Jet Li has spearheaded all kinds of martial arts film collection over the course of his distinguished profession, although some fare higher than others in a vital eye.Born Li Lianjie, Jet Li has grow to be generally known as some of the iconic martial arts film stars of all time due to his spectacular profession spanning a whopping 40 years of distinguished hand-to-hand fight in cinema. Proficient in a wide range of conventional kung fu weaponry in addition to his naked fists, Li’s mastery of all kinds of martial arts varieties has made him a formidable point of interest for a lot of movies.
A lot of Jet Li’s most prolific movies are one-offs, from the semi-biographical Fearless to the pulse-pounding The Bodyguard in Beijing, recognized in the US as The Defender. Nonetheless, he is significantly nice because the spearhead of a franchise, as has been seen many instances all through his profession. Sadly, Li is commonly included in solely a single entry of a number of movie collection, however his roles are simply the very best a part of lots of them, making it protected to notice them as “Jet Li” franchises even when he is solely in a single third of a trilogy.
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The Tai Chi Grasp Duology
Began Robust, However Switched Up Too Dramatically
It says rather a lot that even the weakest of the Jet Li-led collection nonetheless have a lot to get pleasure from about them. Tai Chi Grasp makes use of simply how versatile Jet Li’s arsenal of martial arts varieties is by positing him as Zoeng Gwanbou, a well-known Toaist and the supposed creator of tai chi. The movie examines the martial arts origins as Gwanbou enters a tragic best-friends-to-enemies arc together with his shut comrade Tienbou, an aggressive and power-hungry martial artist desirous to ascend the ranks of the army by any means essential.
The unique Tai Chi Grasp is a stable sufficient entry in Jet Li’s catalog. Whereas tai chi could also be higher generally known as a delicate, swish type of train utilized by senior residents in parks, Li makes it appear like probably the most highly effective preventing model ever conceived. Sadly, the sequel, Tai Chi Boxer, loses rather a lot by switching Jet Li for Jacky Wu, angling itself as extra of a romantic comedy. Tai Chi Boxer is not horrible by any means, however nonessential sufficient to tug down the weighted common of the Tai Chi Grasp duology far beneath the usual for Li’s greatest.
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The Shaolin Temple Trilogy
A Disconnected Handful Of Totally different Tales
Typically cited as considered one of Jet Li’s best accomplishments, 1982’s Shaolin Temple was groundbreaking in some ways, being one of many first main co-productions between Hong Kong and China in addition to the primary of many shaolin kung fu movies to truly be shot on-location in an actual shaolin monastery. Nonetheless, arguably the movie’s most necessary “first” is the truth that it was truly Jet Li’s debut position, starring him as a former insurgent who turns into a shaolin monk, struggling to stability his sense of morality together with his newfound vows.
The unique Shaolin Temple remains to be considered one of Li’s greatest, although his greenness as a performer (although actually not as a martial artist) does shine by in a number of locations. Li returned for the sequel, Shaolin Temple 2: Youngsters from Shaolin, although confusingly as a brand new character. The movie is a sequel in identify solely, having nothing in widespread with its predecessor save for additionally happening in a shaolin temple. The straightforward, extra playful and kid-oriented story weaves a extra generic yarn about rival households banding collectively in opposition to bandits.
Yet one more name-only sequel starring Li as a brand new character launched in 1986 with Martial Artwork of Shaolin, formally making for a trilogy. This movie provides a much more compelling plot starring Li as a rebellious monk who secretly plots to assassinate a tyrannical Justice of the Peace accountable for killing his household. Every installment of the trilogy works by itself, however as a cohesive entire, they honestly do not feel like a correct collection. As nice of a star as Shaolin Temple made out of Li, it is nonetheless tough across the edges.
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The Fist Of Legend “Collection”
If It Can Even Be Referred to as One
Remaking the beloved 1972 Bruce Lee movie Fist of Fury is a frightening process for even probably the most assured of martial arts stars, however Jet Li was by some means capable of pull it off in Fist of Legend. Right here, Li takes up the mantle of Bruce Lee’s well-known character Chen Zhen, a ferocious fighter embodying Lee’s philosophy and expertise. As soon as once more, Zhen units out for revenge after his grasp is murdered by a Japanese karateka. Fist of Legend is a worthy adaptation of such an iconic story, providing sufficient of its personal model to face out as considered one of Li’s greatest.
Fist of Legend does even have an unofficial sequel in Fist of Legend 2: Iron Bodyguard, a weird cash-grab utilizing the model recognition of the title to rake in some fast money. Hilariously sufficient, the movie encompasses a Jet Li imitator (hilariously named “Jet Le” in some credit) preventing a Jean-Claude Van Damme imitator. The sorry excuse for a kung fu movie is generally recycled footage from 1974’s The Bodyguard, single-handedly dragging down the esteemed worth of the Fist of Legend identify to plop the “collection” sq. within the heart of Jet Li’s legacy.
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The Fong Sai-yuk Duology
Lovably Chaotic And Sprawling
One other of Jet Li’s better-known star automobiles, Fong Sai-yuk is an award-winning masterpiece that proved Jet Li’s relevance would endure into the subsequent decade and past. Li stars because the titular folks hero, a well-liked icon in Chinese language martial arts historical past stated to be the legendary progenitor of the highly effective kung fu model Hung Ga. Fong Sai-yuk has a few of the greatest comedy of Jet Li’s profession, with hilarious beats of dramatic irony and mistaken id blended into the breathtaking choreography, solely to modify gears within the remaining act and grow to be a political thriller.
Fong Sai-yuk II expands on this sub-plot, seeing Fong and his mom formally be part of the ranks of the Pink Flower Society in hopes of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. The sequel doubles down on advanced political intrigue whereas virtually outdoing its predecessor at factors with its motion, having Jet Li struggle off a mysterious wandering Japanese ronin and hordes of unhealthy guys. Each Fong Sai-yuk movies are maybe a bit messy and bloated, however have a definite attraction to them, to not point out arguably a few of Jet Li’s greatest struggle scenes ever.
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The As soon as Upon A Time In China Collection
Maybe The Pinnacle Of Jet Li’s Profession
The one Jet Li-led collection to broaden past three movies, the primary As soon as Upon A Time in China remains to be auded as considered one of Li’s greatest triumphs for a very good purpose. But once more, Li portrays a well-liked Chinese language martial arts folks hero as Wong Fei-hung, additionally portrayed in lots of different important motion pictures reminiscent of Jackie Chan’s Drunken Grasp duology. In As soon as Upon a Time in China, Wong Fei-hung is tasked with defending his faculty and clinic from gangsters whereas finding out his emotions for the daughter of his father’s sworn brother.
Between its heartfelt human storyline and the sheer magic of its breathtaking stunts, As soon as Upon A Time in China is not simply considered one of Jet Li’s greatest, but additionally some of the necessary kung fu motion pictures ever made. The franchise spawned from the primary film by some means by no means fails to exceed expectations, even when Li himself would not return for the fourth and fifth entries. With such a robust begin adopted by an everlasting legacy of 5 further movies, the As soon as Upon A Time in China collection is handily Jet Li‘s greatest.