December 26, 2018
An undercover cop and a reformed criminal battle against a nasty gang in the Paris ghettos. Has some of the best stunts ever – by David Belle, the father of parkour.
Sequel: District 13: Ultimatum (2009)
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Tony D'Amario, Bibi Naceri
IMDb: 7.2
Where: Hulu, iTunes, Amazon On Demand
A team of commandos must get through every floor of a high-rise apartment block to catch a brutal crime lord. This movie was the first time Western audiences got to see the amazing skill of Iko Uwais. A smart, intense action movie with ruthless martial arts fight scenes.
Sequel: The Raid 2 (2014)
Director: Gareth Evans (as Gareth Huw Evans)
Cast: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy
IMDb: 7.6
Where: iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
A former assassin wakes from a coma and seeks out revenge. I’m not a fan of Quentin Tarantino, but I do like this film. The fight scenes are stunning. Martial arts choreography by Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix) and master swordsman Tetsuro Shimaguchi.
Sequel: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
IMDb: 8.1
Where: iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
Gripping account of September 11, 2012, when terrorists in Benghazi, Libya killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The film is about the soldiers and their sacrifices. Intense action.
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale
IMDb: 7.3
Where: Amazon Prime, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
A martial arts master must protect himself and his family from greedy foreigners. Jet Li is the real deal (national wushu champion five years in a row), and his speed and agility are quite on display here.
Sequels: Once Upon a Time in China II and III (1992, 1993)
Director: Hark Tsui
Cast: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Biao Yuen
IMDb: 7.4
Where: DVD
A treasured statue is stolen from a humble village, and one of the villagers goes on a quest to retrieve it. This was the first time Western audiences got to see the amazing skill of Tony Jaa.
Sequels: Ong Bak 2 (2008), Ong Bak 3 (2010)
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Cast: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Pumwaree Yodkamol
IMDb: 7.2
Where: Hulu, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
Schoolchildren are randomly chosen and forced to fight one another to the death. A Japanese classic. Before there was Hunger Games, there was Battle Royale.
Sequel: Battle Royale 2 (2003)
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto
IMDb: 7.7
Where: iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu, Google Play
A young card shark gets swindled and decides to rob a neighbor to pay off his debt. A classic action comedy. Jason Statham’s first movie.
Sequels (sort of): Snatch (2000), RocknRolla (2008)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
IMDb: 8.2
Where: Starz, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
An ex-assassin’s wife is killed by some bad guys, and he seeks out revenge. Has become a cult classic.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen
IMDb: 7.3
Where: iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
A mild-mannered doctor is also secretly a Robin-Hood-like hero for the poor and oppressed, who must go up against corrupt authorities. A Donnie Yen classic.
Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
Cast: Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang
IMDb: 7.6
Where: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
An ex-soldier who just wants to mind his own business befriends a teenager who subsequently gets injured by Russian mobsters. Reluctanctly, he steps in to go after the bad guys.
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz
IMDb: 7.2
Where: FX, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu