Top 10 Action Films Based On Highflying Wire-Fu

What is Wire-Fu Action?. Simple, it's a mixture of "wire work" and "kung fu". These movies has plenty of raw action sequences performed through wirework and high flying kung fu stuff. Here, the ability of our hero's and villains to climb walls, to leap to the rooftops and soar from building to building , not to mention engaging each other in aerial combat that soars from the peak of a mountain top to the rocks of a mountain stream in a single take. Let's see the list of best action movies which features wire work-enhanced action sequences...

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

***Breathtaking, Visually Stunning And High Flying Wu Xia***

"Sir Te: A sword by itself rules nothing. It only comes alive in skilled hands."

"Li Mu Bai: No growth without assistance. No action without reaction. No desire without restraint. Now give yourself up and find yourself again."

A swordsman Master Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow) returns to the woman he secretly loves, to tell her he's decided to give up the life of a warrior. As a token, he gives her his signature weapon, the Green Destiny sword, and asks her to deliver it to the governor in Beijing.

Ang Lee directs this epic chinese fantasy with real class, the film is amazing. The look, the sound, the story and characters, the music, the set design, especially the choreography of the fights is amazing. There is a real beauty to each and every frame of every scene thanks to the combination of Peter Pau's cinematography and Ang Lee's direction.

A romance, an adventure, a meditation on how the choices we make narrow our paths in life, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is one of the great films of our time.

2. The Matrix (1999)

***Immensely Entertaining , One Of The Best "Top Of The World" Sci-Fi Movie***

" Morpheus: "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."

This is one of the most memorable scenes from the first Matrix movie.

This will blow your mind as Morpheos said to Neo. And guess what: he was right. This movie is action packed but not all special effects. There are some really intense action sequences that they were able to create not involving jumping off walls and shooting a huge bank full of people. Like when Neo goes into the Matrix for the very first time. Be prepared to learn something cool about one of the people. Although it does take a little while before Neo goes into the Matrix. A good hour and a bit. But he does some extraordinary things like the kungfu scene and his first jump. And even the first scene when Trinity is in. Whoho. You don't want to miss this. A good story and good special effects.

3. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) 

***One Of The Bloodiest And Boldest Action Movie Ever***

"Bill: Do you find me sadistic? You know, I bet I could fry an egg on your head right now, if I wanted to. You know, Kiddo, I'd like to believe that you're aware enough even now to know that there's nothing sadistic in my actions. Well, maybe towards those other... jokers, but not you. No Kiddo, at this moment, this is me at my most...

Bill: masochistic.

The Bride: Bill... it's your baby..."

"Kill Bill" involves a nameless woman (Uma Thurman) who is slowing seeking revenge on her former hit squad the Viper Squad and her boss Bill (David Caradine.) Her former "The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad" hit squad wronged her by gunning down her closest friends and family during her wedding rehersal and gunning her into a coma while being pregnant. A few years later she wakes up in a hospital, without child, and tries to track down each member of the squad. As the story progresses, you find out who she really, why Bill wanted her dead and the fate of her daughter.

Quentin Tarantino has delivered to the screen a martial arts, tour-de-force, ultra-violent, cool-as-hell cinematic masterpiece. The fight scenes in this film are absolutely amazing, impossible but still amazing especially black mambas (thurman) fight with gogo yubari. Uma looked like a great fighter in this film, her trainers done a great job. Very entertaining and a fun adrenaline rush throughout!

4. Hero (2002)

***Astonishing Cinematography With Hard Hitting Martial Arts***

"Nameless: Broken Sword said "The people have suffered years of warfare. Only the King of Qin can stop the chaos by uniting all under Heaven."

Jet Li plays "Nameless" an assassin, deadly at 10 paces, sent to kill the emperor of Qin, a despot who uses whatever means available, including murder and pillage, to unite his country. Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung), Sky (Donnie Yen) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) are the Emperor's enemies whom Nameless must kill in order to win the Emperor's trust so that he can get close to him.

The cinematography and effects are truly the main characters in this film, but Jet Li turns in a quietly effective performance as Nameless, the hero of the epic tale that is part Greek tragedy and part ancient Chinese philosophy.

If you happen to admire a movie with an intelligent plot, fully realized characters and a wagon load full of passion, I can't think of a better movie to recommend. Hero is a visual symphony.

5. House of Flying Daggers (2004)

***A True Feast For The Senses And Beautiful Romantic Adventure***

"Jin: What's your name?

Mei: Mei

Jin: Mei?

Jin: Every girl here is named after a flower. Why is yours so plain?

Mei: I don't want to compete with those others girls. The flowers here can hardly be called flowers. Real flowers bloom in the wilderness."

