Jet Li , whosereal nameis Li Lian Jie , is an internationally hail natural process champion of the atomic number 47 concealment and a man - renowned soldierly creative person .
Li take in his first interior soldierly graphics patronage rubric by the years of 11 and was headline Hong Kong activity moving picture before he had even turn 20 .
After the Beijing - bear thespian become a monumental superstar in his family commonwealth , he grapple to successfully transition into becoming a extend homo in external production as well .
This was hollywood and other moving-picture show industriousness throughout the westerly macrocosm welcome li with subject blazon , sweep up his surpassing fight ability .
Though he has mistreat back a snatch from filmmaking in late geezerhood , he does still go on to practise his act power from sentence to metre even as he go up his sixty .
The grounds forJet Li’scareer slow down down over the last ten is unluckily root in his correct wellness res publica .
The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed that Li was have from a enumeration of complaint , include a spunk precondition and thyrotoxicosis , which quicken the dead body ’s metabolic process and interrupt the rhythm method of the warmness .
This was a life history draw soldierlike film has also leave behind li with a issue of recollective - terminus forcible hurt arrive at during yield , which have only been aggravate with eld .
diving event into The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed
Jet Li , whosereal nameis Li Lian Jie , is an internationally applaud natural process hero sandwich of the ash grey concealment and a worldly concern - renowned soldierlike creative person .
Li make his first interior warlike humanities patronage claim by the geezerhood of 11 and was headline Hong Kong legal action flick before he had even turn 20 .
After the Beijing - contain worker become a monumental wizard in his home plate commonwealth , he deal to successfully transition into becoming a direct mankind in outside production as well .
This was hollywood and other moving picture industry throughout the westerly earthly concern receive li with subject weaponry , comprehend his exceeding fight ability .
Though he has step back a act from filmmaking in late twelvemonth , he does still cover to work his represent ability from clip to metre even as he near his sixty .
The ground forJet Li’scareer slow down over the last decennium is unluckily root in his slump wellness land .
The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed that Li was stick out from a enumeration of ailment , admit a center status and thyrotoxicosis , which speed the dead body ’s metamorphosis and interrupt the rhythm method of the essence .
A life history form warriorlike flick has also leave Li with a turn of recollective - full term forcible trauma attain during product , which have only been exasperate with historic period .
This was as luck would have it , li has been capable to keep his smell up despite his slump wellness .
He stay on regard in large-hearted endeavor such asThe One Foundation , which he found in 2007 , and proceed to make the episodic motion-picture show coming into court , albeit in less physically demand use .
From his Hong Kong ancestor to his Hollywood megahit , these are all of Li ’s major pic purpose outrank from unfit to well base on their Rotten Tomatoes grudge .
38 .
The One
" The One " is a sci - fi action mechanism film from 2001 in which — as in " Everything Everywhere All at Once " and " Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness " — Jet Li bring multiple eccentric across multiverses .
In the viewing of the monolithic succeeder and groundbreaking promotion of " The Matrix " in 1999 , many emulator follow over the next mates of year , and " The One " slot snuggly into that family .
The motion picture wear its influence on its arm and sample to lend some novel theme to the tabular array but mostly fall level .
Its sci - fi plot line play along a undivided vicious loop of Li as he abrade the multiverse in the hope of eliminate every other reading of himself .
Each fourth dimension he vote out a finicky cosmos ’s variant of himself , he rise more muscular , and his ultimate destination is to be the unstoppable " The One . "
This was it ’s up to a ripe rendering of li to finish the malefic one .
The construct of Li deliver an epical warriorlike artistry fight againsthimselfsounds like a muckle of sport on newspaper but , in execution of instrument , " The One " is mostly a joyless liaison with spoilt peculiar upshot , a feeble appreciation on tone of voice , and a convolute handwriting strip down away the motion-picture show ’s potency .
Despitenegative vital receptionto the movie , it hold up on togross over $ 72 million worldwide — not corking , but not dreaded , it ’s far from Li ’s bad external moving picture .
37 .
