MATV's CINEMA MOST LETHAL
Posted on 20 November 2006A look at some of our favourite movie fights
With the likes of Jet Li and Tony Jaa flying across the screen with kicks and knees, many of us are hoping that the martial art movie world is set for a new lease of life. But until this happens, let’s take a look at those famous fight scenes and on screen brawls that remain entertaining to this day.
Starting with an oldie…
You’re probably expecting us to mention that coliseum fight between Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. Well come on fight fans, that epic duel has been mentioned on fight forums across the web. We are going to be original today. Our first favourite is still pretty old and some might describe it as an East v West scrap. It’s the energetic Jackie Chan v tough kickboxing legend Benny Urquidez, using all manner of kick and punch in Wheels on Meals. This one has got humour, emotion and plenty of action.
Even aliens like a good brawl…
The eighties was an era of the gun totting action heroes. Still there were still some interesting brawls. And the one we are thinking of here has Arnold facing someone who outsize and outmuscle him. Oh and did we mention the opponent is from out of space. The fight scene is right at the end of the film Predator and it’s a pretty rough and ready affair, with Arnold’s character taking painful punishment from the Predator. If they make a fourth movie based on this rather angry alien, we reckon it should face off against Steven Seagal!
Prepare for some bone snapping…
When Seagal lunged onto the screen, he presented something very unique to fight fans with his fluid fight scenes and flair. Here was a highly skilled action hero who was ready to rely on more technical prowess. Fans got to see wrist locks, arm bars and bad guys crashing through the air. It’s a refreshing change from the spinning back kick. So our next favourite scene is from one of Seagal’s early films – Under Siege. His character faces off with a calculating bad guy played by Tommy Lee Jones, on board a ship. Don’t blink because they display some fast paced knife work in this one.
A high kick always gets an applause…
So if we are talking about high kicks, we better mention Jean Claude Van Damme. He has not made a pure martial art film for some time but there are probably a few fans that watch K1 or the UFC and still probably hope for the day when one fighter will replicate this star’s Jumping Spinning Kick. Perhaps one of the most dramatic Van Damme fights was when he faced off against Bolo Yeung in Blood sport.
Pen Work…
Our next fight involves gritty techniques exchanged by John Cusack and that tough ring warrior Benny Urquidez. This is one explosive war and it appears in the rather cool film – Grosse Point Blank. Let’s just say a pen comes in handy for one of them.
More Pen Work!
Someone else who likes to use day to day objects in a fight is Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne character. In The Bourne Identity, we see Bourne take on an assassin within the confines of an apartment. This one is all about vicious moves and good hand speed. Anyone into South East Asian martial arts such as Kali or Escrima will probably enjoy this scene.
Jiu Jitsu!
At the end of the film Lethal Weapon, there is a dramatic street style showdown between Mel Gibson’s wired cop character Martin Riggs and Gary Busey’s character. This one is wild and gutsy, but there are some genuine martial art techniques thrown in. Riggs pulls off a nice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu finishing hold in this; did you spot it?
Likes his blades?
We wonder whether Mr Tommy Lee Jones likes working with knives. Not only can you see him in a knife duel against Mr Seagal in Under Siege, but some years later, appearing in The Hunted; he has an even more brutal knife fight with Benicio Del Torro’s character. Again if you like fight scenes with a South East Asian flavour, check this one out.
Roundhouse Kick!
Chuck Norris has had his fair share of on screen show downs. In Missing In Action Two – The Beginning Chuck’s character Colonel Braddock uses plenty of ammo. But for the last fight against the Vietnamese commander of a POW camp, Chuck decides to do what he does best. So out come the kicks and punches.
Returning to the Matrix…
Out come the dark shades for this one as Keanu Reeves’ character Neo battles with Agent Smith at the end of the first Matrix film. Very slick choreography here, but was anyone else rooting for Agent Smith…?!
So these are just some of our favourite fight scenes and in future features we will take a look at some other movies that have impressed fans with their stylish duels.
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