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Don't I mean 'FIGHT movies?' Not this time. Ok, ok, fight scenes are a LOT of fun to watch. No denying that; great choreography, two people in perfect synch working together like Fred and Ginger... um, before your time, right? Ok... um... John Travolta and Uma Thurman during the dance scene in 'Pulp Fiction'. That better? Anyway, you get the idea; it can be way cool to see.
BUT... there's something beyond just learning to beat the snot outta someone; training, the philosophy, what drives a person to learn how to be the best at something... and hope you don't use it? These movies aren't about beating up people... this is about a code the samurai, cowboys, and knights followed. A code of discipline honor passed down over centuries.
1. 'The Karate Kid'. Pat Morita passing on knowledge to Ralph Macchio. Hey, we ALL tried that Crane Technique stance. But the beauty of the movie is learning why someone learns the martial ARTS, which is what it is in the end, an art form. The idea of balance, of focus, of dedication.
2. 'Shaolin Master Killer'. Yeah, sounds like your typical chop-socky flick with a young Gordon Liu learning how to fight. Ah, but the TRAINING, you though Daniel had a rough time in 'The Karate Kid'? Boot camp is NOTHING compared to what Gordon goes through to become a true fighting artist. The fun of this one is seeing what drives a guy to learn to be a warrior, and the utter HELL someone has to physically and psychologically go through to be the best.
3. 'Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story'. To this day people talk in hushed tones about Bruce Lee and Jeet Kune Do. However, something special set him apart from EVERY fighter, from Jet Li to Chuck Norris. Bruce Lee saw the fighting arts as a way to teach generations of people how to see the world, to look beyond the surface and see the beauty in all things. You wonder what he could have accomplished if he hadn't died....
4. 'The Last Samurai'. Maverick meets 'Shogun'? 'Dances with Samurai'? Sure, the story is pretty familiar, but the execution is a sight to see. This is the story of a soldier who's lost everything in his heart and soul, and finds it in the eyes of his enemy. Tom Cruise transforms from a bitter, self-destructive Civil War vet to a warrior in the truest sense of the word.