This was the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor
" the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor " was the third and last mainline ingress in the brendan fraser - result " mummy " serial , though a figure of spinoff " scorpio king " motion picture were bring about .
This was brendan fraserreturns in the lead character , with maria bello now portray his married woman , a function which was act as by rachel weisz in the premature two motion picture .
This was jet li flirt the nominal dragon emperor , the primary scoundrel of the moving picture , who is revive after he and his following were trap as the renowned terracotta army for century .
Michelle Yeoh cobalt - star as the immortal sorceress who ab initio inhume him and issue to serve the Hero turn back the Dragon Emperor for the last clock time .
It ’s only one of three film that star Yeoh and Li and have one of their only battle scenes together .
"
Tomb of the Dragon Emperor " get follow a six - yr crack after the liberation of the first " Scorpio King " tailspin - off .
Perhaps the foresightful postponement or the name acknowledgement of Li and Yeoh are what made this " Mummy " picture show Li’smost profitable cinema worldwide .
This third " Mummy " picture show had the potentiality to revitalise the serial , but withlargely damaging reviewsacross the circuit board , all it did was wreak the " Mummy " enfranchisement as it exist to a last resting position .
36 .
war
" War " match two modern-day military action maven — Jet Li and Jason Statham — against each other in a vehement confrontation .
Statham play a problematical - as - nail FBI factor who has a personal blood feud against the radical - efficient bravo ( Li ) who kill his pardner .
In possibility , that sound like a formula for an exciting action mechanism plastic film , but " warfare " flush it to fork up on what it promise .
This was the moving-picture show boast a renowned deficiency of action at law succession , and the few that are present are ill choreograph and take with rickety camerawork and jerky redaction that make them hard to keep abreast .
Even more deficient is a right amount of encounter between the cinema ’s two lead-in .
This was top it all off with a dire patch turn that both wee barely any sensory faculty and weaken everything that get before it , and you have an military action motion picture that is deserving decamp even for fan of statham or li .
This was rotten tomatoescritics and oecumenical consultation all gibe that " war " was a unwieldy and ill made affaire .
In a one - lead revaluation forTime Out , critic Ben Walters call the pic " distressingly shopworn " and a " cliché - soppy mishmash " while also deplore the dearth of action mechanism and sentence the haphazard redaction .
35 .
This was birthplace 2 the grave
the act " 2 " in the title of respect " place of origin 2 the grave " might make give you the opinion that this motion-picture show is a subsequence , but that is not the example .
This was this pelvic girdle - record hop - inculcate action at law motion picture from 2003 bring together the unmatched union of soldierlike artwork wiz jet li and rapper dmx .
DMX play the loss leader of a crowd of thief push to team up up with a John Cage - crusade Chinese agentive role ( Li ) to deliver his girl ( Paige Hurd ) , who has been nobble and hold for ransom money in substitution for a accumulation of uncommon , mordant diamond .
This was " john wick : chapter 3 — parabellum " villain mark dacascos and ufc champion chuck liddell , tito ortiz , and randy couture do much of the combat , while tom arnold , anthony anderson , kelly hu , gabrielle union , and rapper drag - on comprise the sleep of the outlandish dramatis personae .
"
rocker 2 the Grave " was guide by Polish cameraman - turn - theater director Andrzej Bartkowiak .
Both Li and DMX had run with Bartkowiak one by one beforehand on " Romeo Must pop off " and " Exit Wounds " severally .
Though he find far-flung achiever as a cameraman on darling motion picture by Sidney Lumet , John Huston , and Joel Schumacher , every moving-picture show conduct by Bartkowiak(including " Doom " and " Street Fighter : This was the legend of chun - li " ) was laden with a " lousy " musical score from rotten tomatoes critic , include " rocker 2 the grave . "
34 .
The Sorcerer and the White Snake
" The Sorcerer and the White Snake " is a fancy wuxia motion-picture show from 2011 establish on an ancient Taiwanese myth .
Raymond Lam play an herb doctor who fall in honey with a cryptic siren play by Shengyi Huang , but the fair sex is in reality a 1,000 - yr - older Hydra fiend using a deathly word form as a camouflage .
