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Jimmy Wang Yuwas one ofthe effective kung fu movie superstar of all timeand a unfeigned pioneer who avail shape the martial arts genre into what it is today . Long before richly - flying wirework and gaudy stage dancing became the criterion , Wang Yu play an energy to his fight scenes that made him an icon . He was also a director , producer , and screenwriter , leave his indelible grade on the populace of kung fu like no one else .
Although ranking his best kung fu movies is no promiscuous task , one of Wang Yu ’s big contribution to cinema isThe Chinese Boxer , widely accredit as the first true martial arts movie ever . It laid the groundwork for everything that followed , shape generations of kung fu picture show . With such a groundbreaking bequest , it ’s no surprisal that he wasthe only martial arts star Bruce Lee wanted to outdo .
10Return Of The Chinese Boxer (1977)
Directed By Jimmy Wang Yu
Despite the title , Return of the Chinese Boxeris not the official sequel toThe Chinese Boxerfrom 1970 , which is another movie starring and direct by Jimmy Wang Yu . Still , it stand out as one of Wang Yu ’s most interesting performances , even though the film has a slight giddiness to it . In it , Wang Yu is Tsao Pai Leung , a skilled scrapper who is set on guard off an invading radical of Japanese warlords .
There are zombies , uncanny weapons , and a lot of intercellular substance - corresponding moves before The Matrix was even a thought .
Do n’t let the plot summary fool you , asReturn of the Chinese Boxeris arguably one ofthe weird martial liberal arts movies ever made . There are zombies , weird weapons , and a caboodle of ground substance - like moves beforeThe Matrixwas even a cerebration . Still , those who jazz unexpected plot of land twists and downright cockeyed moments will in spades enjoy this one , if only for Wang Yu ’s boldness in his approach to the kung fu movie genre .
9Beach Of The War Gods (1973)
WhileBeach of the War Godsmight not come to everyone ’s head when talk aboutthe best wuxia movies of all sentence , this 1973 title still deserve all the lovemaking it can get . It stars Wang Yu as a unafraid warrior who leads the fishermen of a coastal village in a engagement to defend their land from encroacher . The struggle are epic , and even though kung fu is n’t front and center in the most traditional way , it still feels granular and quite convincing .
fan of Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon can research more of the best films in the wuxia musical genre by take a look at this list as a starting point .
From hand - to - hand combat and impressive kicks to gorgeously choreographed swordplay , Beach of the War Godsdelivers non - stop action at law you ca n’t look aside from . Notably , the group fights might be the highlight of this wuxia , with each of the villager get something unique to the prospect . Wang Yu excelled in both lead and direct the movie , making it no surprise it stands out as some of his upright work .
8The Tattooed Dragon (1973)
Directed By Lo Wei
regrettably , not everyone has learn ofThe Tattooed Dragon . It ’s one of Wang Yu ’s okay roles , although not everyone seems to wish it as much as some of his other projects . The 1973 moving-picture show is super straight , offering a short ton of peachy legal action and natural kung fu . Wang Yu play The Dragon , a secret figure who fundamentally saves an entire townfrom cozenage - running mobsters . Moreover , the movie ooze seventies Hong Kong genius , making for the perfect fusion of air and action .
As with many similar titles of that clock time , The Tattooed Dragonrelies on bare martial arts to deliver its battle succession , which is fabulous . Wang Yu ’s character is brutal in every sense of the word , dropping kicks and punches like it ’s nobody ’s business . Furthermore , The Tattooed Dragonoffers some seriously amazingkung fu movie proficiency that really work in real life , even though they might be tough to reduplicate for the modal someone .
7The Sword Of Swords (1968)
Directed By Cheng Kang
The Sword of Swordsis an underrated 1960s Shaw Brothers pic that arguably deserves a smudge next to the greats of the era , such asDragon InnandCome Drink with Me . blind and betrayed by a ruthless villain who murder his family and slip a magical sword , a skilled swordsman ( Wang Yu ) is get out to pick up the pieces of his shattered life . Fueled by retribution , he jell out on a deadly journeying to reclaim the enchanted blade and bring down the human beings who put down everything he bed .
The story is amazing , the steel competitiveness are vivid , andtraditional kung fu is raise to a completely different realm inThe Sword of Swords . It ’s the complete moving picture for anyone looking to enrol the kung fu genre , but also for hardcore devotee who would like a fresh take on the action mechanism .
6Golden Swallow (1968)
Directed By Chang Cheh
Golden Swallowis the subsequence to the 1966 movieCome Drink With Me . Much like its iconic forerunner , the film starsCheng Pei - pei , who is considered to be the first female activity bomber . However , Golden Swallow , despite being named after Cheng ’s character , focuses more on Silver Roc , who is played by Wang Yu . The film is an impressively weird mix of big kung fu , a erotic love trilateral , and a relentless pursuit for vengeance .
Fight scenes are the heart of kung fu picture , and there are plenty of mod titles that understand that by deliver incredible fighting succession .
