5 of the Greatest Fight Scenes in Movies...Feel Free to Debate Amongst Yourselves

I have always enjoyed the martial arts. I always enjoyed watching monks smash spear with their throats or catch ninja stars with their faces. I believe that God has created the human body to do amazing and nearly impossibly things and that we all have untapped abilities. I mean we won't be shooting fireballs out of our hands anytime soon but I read stories of a woman lifting a car to save her child or that guy who lifted his tractor off of his buddy to save his life and I can't help but sit in awe of what we can actually do when the moment calls for it.

With that being said, some people have shown us that we can unleash all that unlocked potential on another human being and capture on film for our enjoyment. I am a little biased because I have practiced martial arts and my top five will more than likely be all martial artsy movies. Do not assume I am blind to the fact that no one attacks all at once or that a 540 spin kick wouldn't have practical applications in this world, but I view these as a simple, "what if" scenario. What if everything worked out like this? That, my friends, would be awesome.

5. The Protector
This is Tony Jaa, a Thailand native that is a practitioner in Muay Thai...this man breaks about 100 bones and it is amazing. Skip to about 2:30 into it. What is his reason? Why is he so small and angry? Because they stole his freaking elephant...never steal a man's elephant...it's jut wrong and it forces a man like Tony Jaa to destroy half of Bangkok.

4. Ong Bak
Another one from Tony Jaa from his movie Ong Bak. What makes this movie great is that the budget for this move was low...very very low so the fighting, the impact, and the pain is all very, very real. Skip about a minute or two into it. It starts with his fight with Meatloaf...and why is he small and angry in this film? Because some jerk stole the head of his god and he travels to and destroys the other half of Bangkok to get it back...

3. Fist of Legend
Jet Li is well known in America for his works such as Romeo Must Die...and Cradle 2 The Grave...and...never mind. What makes this fight scene great is that not a lot of people have seen it because it was released in China and only some hardcore people have seen this amazing fight. The reason he walks in is because his master was killed by a Japanese Karate master and he suspects foul play and goes in to talk to him...

2. The Expendables
Stallone is a grown man, Statham is a grown man, this movie is a grown man movie...with that being said, this movie actually had a little substance to it and though the acting was a bit sub-par and not Oscar caliber by any means, the action in this movie was very enjoyable and the fighting was a bit practical and easy to believe...also, after seeing this movie you should want an AA12 Automatic Shotgun...you should. They are on a small island ruled by a dictator and Stallone and Statham are staking out the place with a contact on the island and are caught by a roving patrol...anger and violence follow.

1. Flashpoint
Donnie Yen is the probably an unsung hero of martial arts. He has been shunned for not sticking to traditional Kung Fu and actually using something someone will use in real life. He is a bit older and some people have never even heard of him, but sometimes that a good thing but not in this case at all. Everyone should at least give him a try and I will give you a chance to here and now. The reason he is so angry and awesome is because the man he fights chucked a little girl into the streets to try and get away (that's what Donnie's looking at at the beginning.) I enjoyed this movie because the storyline was very intriguing in and of itself and the fighting was beyond anything I had ever seen because of the mix of martial arts and styles this man is capable of...enjoy.

<EDIT>

I have spent the last five minutes sitting here with my friend to try and get this video on here but I cannot for some reason and that is sad and very disappointing...so I will post the link and plead with you to watch this video...watch it please...

Watch Me Please


Again, these are just my opinions and are in no way supported by science or facts or math...if you disagree please post a video of something you consider a great fight scene and I would love to watch it. If you want to debate with civility I would happily do that as well. I hope you enjoy and perhaps have a better appreciation of the martial arts movie genre.

Land of the Free and the Home of the Whopper

To be completely honest I've never written a blog because I always assumed it was sign of acute narcissism to assume that others would want to read what you have to say/write, but I find it cathartic to see my thoughts instead of having arguments with myself at the local bookstore. So for those of you who are expecting more angry rants, I apologize and I may give a few more here and there sans the immense amount of venom in my other blog.

I always enjoy going on Facebook because, believe it or not, I enjoy keeping up with others that I can't simply drive or walk to. I have family in Atlanta, Mobile, and friends all over the world and it's always a joy to see what's going on all the way in Korea or Haiti. One thing I don't enjoy, however, is this new typing trend that seems to be striking it big among those under the 21 year old age mark. Is it bad that it's so bothersome to me that I actually delete people I have connections with? Does that make me a narcissist in and of itself? I don't really know...

I've always considered myself a Grammar Nazi and if you've never heard the term then allow me to explain. A Grammar Nazi, according to the very reliable Urban Dictionary is, "A person who believes proper grammar (and spelling) should be used by everyone whenever possible" I adamantly believe that everyone has a right to express themselves through speech and however else they see fit, but I also believe, equally as adamant, that there is a limit and that it can get out of hand. I think there are standards that should be upheld and I also think that people should know when it's expression of self and expression of ignorance like when a person takes a black and white photo of a swing and thinks it's art...but to assume that I am ultimately right is also a sign of ignorance.

So Deep...

I'm also an ornery, old man who thinks that the new generation is full of morons, but I'm sure that those before me also feel the same way about me. I mean, does this bother you? When I read something like this for instance,

"2 da moviesss with mah babeee hittt me uppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(Actual Status Update)

I can't help but place my forehead into the palm of my hand and form what is professionally known as the  "Facepalm" not to be confused with the "Palm Strike" from Iron Fist Shaolin...I remember when I was a teenager, however, and I used to type LiKe tHis so I am not a spotless lamb in this department. 

Maybe I should just lighten up and just realize that every generation has a different set of rules and is also a different culture altogether. 


This, however, is so ridiculously funny...

When my prior training as a Grammar SS comes bubbling to the surface I usually end my comment with, "This is why the immigrants win." I can see how this could be misconstrued as callous and little racist but I usually say this because I grew up around Korean immigrants and I always remember the kids around me studying like crazy to learn English while I did nothing to learn Korean and always felt like I was better than them because I was fluent in English...that is, until a year later when they were pretty much fluent in both Korean and English and going to Yale and NYU becoming doctors...not joking. With the exception of one of the kids who immigrated from Korea, all of them are either famous musicians or in the Medical Field. Don't get me wrong, I know one or two of my friends from high school that are studying medicine and doing very well, but not in another country with another language to learn.

This Guy isn't Kidding...

That being said, I've always felt a little prideful because I was, in fact, born in America and I've never had to study hard up until college. (You should have seen my first semester) I've never had to worry about much since I've been in the Army either because they take very good care of a guy like me. Are we, as a people, descending into a state of comfortable ignorance? Are we turning a blind eye to the over-saturation of media? I don't know and it's not really my place to rant and call people out. I just wanted the opinion of you, the reader on what you think of what I've been talking about or does this just sound like a passive-aggressive rant? I love my country and I love being the greatest fighting force in the world but unless we learn to use the grammar bestowed upon us by the countless people who've died for our right to speak it, I earnestly believe we will continue to be the laughingstock of those around us and that worries me.

P.S. If you want to read a very good blog I would recommend Going Here, she's one of the coolest Grammar Nazis around.

Remember, this February is buy any footlong at Subway for five dollars...plus tax.