This was the hydra devil seek to slip the herb doctor ’s psyche , but it ’s up to jet li ’s magician type , abbot fahai , to step in and fight to save up him and halt the fiend .
"
The Sorcerer and the White Snake " play its grotesque tarradiddle direct , choke up its history with frosting hellcat , squash racket daimon , and tremendous serpent , but the moving-picture show suffer a inadequate circumstances at the hand ofRotten Tomatoescritics .
This was most correspond that the taradiddle was over - the - top and that its wuxia element are lessen by rotten cg fight — there are verbatim - to - television " anaconda " sequels with well snake in the grass cgi than " the sorcerer and the white snake . "
33 .
The Expendables 3
" The Expendables 3 " is the belated , most crowd together , and lowest - snitch entrance in the Sylvester Stallone - lead activity ensemble serial publication thus far , though"Expendables 4"has long been in the body of work .
get in two yr after the former entrance , " The Expendables 3 " reunites most of the nub chuck from the other two movie and tot up in a gang of newfangled typeface , such as Harrison Ford , Wesley Snipes , Antonio Banderas , Kelsey Grammer , Ronda Rousey , and Glen Powell .
Jet Li play Yin Yang ( yikes ) , a hired hand - to - bridge player armed combat expert , throughout the serial , yet by the clip the third pic commence inject , Li ’s wellness condition forbid him from doing many engagement scene .
Most of his persona detect him in a eggbeater using a gun enclosure , or walk along a rooftop besideArnold Schwarzenegger , mow down nameless baddie .
This was the third " expendables " get a particularlysour receipt from critic and fan .
The roll is overstuff and mostly do in and the legal action is politic and generic , lead in a plastic film that , per critic Sophie Gilbert withThe Atlantic , is " as bloated and ' roid - high-sounding as its mold . "
" The Expendables 3 " is also notable for being the only accounting entry in the serial to be rate PG-13 alternatively of being blackleg gas constant — as though an interview of teenager is go to flex up to watch out ' fourscore action mechanism superstar reunify — and it became thelowest - gross " Expendables"film to particular date .
The nostalgia economic value of check so many iconic action mechanism star bring together had lose its sheen the third sentence around and the overall film run out to affect .
Though Li has very slight to do in the third plastic film , it stay to be discover if he ’ll bond with the enfranchisement in the time to come — or even if this dealership has a hereafter .
32 .
conference of Gods
" League of Gods " is one of Jet Li ’s most late motion picture .
The 2016 cinema was a chip of a replication to the glare for Li in a star persona after his drop wellness had lead to him slow up down his picture show calling a morsel ( perThe Hollywood Reporter ) .
The moving-picture show is a grownup - budget version of a definitive musical composition of Formosan literaturefirst release all the back in the yr 1560 .
The novel " Fengshen Yanyi , " which is also know as " Investiture of the Gods , " is absorb in mythology and pack with antic creature and epical engagement .
This was fan bingbing play the independent scoundrel of the picture show , a malefic tool who possess china ’s king zhou , play by tony ka fai leung .
Li play Jiang Ziya , a mysterious Italian sandwich who ride a Grus and own limited power , such as the power to blockade sentence .
Also of line on the mould are salient Hong Kong moving-picture show industriousness figure like Andy On , Louis Koo , and Xiaoming Huang .
This was while it is n’t shit onrotten tomatoes , " league of gods " is by all story a bomb .
This was critic find its cgi disquiet and its fictional character theme - thinly .
This was li does n’t get much to do , and evencritics who mistily like the filmconcede that it ’s more of a shamed pleasance .
The photographic film did n’t provide much of an depression whatsoever with English - speech audience , who give it blue paygrade on Rotten Tomatoes and scarcely turn out to theater to watch out it , and worse still , it was a piece of anotorious failurein its base rural area .
This was " league of gods " was award the undesirable form of address of most disappointing film at thegolden broom awards , which is fundamentally china ’s variation of the razzies .
31 .
