Foreign martial arts films are far from noteworthy Stateside when it comes to awards recognition and financial returns, but for Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon it achieved both, not only existing as a visually sumptuous tale of revenge but it was also able to reach a level of accessibility not achieved by previous entries in the genre.
The prospects of the genre as a whole in North America may have never been meant to be but Crouching Tiger is unlike any action film you’ve ever seen – stunningly choreographed at every juncture all while crafting strong, likeable characters (or detestable in some cases) and dazzling aesthetic execution.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of those movies that spawned a thousand imitators, such that you almost forget how good the original was. Part martial-arts epic, part love story, all-awesome.
The plot is fairly convoluted, but it all begins with the theft of a jade sword that spurs a hunt for missing treasure and a tale of love lost, betrayed and regained … only to be lost again.
The audience’s sympathies are manipulated expertly as we move from one character to another; even the eventual villains are complex and multi-faceted characters whose anger and betrayal are perfectly justified. The use of Western China’s gorgeous landscape draws out the notion of magic and reality existing side by side and the integration of the more magical special effects in the midst of the physical combat is seamless.
Crouching Tiger a great martial arts film that turns into a complex narrative about men and women and the exchange of power, political, sexual and physical. It’s a beautiful film that does not fail to be exhilarating.
[h2]9. Battle Royale[/h2]
Infamous for its media controversy and upset, is Kinji Fukasaku’s Japanese bloodbath Battle Royale. Similar to the plot and concept of 2012’s The Hunger Games (although it came before), the film is much harsher in tone, albeit its morbid sense of humor.
Enforced by a parental disciplinary Battle Royal Act, a group of forty-two schoolmates and close friends are put on an island and forced to kill each other off, until a sole survivor emerges victorious. Sure it’s barbaric, but what stems from this demented and savage masterpiece can only been seen as one of the most character driven and provocative actioners of the last decade.
In addition to being downright humorous at times, the student’s soulless and morally detached efforts to persevere through the traumatic contest are freighting to watch. Juvenile class crushes, and settling old scores from the early schoolyard days tend to be the main focal points of deep-seeded revenge.
From the opening frames of a relentless tide crashing upon the coastland, accompanied by the bombastic choir of Masamichi Amano’s opera inspired score, you know you’re in for some carnage. If that’s your thing, then Battle Royale will deliver in spades. It also has its fair share of melodramatic gushiness that surprisingly holds the film afloat.
Assuming you watch the much superior Director’s Cut, an additional eight minutes are added to the film, only strengthening and providing more depth to its diverse set of characters. That’s where Battle Royale really shines. Clocking in around a two-hour runtime, the film manages to flesh out its characters beautifully before they tragically bite the dust.
My only appeal to viewing the film is that you don’t go into it seeking an underlying social/political statement. Without a doubt, the movie raises some interesting questions regarding human nature, channeling some sort of Lord of The Flies interpretation, although the film is best enjoyed for entertainment purposes.
Battle Royale is a merciless, grisly and bloodletting nightmare of a film. Above all, it’s just a damn good time at the movies. If you haven’t seen it already, do yourself a favor and pick up Battle Royale: The Complete Collection on Blu-Ray for the full experience. By all means, avoid Battle Royale II: Requiem though, a cheap imitation and uninvolving retread of the fantastic original.
[h2]8. Speed[/h2]
Amounting to a ferocious exercise in white-knuckle action and pithy humor, Speed helped rocket starlet Sandra Bullock into stardom and cemented Keanu Reeves’ standing as an A-list leading man. The film expertly employs immensely impressive practical special effects and uses them to execute a disturbingly plausible scenario (schemed up by a scene stealing Dennis Hopper).
Speed proves that characters could be successfully developed on the go and derive chemistry from the situation at hand, not through forced meet-cutes. We even root for the supporting characters trapped on Bus 2525 as we’re able to identity with their situation, all while being thrilled by the non-stop action and all encompassing sense of cool.
Everything about Speed just works so well. It’s slick and well-paced, and the action will have your adrenaline going from the start. It’s a true 90’s classic that may tone down the blood and gore, but makes up for it in spades with tension and intensity, giving us a wild ride that will leave you breathless by the end.
[h2]7. Point Break[/h2]
Since Point Break’s release in 1991, a whole new generation of wannabe surfers and skydivers has been spawned, all with visions of becoming the next renegade FBI agent who gets paid to do all the intense action sports their hearts desire.
The thrills are balanced with deeper stories of love, friendship, and learning to live life to its fullest. But let’s be real, no one watches this movie for its love story. They watch to see Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze catching waves and jumping out of airplanes.
There’s something haunting about the image of the ex-presidents, all in their masks, especially when Mr. Reagan turns a gas-hose into a flamethrower. Watching that gas station go up in flames, and the placid, composed manner of its burner, truly shows that some of the best action scenes ever have an eerie calm to them.
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t a ton of intense, hectic action scenes present. Katherine Bigelow shows her expertise when it comes to directing action in this film better than any other. Filled the brim with chase scenes and gunfights, every bit of action is composed and directed to perfection.
From car chases to epic scenes of surfing, the film is 100% pure adrenaline. It’s hard to imagine a more intense scene than the one where Utah and Bohdi wrestle while free-falling out of an airplane. But still, the one part of Point Break that is acted and directed to ultimate perfection is where Utah chases Bodhi through houses, yards, and the streets, before finally falling on his fragile knee, “missing” his shot, and sending his most memorable, defeated shout into the sky.
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