed in an interview on women martial arts stars that the particular scene needed more than one take. She had thrown up after the first one. In fact, it took close to FIFTY TAKES before getting the one you see in the film. Subterfuge reigns supreme as Ho Ching and Master Wang encounter baddies along the way, including an acrobatic showdown with recurring Shaw villain Johnny Wang Lung-Wei that will make your eyes pop out.

Dirty Ho is definitely one of those films I would recommend to anyone who's never seen a kung-fu flick before in their life. It's one of those movies that whenever I see it come on TV these days(thanks El Rey Network) that I will watch no matter what point it may be. If you've never seen it before, please remedy that. And if you want to see it again, it's now widely available thanks to Celestial Pictures right here and via YouTube.

RATING: 5 OF 5 DRAGON PUNCHES

THE BLOG RETURNS.

via GIPHY

What's good, fight film fans? It's been a little over a year since I last posted on this site, and left you severely hanging.

First off? I apologize, profusely. Life, as it has done in the past, had thrown me off a bit(new work clients, parting ways with old work clients, family strife & health setbacks). I want to send a shoutout to the folks and family that held me down during that time.

So Hai!Karate took a bit of a backburner. I do hope that there won't be another extended hiatus like this one. I will do my best to make sure there isn't. Now, I realize that I left off in the middle of an epic countdown. THE DIRTY 30. I'll be getting back on that, no question. And I'll be giving you the movie reviews you'll enjoy to the fullest. To those who've been waiting, thank you for your patience. For those who're intrigued and new to the site, I invite you to go back and check out previous posts and get comfy.

Let's get back to business, shall we?

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THE DIRTY 30: NUMBERS 25 TO 21!!!

BACK LIKE BAD HAIRLINES FOR THE MASSES!!!

Yep, had a bit of a slight hiatus but because you have been patient, here's the next installment of THE DIRTY 30!! Thirty of the best fight scenes in martial arts cinema according to Hai!Karate! Judging from the response we got, it appears we're on the right track. If you missed out on it(and shame on ya if that's the case), check out the first installment right HERE.So let's get into these next scenes posthaste - but first, a reminder of the criteria is below:

CRITERIA: For the scenes making this list, there's a couple of factors. The first being, standalone quality. How do they hold up if taken out of their picture and seen by itself? The second factor is, how finely choreographed it is. The third? The overall wow factor. That zone you get into when seeing these scenes and how it sticks with you.

25)Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang Opening Credit Scene

Even the most casual of martial arts movie fans will instantly find themselves hyped up beyond belief once you hear the first notes of the music accompanying this scene. It's one of THE best opening film scenes of the genre, and one that is a calling card of the Shaw Brothers Studios worldwide. Now of course, when you got the VHS version stemming from what was televised stateside, you were missing about 15 or so seconds. That time included the title and opening movements of the Shaolin monks before the rogue Wu Tang monk engaged. And of course who can forget one of the ultimate lines ever uttered in the genre:

"I MAY HAVE BEEN EXPELLED, BUT I'M STILL THE BEST!! WU TANG!!!"

24)Angela Mao In The Muay Thai Ring, The Tournament

This gem got covered at length here already but the scene of Angela whooping natural ass in the ring - as a woman - earns a spot on the list because of its historical impact and because hey, it's another way for her to flex on her opponents. Observe:

23)Jet Li's Drunken God Fist, Last Hero In China

Jet Li, the man, the legend. One of the pre-eminent talents in kung fu cinema to have ever graced the screen. In this film, he takes on a role he's most beloved for in the genre, that of the legendary hero Wong Fei Hung. Now of course, this is a kind of a standalone picture from the Once Upon A Time In China series that he did with famed director Tsui Hark initially. But in this film, with Yuen Wo-Ping at the helm, Jet gets to really work his creative side. Hence the scene where he becomes the "Iron Rooster." All of that is a prelude to his final fight against the corrupt magistrate Lui Yat Siu, played by Alan Chui Chung-San. Fei Hung gets his feet severely damaged by a cunning trick by Yat Siu, and so to turn the tide in his favor he downs a huge jug of wine. Which is out of character for Fei Hung, who's sworn off drinking. But what ensues is a brusque, yet well-crafted final fight scene that fully takes advantage of Jet Li's incomparable acrobatic ability and fighting prowess - with a little shit-talking thrown in for good measure.