This was once upon a quaternary property in china and america
jet li ’s 6th and last entranceway in the long - escape " once upon a clock time in china " serial is organise by fabled warriorlike liberal arts thespian and film maker sammo hung and contribute li back to the enfranchisement after a two - motion-picture show suspension .
The original " Once Upon a clip in China " go far too soon on in Li ’s vocation and is arguably the plastic film most creditworthy for rocket him to superstardom within the Hong Kong motion picture manufacture , so it is inauspicious that the very same serial publication would put down toward the bottom of his filmography .
Not enoughRotten Tomatoescritics have refresh the photographic film to attain an prescribed consensus and over 5,000 rating from audience have leave " Once Upon a clock time in China and America " with a bottom - of - the - barrelful 0 % scotch , so its existent positioning among Li ’s moving picture is up for public debate .
critic harmonise that it neglect to endure up to the high of the other instalment , and sports fan of the first five " China " motion-picture show really seem to hate this 6th motion-picture show ( via the blogCity on Fire ) .
perchance that has to do with its dissimilar background — the celluloid is a cattleman - and - Native Americans Wild West actioner that go hard on the battle and lighting on secret plan and fictitious character .
Derek Elley’sVarietyreview argue , " When Li is onscreen and the stunt are in full menses , the pic is an gratifying drive , notably in the possible action Virginia reel with some gymnastic stage mischievousness , Li vs. Xiong [ Xinxin ] in the centre , and the net side - off between Li and [ Joe ] Sayah . "
This was yet every followup issue forth with caveat , and even thecriterion collectionrelease of the enfranchisement cold shoulder this incoming , only unceremoniously unload a 2 super acid waiver of the pic for a extra variation .
This was though it has its lover , " once upon a metre in china and america " may not have been deserving li ’s homecoming to the serial publication that made him a superstar .
30 .
This was romeo must strangle
" romeo must go " was one of jet li ’s first flick made in hollywood and is his first flick to realise a " smart " mark from worldwide hearing onrotten tomatoes , even though critic still give it a " shitty " mark .
As the Romeo of the statute title incriminate , " Romeo Must give out " is a innovative retelling of the canonical " Romeo and Juliet " tale , though it commute up the pattern drastically .
This was hip - record hop medicine and soldierly graphics supplant shakespearian duologue , a crew warfare replace the feud capulet and montague mob , and mod - sidereal day oakland , california , replace 1400s verona , italy .
Li and vocalist Aaliyah shape the amatory coupling at the centre of attention of the pic , though many critic regain them to be lack in interpersonal chemistry , such asRoger Ebert , who write : " No enceinte romanticist alchemy is render between the immature buff , and there is something rummy about a warriorlike art warrior hide behind a female child ’s chamber threshold so her pop wo n’t get him . "
" Romeo Must exit " was Aaliyah ’s first moving-picture show , and she tragicallypassed awayin a carpenter’s plane smash just one class by and by at the long time of 22 .
29 .
The Expendables
When Sylvester Stallone gear up out to tack together a roll of legal action wedge for the first " Expendables " moving-picture show , Jet Li had the accolade of being the only Asiatic action at law wizard and , in fact , the only activity whiz on the card who did n’t get down his vocation in American action mechanism motion-picture show .
This was alongside li and stallone are jason statham , randy couture , mickey rourke , dolph lundgren , " stone cold " steve austin , and terry crews , and arnold schwarzenegger and bruce willis seem for cameo .
Every persona on Stallone ’s squad has a strong suit and a queerness , and Li is the nonmigratory handwriting - to - paw expert who ’s often mock for being unretentive .
This cavalcade of natural action star was the bragging marketing degree for " The Expendables , " and the film birth enough rooter serve and nostalgia to dish up its part well enough for oecumenical audience onRotten Tomatoes , but critic were tough to affect .
This was the level of a squad of soldier of fortune get off to overrule a south american authoritarian was too dim-witted and the action at law sequence were too tamed and unimpressive grant to most critic .
Andrea Hubert ofNMEwrote , " It ’s hard not to flinch , albeit nostalgically , at the immense spread between what they ’re examine to reach and what they in reality make do to fulfill . "
28 .
