Martial Arts Masterpieces: 10 Action Films to Watch

Description: Bruce Lee's final completed film before his untimely death, "Enter the Dragon" is a landmark in martial arts cinema, featuring Lee's unparalleled martial arts prowess and a plot revolving around a secret martial arts tournament.

Fact: This film was the first ever to be produced jointly by a Hollywood studio and a Hong Kong studio. It was also the first martial arts film to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Description: While more of a coming-of-age story, "The Karate Kid" features karate training and a memorable tournament fight, inspiring many to take up martial arts.

Fact: The film's famous crane kick was not part of any traditional karate style but was created for the movie. It became an iconic move in pop culture.

Description: While not exclusively a martial arts film, "The Matrix" revolutionized action cinema with its "bullet time" effects and wire-fu, blending martial arts with cyberpunk aesthetics to create a visually stunning experience.

Fact: The Wachowskis, the directors, trained the actors in kung fu for months to ensure authenticity in the fight scenes. The film's visual effects were groundbreaking at the time.

Description: Ang Lee's masterpiece combines wuxia martial arts with a poignant love story, set against the backdrop of 19th-century China, showcasing gravity-defying fight sequences.

Fact: The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning four, including Best Foreign Language Film. It was also the highest-grossing foreign-language film in the U.S. at the time of its release.

Description: This biographical film about the life of Ip Man, the grandmaster of Wing Chun, showcases his journey and the art's philosophy, with Donnie Yen delivering a powerful performance.

Fact: The film helped to popularize Wing Chun worldwide. It was also the first film to focus on Ip Man's life, leading to several sequels.

Description: This Indonesian film is a relentless, high-octane action thriller, where a SWAT team must fight their way up a building controlled by a ruthless drug lord, featuring some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat scenes ever filmed.

Fact: The film was shot in sequence to maintain the continuity of the action. It was also Gareth Evans' directorial debut, who later directed the sequel.

Description: Tony Jaa's breakout film, "Ong-Bak" introduced the world to the raw power of Muay Thai, with Jaa performing his own stunts, showcasing the art's effectiveness in real combat.

Fact: Tony Jaa performed all his stunts without any wires or CGI, making the action sequences incredibly authentic. The film was a major hit in Asia and helped popularize Muay Thai globally.

Description: Quentin Tarantino's homage to martial arts films, "Kill Bill" features Uma Thurman as The Bride, seeking revenge with a blend of various martial arts styles, including kung fu and sword fighting.

Fact: The film was originally intended to be one movie but was split into two volumes due to its length. It pays tribute to many classic martial arts films through its style and references.

Description: Jackie Chan stars as Wong Fei-hung, learning the "Drunken Boxing" technique, blending comedy with high-energy martial arts action, making it a classic in the genre.

Fact: Jackie Chan performed all his stunts, including the famous scene where he fights while seemingly drunk. The film was a major success in Asia and helped establish Chan's reputation.

Description: Another Bruce Lee classic, "Fists of Fury" showcases Lee's martial arts skills in a story of revenge and honor, set in the early 20th century.

Fact: The film was banned in China for a time due to its portrayal of Japanese characters. It was also one of the first films to bring Bruce Lee to international fame.