Heroes Of The East (1978)

Tao vs Koda: 2.25/5


Tao vs Koda: 2.75/5


Tao vs Kendo Master: 3/5


Drunken Master Fight: 2/5


 Tao vs Karate Master: 3.25/5


Tao vs Nunchaku/Tonfa Master: 3.5/5


Tao vs Sojutsu Master: 3.5/5


Tao vs Sai Master: 3.25/5


Tao vs Judo Master: 2.5/5


Tao vs Takeno Round 1: 3/5


Tao vs Takeno Round 2: 3.75/5



I really dug this movie. It was kind of revolutionary for its time in that most Chinese kung fu movies portrayed Japanese people as awful monsters, whereas in this movie they are mostly honorable and fight in the spirit of sport. I also really enjoyed the variety of martial arts employed. There are no blow away fights but nothing is bad. And there's some really good stuff in here. Recommended.

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

Tiger vs Gangsters & Dragon: 3.5/5


Dragon/Turbo vs Gangsters: 2.25/5


Kun vs Double Devils/Gangsters: NR


Dragon vs Double Devils/Gangsters: 3/5


Shibumi vs The Gate: 3.25/5


Shibumi vs Tiger/Turbo: 3.5/5


Shibumi vs Dragon: 4/5



How much hair product was in the budget for this movie? Anyway, this is a solid action flick. And it features the most one sided final battle (for the hero) I can remember. Donnie Yen's "Dragon" gets hit once in the course of the entire film. Unheard of for a kung fu protagonist. It's strange because Tiger and Turbo get some shine early on in the movie but become afterthoughts for the rest of it. It's all about Dragon. In fairness, Donnie Yen is the best screen fighter of the 3, but still, I expected Tiger to get more to do considering his name is in the title of the film.

The action is solid throughout but let me get to this final fight. Shibumi, who is one of the most strongly written badass martial arts villains in modern film, gets absolutely owned by Dragon. It's insane. Before this, we get to watch Shibumi do things like work over a Guinness World Record setting heavy bag, crush Master Wong to death, and just generally be awesome at everything. Then Dragon shows up, and Shibumi is completely outclassed. Normally in a martial arts film, the hero has to fight from underneath and overcome. Shibumi NEVER LANDS A HIT on Dragon. Dragon slaps him around about 50 times.

Now, let me also say, I really liked the fight. See the above score. The reason I rated it so highly is because the first minute of the fight features some of the best handwork choreography Donnie's ever done. It's so fast, sharp and fluid. Also I love how once Shibumi gets palm thrusted into a wall he looks up and says, "18 Dragon Slaying Palms?" like it's some mythical technique he'd only heard legends of.

Now normally, after that initial protagonist flurry the villain would start to take control and dominate. But nope. Dragon continues to slap Shibumi around for the rest of the fight. Shibumi gets zero offense until the end. And the ending gets a little ridiculous. Sometimes less is more. I actually would've rated this higher but the lack on drama due to Dragon's dominance takes it down a little for me. I wonder if Donnie's intention was to subvert the norm by having the hero just clean the floor with the big bad. I don't know.


Anyway, this is a solid flick, though not a must unless you're a Donnie Yen completist. Mildly Recommended.

Man of Tai Chi (2013)

Opening Fight: 2.25/5

Tiger Chen vs Chou Ping: 3.25/5

Tiger Chen vs Brawler: 3.5/5

Tiger vs Guy in Blue: 2.25/5

Tiger Fighting Montage: 3.25/5

Tiger vs Iron Body Guy: 3.75/5

Tiger vs Sanshou Fighter: 3.25/5

Tiger vs 2 Fighters: 4/5

Tiger vs Master: 4/5

Tiger vs Uri Romanov: N/R

Tiger vs Iko Uwais: 3/5

Tiger vs Keanu Reeves: 2.75/5



Tiger Chen is a talented guy. This movie functions as his vehicle. That being said, I wish I liked it more. It's an ok film, but considering they got Iko Uwais from the Raid in it and the sheer amount of fighting in it, I expected more.

Keanu Reeves chews so much scenery throughout this. He is way over the top. You can tell they wanted to make his final showdown with Tiger an epic, but they fall quite short. Keanu just can't move well enough to convince me he's the dominant villain he's presented as. Yeah he's bigger than Tiger, but that's about it. Also, if I never have to hear Keanu say, "You owe me a life" ever again I can die happy.

I wish Tiger and Iko Uwais had gotten a real chance to go at it, but the story film's narrative prevents that. Let's hope Tiger shows up in The Raid 3.

Onto the positives, there are 2 great fights and a couple very good fights in this. Tiger vs his master is especially resonant, the actor playing the Master moves better than Keanu. Plus the music that fight is set to really helps to convey the story. Tiger looks good in every fight scene he's in. He holds up his end quite well. I want him in more things.


I want to support movies like this and guys like Tiger. Somewhat recommended.

