From the once low-budget films, where the main decoration was well-set battle scenes, the best Chinese fighters have become an expensive sight with a lot of special effects and the same fights. Pictures from the Middle Kingdom cover an ever wider audience among fans of not only kung fu, but also eastern history.
The Naked Weapon (2002)
This Hong Kong film directed by Chen Xiaodong received the most controversial ratings from viewers and critics. A fairly standard story with many battle scenes. The only difference is that the masters of oriental martial arts are young beautiful girls. The film made good performances in the first days after the premiere in Hong Kong, but then interest in it fell. In any case, this is one of the best Chinese fighters, popular in many countries of the world.
The criminal Chinese group that deals with the most complex contract killings. Participants are hiding for six years after the failure of the assignment, in which their best killer is killed. Headed by the mysterious organization Madame M (Almen Wong). In all parts of the world, 40 twelve-year-old girls are abducted, who are brought to a carefully guarded tropical island. Here they undergo comprehensive combat training, in which the weak simply die. As a result, only the best remain: Kat (Anya Wu), Charlene Ching (Maggie Kew) and Gene (Jewel Lee). They travel all over the world. Young beautiful girls do not cause suspicion, they succeed in the most complex orders. On behalf of the U.S. government, CIA agent Jack Chen (Daniel Wu) is trying to track down Madame M and the girls.
"Kung Fu Showdown" (2004)
This is a comedy movie, the best Chinese action movie, parody movies of the Wuxia genre (adventure films using martial arts). Kung Fu Showdown was the highest grossing film in Hong Kong history and the highest grossing foreign film in the United States in 2005. The painting is widely used Chinese traditional music and special effects.
The picture takes place in the 30s in Shanghai. A young unsuccessful con man, Sin (Stephen Chow), is trying to break free of poverty, not shying away from any methods. As a child, he studied kung fu in a book, and now he wants to join the gang "Axes", which is terrorizing the city. They control the entire metropolis, only the poorest quarter "Pigsty" - the only one that is struggling. The fact is that three masters of various kung fu styles live here under the guise of ordinary slum dwellers. This is the landlord (Yuan Wah) and the mistress of the house (Yuan Qiu), the tailor Jiu Jiling (Zhao Zhilin). The Toporov gang gathers its best fighters, led by leader Brother Sum (Danny Chen Gokun) and the famous killer Leng Siulung (Liang Xiaolong).
"House of Flying Daggers" (2005)
This is one of the best Chinese historical action movies, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The key battle scene was filmed in Russian Vilyuisk. During the shooting, it snowed, so I had to change the scenario so that it seemed that a grand battle began in the fall, and ended in the winter. The famous director Zhang Yimou was very pleased with the resulting scenes, the blood in the snow looked very picturesque. Many fans of the film believe that the House of Flying Daggers is the best Chinese action movie.
The action takes place in ancient China during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. The secret resistance movement, the House of Flying Daggers, so nicknamed for its skillful handling of throwing weapons, fights injustice. They attack the rich and give out money to the poor, thus winning the love of the inhabitants. Local police captain Liu (Andy Lai) is investigating the crimes of the Chinese Robin Hoods. He instructs his friend Captain Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) to visit the Pionovy Garden Entertainment House, where one of the new dancers, Xiang Mei (Zhang Ziyi), may be the daughter of the murdered leader of a secret organization, according to intelligence.
Ip Man (2008)
The film is also on the list of the best Chinese action movies. This is almost a biographical story about Yip Man, the first master who began to teach everyone the martial art of Wing Chun. One of his students was Bruce Lee. Ip Man's son, Yip Chun, became a consultant on combat choreography and biography.
The film tells about the events that took place during the occupation of the city of Foshan by the Japanese troops in the 30-40s. Ip Man (Donnie Yen) teaches kung fu in his hometown, occasionally taking part in fights. After the capture of Foshan, General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) staged fights between the Chinese and Japanese soldiers studying karate.
"Detective Dee and the Secret of the Ghostfire" (2010)
An epic fantasy action film by famous director Cui Hark about Di Renjie, a court official who actually worked in Ancient China during the Tang Dynasty. Before starting work on the film, Tsui Hark studied the corresponding historical period and the personality of the most famous detective for three years. The production of mass scenes and fights involved Sammo Hung. The picture participated in the competition program of the Venice Film Festival.
Events unfold in the year 690 AD. In Luoyang, the capital of the ancient Chinese empire, a giant Buddhist stupa is being built where the coronation of the first Chinese Empress Wu Zetian (Karina Lau) is to take place. The actress considers her image tragic. The heroine has great will and wisdom necessary for making difficult decisions. However, the celebration is in jeopardy, as several officials involved in the construction suddenly ignite spontaneously. Then Wu Zetian decides to entrust the investigation of this case to the best Chinese detective Di Renjie (Andy Lau), who has been in prison for seven years on charges of disagreeing with the authorities.
"Foreigner" (2017)
For many martial arts fans, the best Chinese action movies are almost all films with Jackie Chan. The film received good reviews from critics who noted that this is the most dramatic role played by Chan.
A former special forces soldier in the Vietnam War, Ngok Wang Min lives in London, where he owns a Chinese restaurant. When a daughter dies in front of his eyes as a result of a terrorist act of the Irish Republican Army, he decides to take revenge. Pete Brosnan plays the main villain of Kwan Liam Hennessey, a former IRA fighter who has become Deputy Minister for Ireland.