Hero (2002)

It's interesting comparing this to American-made, big budget, historical epics. This was China's stab at something like Pearl Harbor or The Patriot where money is not an object in helping to bring history to life - and of course it leaves us in the dust. Maybe it's because Yimou Zhang was directing, but this actually feels like a film rather than just spectacle. For all the lavish sets and costumes of Gone with the Wind, I have no clue what that film is actually about. This film is about something and has a message to impart about world affairs. And it's not some generic message either like "all's well that ends well". But perhaps to a Chinese audience the "message" is "old hat" and I just see it as profound because it's not American. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)

This film made me feel a very specific type of cinephile shame. Of the four Lone Wolf and Cub films that I've seen so far, I like this one best. So where does shame come into the equation? My shame comes from the fact that this is the first film in the series not directed by the legendary Kenji Misumi, who in addition to directing the bulk of this series, also directed six of the Zatoichi films. This is the one and only film in the series directed by Buichi Saito whose filmography is filled with films only an aficionado in Japanese cinema might recognize. I swear I'm not saying all of this to be a contrarian. I'm not trying to be "that guy" who prefers Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music to Transformer. I'm not even saying it is a masterpiece. Like the other films it suffers from not being able to successfully balance the ongoing story with the "adventure of the week". But thanks to Saito's particular use of pans, tracking shots and push-ins, my attention was maintained throughout the litany of endings. Perhaps I should track down more Buichi Saito films. Maybe I'll be the guy who "discovers" this forgotten master! Or maybe I'll just be that contrarian guy.

The Grandmaster (2013)

The past plays a huge role in the work of Wong Kar Wai. His characters are haunted by friends, lovers and eras both long and recently departed. Wong's cinema recognizes that the passage of time is inevitable. Nothing can stop it. In this film in particular, characters are literally fighting the future via exquisitely staged kung fu battles. Yet, no matter who wins any particular match, history marches on. It is a wave that cannot be stopped. Some things are allowed to endure. Others are pulled out to sea in a rip current. Those are the cold, hard facts. Yet unlike other Wong Kar Wai films which tend to focus on the person in mourning, this film gives voice to the one being mourned as well. Nobody gets an easy break.

The Streetfighter (1974)

After turning down a kidnapping job because the money isn't good enough, mercenary Terry (Sonny Chiba) becomes a marked man and must take down his would-be employers.

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If you only know Sonny Chiba from his brief role as samurai swordsmith Hattori Hanzo in the Kill Bill films, boy are you missing out. For my money Chiba can stand toe-to-toe with the great Toshirô Mifune when it comes to sheer charismatic bad-assery. If you find yourself looking for a good entry point to this living legend's fifty-year career, look no further than the classic that is The Streetfighter, the first film ever rated X for violence! Need more incentive? This is the film Clarence is watching in True Romance when he first meets Alabama! I knew that last bit would really sell you on this!

Now when you finally decide to inject this movie into your life, be careful you aren't acquiring either of the awful live-action adaptations of the similarly titled Street Fighter video games. If you start the movie and see either Jean-Claude Van Damme or Kristin Kreuk on your screen, you fucked up royally. Actually, let me make things easy for you. Since the film is public domain, not available on Netflix and can most often be found in the dollar bin, here's a link to the entire film on Youtube. Surely not the ideal way to experience any film, but until Criterion or somebody issues a pristine, anamorphic, Blu-ray transfer, this will have to do. Now don't say I never gave you anything. You're welcome.

The Game of Death (1972)

Hai Tien (Bruce Lee) must battle several martial arts masters to reach the top of a Pagoda where something important is being kept.

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Bruce Lee died before this film was complete. It was finished using doubles. A hilarious film called Finishing the Game was made about the fictional search for an actor to double Bruce. But honestly there is nobody on earth who could possibly substitute for Bruce Lee. The man was a machine and capable of things no mere mortal could ever even think of attempting. Thankfully Warner Brothers saw fit to take all of the original Bruce footage, and assemble it as Bruce intended for inclusion on the Enter the Dragon DVD. I highly recommend you do the footwork necessary to see these scenes - they're worth it.

And before you ask: Yes, this is where Tarantino got the idea of having Uma wear a yellow track suit in Kill Bill Vol. 1.