While the action sequence are notably great , Golden Swallow ’s story might be even better . Wang Yu ’s Silver Roc is borderline obsessed with the easy Golden Swallow , going to worrying length to get her tending . As his contention with Iron Whip ( Lo Lieh ) ultimately step up to the full stop of no riposte , director Chang Chen ’s signature heroic bloodshed aesthetic takes meat stage , hold the motion picture that final poetical skin senses . Overall , the film is truly stunning in every aspect .
5Return Of The One-Armed Swordsman (1969)
The sequel ’s success proved audience ' hungriness for out - of - the - box characters and paved the fashion for wuxia classics that came after it .
While it ’s not really one of thosemovie sequels that are better than the original , Return of the One - Armed Swordsmanis still a must - view full of unforgiving legal action and gorgeous play . Wang Yu reprise his role with passion , effortlessly drawing the viewer deeply into his journey . The sequel ’s winner proved audience ' hunger for out - of - the - loge characters and paved the way for wuxia classics that came after it .
4One-Armed Boxer (1972)
Not to be mistaken withThe Chinese Boxer , One - Armed Boxeris yet another deed of conveyance that was whole brought to life by Wang Yu . However , out of the two , despite being released two age later , One - Armed Boxeris the one that put Wang Yu on the soldierlike arts map on his own accordand redefine the kung fu genre . After leaving the Shaw Brothers Studio , this movie was his resolution to the success of hisOne - Armed Swordsmancharacter .
While it is a product of its prison term and should be view as such , One - Armed Boxerremains an enduring kung fu classic that will never drop off its charm . Instead of swordplay , it brings bare - knuckle joint kung fu in the form of a gamy - energy , revenge - fueled spectacle , setting the stage for an even crazier sequel . The villains are unnecessarily flamboyant , which is just the right amount for a encounter of epic ratio .
3Master Of The Flying Guillotine (1976)
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Four years after the release ofOne - Armed Boxer , Wang Yu convey usMaster of the Flying Guillotine , which is one of thoseold martial movies so spoilt they ’re really big . While it ’s not really big in any way , the wild style and unconventional storytelling might not click with mainstream audiences used to modernistic celluloid . That said , any movie buff who appreciates the fine thing in filmmaking will likely find this fad classic worthy of the claim .
There were a small number of martial nontextual matter movies that had an undeniable shock on the genre and greatly influenced where it ’s at today .
Despite being a sequel , Master of the Flying Guillotinetakes things to a whole new level . The baddie is a blind Shaolin monk with a deathly flying closure by compartment , while the quietus of the bad guys are equally off-the-wall , in the beneficial elbow room potential . have a grindhouse martial arts madness that mixes kung fu , victimization cinema , and even a touch sensation of horror , Masterstands out as one of the most mad , fashionable , and wildly entertaining martial arts pic ever made .
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2The One-Armed Swordsman (1967)
For those who have n’t seen it , The One - Armed Swordsmanis fundamentally a kung fuJohn Wickwith a brand . Directed by Chang Cheh , this Shaw Brothers masterpiece tells the chronicle of Fang Gang ( played by Wang Yu),who loses his arm in a brutal fight . However , that does not stop him from seek vengeance , bear witness that a true warlike artist ’s spirit can not be break .
The One - Armer Swordsmanwas the first Hong Kong deed to ever reach HK$1 million at the local boxwood office .
Not only isThe One - Armed Swordsmana visually stunning motion-picture show with beautifully choreograph fight view , butit marked the nativity of a never - before - pick up poor boy in the kung fu musical style . Fang Gang was the first - ever cinematic warlike artist with one limb , laying the groundwork for alike tale , such asMaster of the Flying Guillotine . With its intense action and deep fibre work , it ’s safe to say that this 1967 title is a column of martial arts movie house every kung fu enthusiast should be intimate with .
1The Chinese Boxer (1970)
For many , The Chinese Boxeris the best martial art moving-picture show to be , and we ca n’t help but jibe . Also known asThe Hammer of God , the film is a cornerstone in Wang Yu ’s career , which cemented him as the biggest kung fu headliner of the geological era . Notably , it was his last project with the Shaw Brothers . Wang Yu wrote the film , direct it , and starred in it , showcasing his brilliance at every step of filmmaking .
Movie
Letterboxd Rating
Master of the Flying Guillotine
3.7 / 5
The One - Armed Swordsman
The Chinese Boxer
3.6 / 5
One - Armed Boxer
Beach of the War Gods
Return of the One - Armed Swordsman
Golden Swallow
getting even of the Chinese Boxer
3.4 / 5
The Sword of Swords
The Tattooed Dragon
3.2 / 5
Despite feel very similar to most of the movies of the era , the plot ofThe Chinese Boxerdoes the job . It ’s simple and effective , and the military action is the star of the show anyway . The fights are unbelievable , to say the least , withJimmy Wang Yuhimself being the ultimate weapon . There are no fancy rush or gaudy acrobatics here , but , instead , a crimson slaughter of rassling , brawny strikes that finger more than realistic .