22)Jackie Chan Vs. Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Wheels On Meals

Listen. There's a couple of you so-called Jackie Chan fans out there who haven't even heard of this scene. Yes, there are - trust me, I've gotten one or two gray hairs out of being frustrated at their lack of knowledge. But all that aside, this is one of those fight scenes that makes you really wonder how hard that Jackie and Benny went at each other. I mean, the sheer force of the blows that get landed in this scene still make me yell at the screen every time I see it. One of THE best mixed-martial arts battles ever put on screen in the 80's era. But hey, check it out for yourself and see if I'm lying. Oh and at 1:51 - JEEEBUS

21)Sammo Hung Vs. Yuen Wah, Eastern Condors

Eastern Condors is one of my favorite martial arts flicks in that it showcases the great talents of Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao in a contemporary setting along with having quite a few WTF moments throughout the movie. You also can't beat the cameos. But anyway, this film about Asian prisoners-of-war enlisted to help the U.S. blow up a secret arms cache in Vietnam to gain their freedom is really off the chain. And this final fight between Sammo's leading man and the villainous Viet Cong general played by veteran actor Yuen Wah is a fine blend of slapstick and deadly serious battle that uses everything in the ammo dump. And to be clear - Sammo's long tradition of demanding realness in these scenes will make you truly wince a couple of times while watching this fight. You'll also ask how Wah's suit managed to stay without sweat stains as long as it did up until near the end.

That's it for now Hai!Karate fans...until the next installment, walk good!!!

THE DIRTY 30: NUMBERS 30 to 26!!!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SH-(in Big Daddy Kane voice)

What's happening martial arts film fans?!!! I know you're excited as I am for the beginning of this highly important chapter in Hai!Karate history right about now!! We are all set to begin the countdown to the baddest, most brutal, supremely elegant and down right heroic list of the greatest fight scenes every martial arts fan should know and love. To state again like I have before...this list is a rebuttal to the wacktacular 'lists' that have popped up in recent months. Will we miss one or two? Perhaps. Will we make this list a hipster-esque notation of scenes that land somewhere between too obscure or not enjoyable? NOPE. Will we pay homage to some of the best fighting to have been captured onscreen? YUP. So without delay, let's break down how this will work. We're counting from number thirty all the way to number one. Five scenes per post. Hai!Karate is drawing on a good deal of films that have been seen, and there's no restriction in terms of region or nation that the films were produced in. Now if you have some beef towards the list at anytime, guess what? That's cool. 'Cause good debate on a good subject broadens the community and only promotes the work of these fine actors and studios. So now that the semblance of a disclaimer is in, let's start the show...

CRITERIA: For the scenes making this list, there's a couple of factors. The first being, standalone quality. How do they hold up if taken out of their picture and seen by itself? The second factor is, how finely choreographed it is. The third? The overall wow factor. That zone you get into when seeing these scenes and how it sticks with you. That said, here's numbers 30 through 26...

30)Final fight scene, King Of The Kickboxers, 1990
There's a few of you out there outside of the die-hard fans who have even HEARD of this flick. That said, it'll be a shock once you sit down and partake of this Seasonal Films-produced movie from 1990. And for those who've only associated Billy Blanks with the Tae-Bo craze he helped launch, you'd be in for a surprise as well. But this scene with Loren Avedon and Blanks makes the list on a combination of highly technical and brutal fighting and the pure arcade fighting game WTF-ness. Basically, Jake Donohue's(Avedon) an NYPD officer who is on special assignment in Thailand and events lead him back to the country to face his brother's murderer and supreme villain Khan(Blanks). The whole thing is just meta because Donohue is investigating murders committed by Khan in movie fight scenes. So we get to this final fight, which is deep in the Thai jungle, in a giant bamboo dome surrounded by tribesmen. With three stages of bamboo platforms. Over water. With bamboo stakes. I mean, the fight scene alone is over 10 minutes and is a rollercoaster of feels. Avedon and Blanks throw DOWN on all the platforms, and you really see their skills on full display. And you even get extra bugface from Blanks at the most inopportune of times, but it makes for great action shots like the one below. When you see this flick, tell me it wasn't the inspiration for one or two Capcom fighting game levels.

