Sadly, there are some nice martial arts films on the market which can be getting ignored, merely due to their sequel standing. Nevertheless, many of those movies are so good (and sometimes have few narrative connections to their predecessor) that they need to be watched on their very own.
Admittedly, as a rule, this would possibly not be the case. The overwhelming majority of martial arts film franchises by no means beat their first films, which is one thing that may be stated for Bloodsport, Ip Man, The Karate Child, Ong-Bak, and The thirty sixth Chamber of Shaolin. They could have produced some worthwhile follow-ups, however the film that began all of it is often the one which followers will revisit essentially the most.
However whereas that is par for the course with martial arts films, there is definitely just a few notable exceptions. Typically, it is the sequel that must be watched extra so than the movie that spawned it.
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Lacking In Motion 2: The Starting
Between 1984 and 1988, Chuck Norris starred as Colonel Thomas Braddock in three Lacking in Motion films. The Lacking in Motion trilogy was a sequence of motion movies centered on the exploits of a extremely killed American soldier who fought within the Vietnam Warfare, not solely in contrast to Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo franchise.
The primary two installments have been filmed again to again, with one exploring Braddock’s experiences as a POW in Vietnam Warfare and the opposite centering on his efforts to free POWs after his escape ten years later. However regardless of being in reverse chronological order, the studio opted to make Braddack’s rescue operation the primary installment.
In consequence, the franchise bought off to a lackluster begin, as Lacking in Motion paled compared to Lacking in Motion 2: The Starting. The movie, which leaned way more closely on Chuck Norris’ martial skills, was stuffed with enjoyable motion sequences and a terrific, well-choreographed finale.
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Return Of The Sentimental Swordsman
The Sentimental Swordsman, an old-school kung fu film from Shaw Brothers, isn’t a foul movie by any means, but it surely’s simply outdone by its direct sequel, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman. It has a extra participating storyline for its two protagonists and a terrific three-on-one remaining showdown that is each thrilling and unpredictable.
It offers with a dynamic between two characters that was constructed within the first film, however Return of the Sentimental Swordsman does a ok job providing a recap that The Sentimental Swordsman hardly seems like required viewing.
The 1981 film leans closely on old-school kung fu film and wuxia tropes to create a very colourful, multi-faceted solid characters with their very own identities and personalities that completely replicate the cartoonish tone and honor-obsessed world they inhabit.
One instance of that’s Alexander Fu Sheng’s character explaining that each time he kills somebody, he provides their title to his left arm, which he refuses to make use of in fight till he is killed 100 males.
The Sentimental Swordsman unites two gifted swordfighters for a team-up towards the villainous and elusive Plum Blossom Bandit. The sequel begins with the 2 on separate paths earlier than in the end reteaming them (and including a 3rd martial artist to the combo).
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Swordsman II
Swordsman II was the second entry in a trilogy of Nineteen Nineties wuxia films tailored from Louis Cha’s The Smiling, Proud Wanderer novel. The primary movie solid Sam Hui as Linghui Chong, the sword-wielding hero from the guide, who bought caught up in a combat over a highly-sought after martial arts guide.
The Swordsman was an ordinary – however pleasing – wuxia story. The sequel was significantly extra formidable, recasting Sam Hui with martial arts celebrity Jet Li and giving Brigitte Lin one of many largest roles of her profession. Its total high quality is underscored by the multitude of Hong Kong awards and nominations it was capable of rack up.
Among the best films that Jet Li made within the Nineteen Nineties, Swordsman II is definitely the excessive level of the trilogy, and incorporates a narrative that might simply work as a standalone story. In spite of everything, it abandons Linghui Chong’s unique supporting solid, so no data of his prior adventures appears essential.
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In The Line Of Responsibility IV: Witness
That includes Donnie Yen in a uncommon villain function, Within the Line of Responsibility IV is certainly one of seven films within the Sure, Madam/Within the Line of Responsibility sequence that started as a Michelle Yeoh-led duology. From the third movie onward, the sequence was headlined by Cynthia Khan, an actress who developed a popularity for amazingly excessive kicks in Nineteen Nineties martial arts films.
Plot-wise, the movies are very loosely linked, with the most important connective tissue being a shared central premise – a feminine detective with martial arts expertise preventing organized crime in Hong Kong. For that cause, it is simple to enter Within the Line of Responsibility IV with out seeing the primary three films and simply get pleasure from an action-packed trip.
Within the Line of Responsibility IV affords some nice motion sequences for Khan and Yen, in addition to a compelling storyling for its male lead, a seemingly atypical fisherman who finds himself framed and compelled to align with Khan’s character.
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Tiger Cage 2
Like Within the Line of Responsibility IV, Tiger Cage 2 is a lesser-known martial arts sequel that features Donnie Yen in a big half. The primary movie was an entertaining, albeit forgettable, martial arts cop film about 4 detectives, with Yen’s character failing to outlive the story.
Tiger Cage 2 may have benefited drastically from a recent title that seperated itself fully from its predecessor. Doing so would not have been troublesome, provided that Tiger Cage 2 solely shares two main solid members from the identical film and not one of the identical characters.
They don’t seem to be missed, although, as Tiger Cage 2 places collectively a a lot memorable group of characters, with Donnie Yen and Rosamund Kwan having fun with nice chemistry because the female and male protagonists who’re pressured to work collectively, permitting for a humorous, will-they-won’t-they dynamic that performs out all through the film alongside the motion.
However what actually makes Tiger Cage 2 stand out is the ultimate act; quite than cease at one nice combat scene to finish the film, Donnie Yen will get 4, as he advances previous every enemy in video game-like trend, with every one posing a singular and intense problem.