Way Of The Dragon a.k.a. Return Of The Dragon (1972)

Bruce Lee vs Thugs: 2.25/5

Bruce Lee vs Thugs: 2.75/5

Bruce Lee & Staff vs Thugs: 3/5

Bruce Lee vs Bob Wall: 3.5/5

Bruce Lee vs Hwang In Shik: 3.25/5

Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris: 4.25/5



This is my favorite Bruce Lee movie. It has an absolute classic for an end fight, my personal favorite Bruce Lee fight ever. It takes place in the literal Coliseum. How dope is that? It's also the only time Chuck Norris ever fought Bruce Lee. And this is Chuck in his prime, before he became a meme.

Like many Bruce Lee movies this is a Bruce Lee highlight reel. It just showcases his speed and technique. He even uses dual nunchuckas at one point. We also have a young Hwang In Shik, which is really cool (see The Young Master). CHINESE BOXING! Recommended.

Rope A Dope 2 - Return of the Martial Arts Mafia (2015)

Eric vs Mafia: 4/5

Eric vs Dennis: 4.75/5



Honestly, I thought the first Rope a Dope was my favorite short action film of all time. This might've surpassed it. Exceeding my already lofty expectations, Rope a Dope 2 takes a great concept and escalates it even more. Also, it's hilarious. The broken bottle gag near the end I've rewatched almost as much as the fights. And the fights are, of course, superb. Eric and Dennis are like this generation's Yuen Biao and Dick Wei, such awesome chemistry between the two. Their duel in this short is actually different than their previous ones. I could watch them fight forever (though I'm hoping if there's a third installment their characters will team up). I'm out of superlatives. Just watch this. HIGHLY Recommended

Mister a.k.a. Xian Sheng (2015)

Lorenz vs Felix: 4/5


They're back! Sweet. The first Young Masters project to be released since I had the pleasure of meeting Lorenz on my birthday two Decembers back. A tribute to "The Man From Nowhere", which is awesome in its own right, the brothers bring an even greater martial ability to their tribute to that film. Recommended.

Tribal Ties (2013)

Felix vs Max: 4.5/5

Eskindir vs Lorenz: 4.5/5


Love this short. Two excellent concurrent fights. With anime elements.

Slug Street Scrappers 3 (2013)

Peaches vs Hopz: 3.25/5

Peaches vs Bruiser: 1.5/5

Jimmy Broker vs Billy Broker: 4.25/5

Ryuken vs Bones: 3.75/5

Peaches vs Punchy: 3.25/5

Jimmy & Billy vs Mr. Sexy: 4/5

Knuckles vs Slugger Squad: 2.75/5

Knuckles vs Ryuken: 3.5/5



Man, this is great. Tons of fighting, and it's varied. Jimmy vs Billy steals the show. Highly recommended.

The Raid 2: Berandal Tribute (by EMC Monkeys, 2014)

Fight Scene: 3/5


Good effort by EMC, but I've seen them do much better. Of course it's difficult to try to pull off an homage to another style. But I was expecting a bit more. Not a bad fight by any means, just nothing special.

One Last Rumble (2009)

Lester vs Edmund: 4.25/5

Lester vs Bakia: 4/5

Lester vs Edmund: 4.75/5


One of my all time favorite martial arts indie shorts. Lester's Magnum Opus. The Finale between him and Edmund is fantastic. And the other 2 fights are also great. HIGHLY recommended.

Future Boss (2013)

Eric vs Lorenz: 4.5/5


Two of my favorite screen fighters ever, indie or otherwise, finally going at it. Man I've been waiting on this for a while. And it doesn't disappoint. This fight is all around excellent. Especially once Eric learns how to fight, it leads to some fantastic exchanges. Great kicking, falls and handwork. Fast and fluid. Love it.

Informant (2011)

Eric vs Andy: 4.75/5


Two of my favorite indie guys mixing it up. It honestly even exceeded my expectations. Man this fight is amazing. Excellent rhythm, pacing and choreography. So fast and fluid. Indie martial arts screen fighting at its finest.

Nice Guy Hunter (2013)

1st fight: 2.25/5

Finale: 3.5/5


Eric and Irving sure have grown since they started making films. The first fight is really more about story than about technical prowess. In the finale Irving turns it up and carries himself like a star. Lots of tricks and athleticism displayed by him.

I enjoy this short film, if not for the finale alone. Recommended.

Rope A Dope (2013)

Finale: 4.75/5

What can I say, the Stuntpeople simply rule. Adding Lorenz of the Young Masters to the mix doesn't hurt either. Eric and Dennis have the excellent screen fighting chemistry that they've always displayed. I didn't grade the other fights leading up to the finale because it doesn't make sense to. The finale is my favorite fight scene of 2013. And as a short film this may be my favorite SP short film ever. That's all you need to know. Highly Recommended.

Live Action Sleeping Dogs Fight Film (2012)

Opening Fight: 3.5/5

Restaurant Fight: 3.75/5

Parking Lot Fight: 4.25/5

Solid fighting throughout, and the parking lot fight picks it up even more. It reminds me of the parking lot fight in Righting Wrongs a.k.a. Above The Law. Xin Yu is an absolute beast of a screen fighter. The fact that he reminds me of my all time favorite screen fighter, Yuen Biao, is saying something.

"The Rival Reunion" (2014)

Fight Scene: 4/5

Andy and Daniel deliver great screen fighting here. There's a flair of anime style in this, which I love. And the fight tells a great story, and is broken up into acts, which always makes a fight feel more special.