4 of the century’s best action movies are leaving Netflix soon

Love martial arts movies. It’s been a big part of my beat since I joined the Polygon team. But that hasn’t always been true.

The action movies I grew up with were more of the James Bond variety — a lot of spy movies, some superhero fare, with the occasional Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Snuck into. Around 10 years ago I came across an abundance of great modern martial arts films in a single week. Last Man Standing: Undisputed, Universal Soldier Day of ReckoningThen, Blood and Bone I was able to see what could be done in direct-to-video. But it was Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s Ip Man series that cemented my interest in the genre and pushed me to discover more.

Based loosely on the famous Wing Chun master Ip Man’s life, these movies reunite Yip Yen who had previously delivered a series of blockbuster films with SPL The following are some examples of how to get started: Flash Point. Ip Man films combine fantastic fight choreography and moving period pieces, with all of it revolving about the talents of the leading actor, who is a movie superstar operating at his absolute peak.

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Donnie is one of today’s most popular and successful movie actors. Western audiences will probably be more familiar with Donnie Yen from his most recent roles. Rogue One – A Star Wars Story The following are some examples of how to get started: John Wick: Chapter 4.From Shanghai Knights The following are some examples of how to get started: Blade II.He also served as Blade II’s action choreographer). It’s not the first time he used his stardom to drive excellent Hong Kong-style action movies. The Ip Man films are just the most recent example.

Yen’s incredible martial arts skill combined with the series’ choreography is the showiest part of the movies. The way the films rely heavily on Yen’s deep, soulful storytelling elevates it to truly great filmmaking. The Ip Man movies cover tragedies on both the personal and national level, confronting oppression, cruelty, and the many ways people hurt each other — not just through bone-crushing blows.

Yen’s melancholy is just what Ip needs. He begins by fighting because he enjoys it, competing with other martial artists, but eventually he fights to protect the values and people he cherishes. The movies’ narratives and Yen’s performance do a terrific job of building out this clarity of purpose, making it easy for audiences to become deeply invested in his fights.

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There’s plenty more to like about the Ip Man movies, but the standout element is the franchise’s excellent action, helmed by the two most influentialYou can also find out more about the following: accomplished martial arts directors and choreographers of the modern era. Ip Man and Ip Man 2, Sammo Hung, best known as a collaborator with Jackie Chan (his childhood friend), is the director of this action. Ip Man 3You can also find out more about the following: Ip Man 4, The FinaleYuen Wooping, who helped Chan become a superstar with his action. Drunken MasterHe is best known for the Matrix films. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon“;” Kill Bill). In their hands (and Yen’s), the franchise’s fight scenes sing, matching Ip against some of the premier screen fighters working today, including Max Zhang, Louis Fan, Scott Adkins, and Hung himself.

This is the standout battle from Ip ManIp is irate after witnessing the mistreatment of a fellow martial artist by 10 Japanese soldiers. Ip had been quiet, reserved and hesitant until this moment to use his martial arts prowess in the Second Sino-Japanese War against the Japanese soldiers occupying the home he grew up in. But after he witnesses this cruel act against a friend and colleague, a switch is flipped, and Ip brutally dispatches all 10 fighters in a ruthless display of Yen’s unthinkable speed and martial arts skill.

The later films are not content with just re-creating the hit scenes, they add new twists and surprises to their biggest set pieces. The Innkeepers Ip Man 2,Yen battles Sammo Hung atop a table that is barely balanced. In Ip Man 3In a crowded elevator, while he is taking his wife to the hospital, he battles Simon Kook, Tony Jaa’s stunt double.

Ip Man uses impressive choreography for the greater storyline and character beats in these fighting scenes. Yes, they are impressive moments of spectacle, but they aren’t Just click here to learn more. that. Best action movies show us how to convey anger, sorrow, joy and redemption through the movement of our bodies, rather than just using facial expressions. There are few more suitable vehicles than Yen. He is an incredibly skilled martial artist who also has acting abilities to match.

With the Undisputed 2 You can rent or buy digital copies of the book. Universal Soldier Day of Reckoning Crackle is free with advertising. Blood and Bone The Ip Man films were my gateway into martial arts film and they are now available for free on Crackle. Catch them on Netflix before the 21st of July.

If you’re reading this after the movies have left the platform, you can still watch the first three Ip Man movies on Peacock, Hi-Yah!, for free with a library card on Hoopla or Kanopy, or for free with ads on Tubi, Crackle, and Pluto TV. You can watch Ip Man 4, The FinaleHi-Yah is available for free. Hoopla, Kanopy and Hoopla are free to use with your library card. For more Ip Man goodness, I highly recommend also checking out Yuen Woo-ping’s Ip Man 3 Spin-off Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (Peacock, Hi-Yah, for free with a library card on Hoopla and Kanopy, or for free with ads on Crackle, Pluto, and Freevee), and Wong Kar-wai’s very different take on the Ip Man story, The Grand Master Tubi offers free streaming on Prime or Prime with advertising.

For more Donnie Yen excellence, check out In the Line of Duty 4 Free on Tubi Crackle Freevee Wing Chun The film is available for download or digital purchase at Amazon. SPLTubi ads are free. Flash Point (streaming via Peacock or Hi-Yah! for free, with a Hoopla library card, with advertisements on Tubi Pluto and Freevee).