29)Final scene, Kung Fu Vs. Yoga(Lao Shu La Gui), 1979

Let's state this upfront - this film is on the lower scale of martial arts films in terms of production and you might get thrown off when you sit down to watch it. It's dubbed in a haphazard way, the comedy can be womp-womp worthy at times. So why is it on the list? The final fight scene where Tiger(Chin Yuet-Sang) and Wu Shing (Alan Chung San Chui)confront the yoga master Singh(Dunpar Singh)to steal his ruby to finish a quest. The scene lasts close to ten minutes, and it's one of the most unique scenes ever in action movies due to Singh's completely fantastic flexibility. I mean, the man is OFF THE CHAIN. It's the first time and I do believe the only time the full potential of yoga has been put to work in an action film in an authentic manner. Don't believe me? Peep it for yourself in this clip that merges the two previous encounters in the film with the final scene.

28)Frank Dux Vs. Chong Li, Bloodsport, 1988
This was THE film that launched Jean Claude Van Damme into superstardom for a few years. And a huge reason why lies in this fight scene between our hero, Frank Dux(Van Damme) and Chong Li(Bolo Yeung Sze). Now of course, you can ask whether Dux was shamming the world about his exploits, but the fact remains that Bloodsport is an undisputed cult classic. Think about that final scene - it's so full of late '80's synth-rock schlock but it still doesn't take away from how compelling that fight scene is. It's got it all - high drama(Dux losing his sight due to some crushed sulfur tablets) and triumph on a get-the-fu**-outta-dodge level(Van Damme leaping a silk gi-clad official still makes me laugh out loud in an unbelievable manner) and Bolo's yells and faces just add extra oregano man. I mean, I'm sort of surprised that there isn't a Bolo Yeung facial expression montage reel on YouTube somewhere. And if you find yourself chanting "Kumite" by the end of this post, well...I rest my case.

27)Leung Chang Vs. Ngai Fei, The Prodigal Son, 1981
Fans of Hai!Karate already know about this because of the previous review done right here. But for the newcomers, this scene is listed due to the skil exerted by Yuen Biao as Leung Chang. Biao was steadily adding to his reputation as the best if not one of the best acrobatic kung fu actors, and this final fight scene in one of the genre's most critically acclaimed films is proof. It's no wonder that Biao, director and co-star Sammo Hung and co-star Lam Ching Ying got top honors that year for their fight choreography in this film. The final fight is an exhibition of sheer fury via Wing Chun; indeed, Ngai Fei's demise also ranks as one of THE WORST defeats in kung fu cinematic history. You'll wince when you see it for real. But it's a fitting end to a great fight scene in one of the best films of the genre.

26)Gloria Hendry Vs. Pinky's Men, Black Belt Jones, 1974

Gloria Hendry is often not given her due but this Black woman was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad, man. And she gave the film a decidedly extra level of realness thanks to her first action scene in the Jim Kelly classic. From the moment she challenges Pinky's minions by undoing the bottom two buttons on her dress and slips out of her platform heels, you knew someone's ass was going to get mollywhopped. Even her trash talk, although derisive, was fierce. When you see her effortlessly take out five dudes in this scene, you are so caught up in how flawless it is that you don't realize ITS UNDER THREE MINUTES. It just truly underscores how great of a film Black Belt Jones was, Blaxploitation era classification or not.

Thanks for catching the first installment of THE DIRTY 30!!!! If you dig what you've seen so far, join us again for the next five brutal, bodacious, bold and bad-ass fight scenes on the list!!!

THE DIRTY 30: Best Of The Rest.