Zhang Ziyi plays a blind dancer called Mei who is being suspected of being the daughter of the leader of the Flying Daggers, an organization aiming to overthrow the government. Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a playboy who is working with Leo (Andy Lau) to infiltrate the Flying Daggers, and Jin hopes that by tailing Mei, she will eventually lead him to her leader and organization. And Zhang Yimou's direction is masterful, done with panache and very poetic and artful.

"House of Flying Daggers" isn't quite a masterpiece, however it is a very good movie. The story and pace are gripping, the script is thoughtful, the music is haunting and Zhang Ziyi is electrifying. What really makes House of Flying Daggers such a treat are the visuals, fight sequences and the direction. The whole film is lavishly photographed complete with a lot of stunning scenery and lovely costumes.

6. Iron Monkey (1993)

***A Classic And Wonderful Martial Arts Film Ever***

"Iron Monkey: Don't take things too seriously, and you will always be at ease."

The corrupt officials of a Chinese province find themselves the target of Iron Monkey (Rongguang Yu), a sort of Chinese Robin Hood. When Wong Kei Ying (Donnie Yen) and a young Wong Fei Hung (Sze-Man Tsang) arrive in town, Kei Ying is forced to help the corrupt authorities track down Iron Monkey. Naturally, things get complicated when a group of Shaolin rebels arrive in town.

It has good actors, good photography, excellent story and great fighting, especially if you like wire works and fast paced kung fu. Yu Rong Guang and Donnie Yen shows some really good acting and Tsang Sae Man is perfect as a young Wong Fei Hung. if you can buy the flying around stuff, you'll enjoy it. No, seriously - its a good flick, and one I wouldn't mind watching again.

7. Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

***Jet Li's Splendid And Refreshing Action Film***

"Richard: There is a time for diplomacy and a time for action. Diplomacy is dead." 

"Kiss of the Dragon" movie is about a Chinese Intelligence officer (Jet Li) who goes to France with the help from the local police to get a Chinese guy who has been smuggling drugs. The Chinese guy is killed by the corrupt french detective Richard and tries to track Li down to get the tape of the murder back. Jet Li once again proves he is indeed an action superstar.

The fight sequences in "Kiss of the Dragon" are very well executed and choreographed. Probably the one fight I will remember would probably be the fight between Jet Li and the two blonde-haired henchmen, played by French actors Cyril Raffaelli and Didier Azoulay. So if you haven't seen this movie, I'd strongly suggest you do, especially if you are a fan of any sort of action films.

8. Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

***A Solid, Haunting And Unique Adventure Film***

"Jean-Francois de Morangias: So tell me sir, do they speak of the beast in Paris?

Gregoire De Fronsac: Speak of it? They're already singing songs about it.

Geneviève de Morangias: Instead of singing songs, they should be saying prayers. "

"Brotherhood Of The Wolf" take place in France during the reign of King Louis XV in 1776.it chronicles the hunt for a an unseen and unknown beast that has responsible for many deaths and has paralyzed the citizens with fear.two men with special talent are dispatched to find and destroy the monster.

The period in which it is set is pretty original especially since it poses as a true story although it is complete fiction. It is cleverly done, glorifies intellect over strength, and still somehow incorporates stylistic, ballet-like martial arts fighting.

9. So Close (2002)

***A Slick And Glossy Action Thriller For Everyone***

"Hong Yat Hong: A gun is like a bird. If you don't grab it tightly enough, it flies away. If you grab it too tightly, it will die."

"So Close" movie is about the lives of a pair of super human sisters, Lin (Shu Qi) and Sue (Zhao Wei), who are assassins for hire, and the super human Hong Kong Police detective, Hong (Karen Mok), who is trying to catch everyone of them. Lin does the killing while her younger computer savvy sister Sue assists her with the help of their father's satellite tracking software.

The cinematography on this film is beautiful enhancing the beautiful characters that fills the screen. All the props are stylish, and background well thought out to bring maximum beauty of the girls performing the action. I would definitely recommend it. If you like hot babes kicking some serious ass you should see this movie.

10. Romeo Must Die (2000)

***A Good Martial Art Film With Depth***

"Kai: I was afraid prison would make you soft.

Han Sing: People don't get soft in prison."

Han Sing (Jet Li) is an ex-cop who is sitting in a prison in Hong-Kong, when he hear that his brother is found and hanged in the US, Han escapes from prison and goes to America, where he is hoping to get his brothers killer. Meanwhile he falls in love with Trish (Aaliyah), but she is the daughter of the man that Han's father is in battle with . Han and Trish are trying to find out of why the to families fighting each other, without knowing that it will put them both in great danger.

This is not Jet Li's best movie, because he don't get to show of his best fighting skills. Even though Jet Li doesn't get to fight all the time,it is still an entertaining movie. If you're just after a brilliant kung fu film "Romeo must die" is a dream come true for you because it's visually incredible artwork, a real eye candy with a superb, stylish camerawork and highly choreographic fight scenes.

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