What's happening Hai!Karate fans?!!! We're basically entering the summer and we know that everyone is still staggering in some way after Memorial Day over here. So a little while back, I made it a point to announce that Hai!Karate was going to do its own 'top listing' of fight scenes any martial arts film fan should check. For those who missed it, peep it right here. And just as you cannot put forth a gorgeous smorgasboard of a meal without an appetizer, it was fitting that we start off with a little bit of the best of the rest. Just to get you into what we're trying to do here. So without further delay, let's break it down:

The Kitchen Scene, Fist Of Fury, 1972

Whether you call it The Chinese Connection or by its actual name, Fist Of Fury, the 1972 Bruce Lee flick is regarded as a classic in the genre. The second film in Lee's career for Golden Harvest, Fist Of Fury has inspired a few remakes and has stuck with fans because of the sheer electricity of the fight scenes. And of course, there is the comedy within the film. Even the unintentional. Which brings us to the scene where Cheng Zhen discovers that the two cooks in the school were in cahoots with the Japanese and - shocker - they are Japanese. Now he makes quick work of them both, but this scene sticks out on two levels. One, the raw power of Cheng Zhen's punch dealing a lethal blow to the cook and much like a favorite meme involving Beyonce, very much on the beat. The second level is the laugh factor that I know wasn't director Lo Wei's intent. But the English dub is off the chain. And I KNOW doggone well at least one of you has mimicked Bruce's lines before - "so why did you kill my teacher then...so why did you kill my teacher WHYWHYWHYWHYWHY?!!!!!"

Mas Oyama versus the bull, Karate Bullfigher, 1977

The first film in Sonny Chiba's trilogy-long ode to the great Kyokushin Karate founder Masutastu Oyama is commonly known to Western audiences as Champion of Death. The original title stems from the fact that Oyama was known to fight bulls head-on - and WIN. In this flick, Chiba as Oyama does so as a way to protect the villagers in a coastal town near where he trained. I mean...on the surface it seems ridiculous. But when you stop to consider that Oyama did this on the regular, you have to admit that he was a straight up badass. And that Chiba is in his own right for even recreating the event. It's full of bloody action, brief but it does make the overall film that much more entertaining.

Final Scene, Treasure Hunters, 1981

This is a largely forgotten comedic entry in the career of the late Alexander Fu Sheng. The movie involves two hustlers who get involved with a Shaolin monk played by Gordon Liu as they search for a legendary treasure. This final fight scene played up Fu Sheng's remarkable fighting abilities to the hilt, and co-star Cheung Chin-Pang...bless him..keeps up as best as he can. It's slapstick Shaw Brothers style with a nod to Buster Keaton. And makes for an uproarious laugh towards the end.

David Chiang, Cecilia Wong & Lily Li-Li versus Wilson Tong, Shaolin Mantis, 1978

This is one of several fight scenes placed at a crucial point in this action drama from the Shaw Studios. Wilson Tong was well regarded as a veteran by this point, and as such was the main man behind the fight choreography for this film. It's a tense three-on-one battle involving broad staffs and a spear. Wai Fung & Gi-Gi's fight for freedom, aided by Gi-Gi's mother is like the steady climb of a rollercoaster - you know the drop is coming, but you aren't sure when. And in this scene, Tong makes sure to keep you on edge. It's also worth noting that this scene put him in great favor with the studio to seize his own motion picture directing career.

Sho Kosugi & Keith Vitale Biker Fight, Revenge Of The Ninja, 1983

This was back when the ninja/karate craze in the U.S. had its first jump-the-shark moment. Ninjas had gotten some allure thanks to Sho Kosugi's key role in Chuck Norris' The Octagon. Lee Van Clief got into the act too. So much so that Hollywood put some money up to get films like this made. BUT - you had to have white stars. It's not a knock on Keith Vitale whatsoever, he had some verified skills as a former karate champion. This was one of the films where you found yourself asking, 'why did they front on Sho Kosugi SO COT DAMN MUCH???!!!' This fight scene has all of the surface clashes you'd expect - bare knuckle brawling versus Eastern fighting methods, polished and unassuming heroes up against pot-bellied and dusty biker villains. And it's at a playground, and you know that means more ways for baddies to catch bad ones!!(Side note: peep the one dude with the 'rising sun' t-shirt near the beginning of this scene. To me that sums up Hollywood board meetings on this kind of stuff. "Hey, we've got a Japanese fighter - let's place a WWII influenced logo t-shirt on a guy, go ALL the way with this!!!)

So now that you've had the chance to get a feel for what The Dirty 30 could be like with these morsels, stay tuned as we begin the countdown next month!!!