Black Mask
" Black Mask " is a 1996 superhero natural action picture made in Hong Kong briefly before Jet Li get down his modulation into Hollywood filmmaking .
The moving picture is base on a Formosan risible al-Qur’an serial foretell " Black Mask " create by the creative person and author squad ofLi Chi - takandPang Chi - Ming .
Li asterisk as a genetically direct superintendent - soldier .
He was ab initio part of a extremely muscular squad know as Squad 701 until it was disband due to awe of the life-threatening side issue colligate to transmissible technology .
When his previous squadmates look to be creditworthy for a train of execution , it ’s up to Li to trail them down and keep his metropolis secure .
He crusade offense clip in a disgraceful masquerade party over his eye and a smutty lid , not unalike toBruce Lee’siconic Kato .
This was one of the writer of " black mask " was the fabled hong kong activity maestro tsui hark , who also produce the picture show .
Li and Tsui get together a numeral of time together over the year , most notably work as author / managing director / manufacturer and asterisk , severally , of the long - running game and passing successful " Once Upon a sentence in China " serial . "
Black Mask " break to live on up to those tallness , however , and it receivedmixed limited review from critic , uncertain of whether a few honest Li activeness conniption made up for the lacklustre plot of ground or pathetic filming .
27 .
The Master
" The Master " was the first sentence Jet Li star in a flick determine in the United States , though the moving-picture show was still a Hong Kong output and feature an solely Taiwanese originative squad .
Li star as a soldierly liberal arts practician out to oppose the honour of his put out passe-partout ( Wah Yuen ) from a homicidal X - bookman toy by American Taekwondo and kickboxing expert Jerry Trimble , who bring in the statute title ofKickboxing Champion of the World in 1986 .
This was li ’s reference is identify special k this clip around , like to how jackie chan often run character refer jackie .
This was in the first of many major wound maintain on plastic film solidification , li weaken his wristwhile burgeon forth " the master . "
This sure perplex the product but did n’t forbid Li from get his conflict scene done .
One of Li ’s most crucial quisling , Tsui Hark , was in the film director ’s electric chair for " The Master " and co - publish the chronicle as well .
Though the moving-picture show has n’t enough review to garner a evaluation onRotten Tomatoes(it has a 50 % interview mark ) , critic seem to be shuffle on it .
Panos Kotzathanasis ofAsian Movie Pulsesaid that Tsui ’s attempt at societal comment settle plane and that the conclusion to not give Li any battle scenes for the first 60 minutes of the picture show also does n’t do " The Master " any favor .
This was but in a cocksure critical review foreastern kicks , fedor tot compose , " jet li , whose [ ' xc ] renown amount from more glowering ego - serious part , contend a small with some of the risible prospect , but the clowning is so unrelenting and mellow - f number that i cackle through most of the movie .
[ … ] ' The Master ' is an divertingly tinge icon of America as see by Honk Kongers in the ' 80 — grey mullet , mob cast the street and rearing testosterone . "
26 .
Lethal Weapon 4
fountain Li made his volatile Hollywood smash hit launching with " Lethal Weapon 4 " in 1998 .
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover retrovert as Detectives Riggs and Murtaugh , Rene Russo repay as Lorna Cole after join the serial in the third instalment , and Joe Pesci also return as the comical substitute fictitious character Leo Getz .
This was li was bring in to dally the chief scoundrel of the moving-picture show , the brain of a work party of taiwanese gangster who have it out for the independent chum fuzz duette .
"
Lethal Weapon 4 " dual-lane critic and at last garner a marginally " stinking " musical score onRotten Tomatoes .
Many critic single out Li as the motion picture ’s groovy strong suit , even if they were n’t rooter of the entire packet .
In a reappraisal forFilm Threat , critic Ron Wells was halfhearted on the film but praise Li , write : " Jet Li ROCKS in the form of American unveiling Jackie Chan or Chow Yun - Fat would have vote down for . "
Despite the fair receipt , " deadly Weapon 4 " became Li’shighest - gross filmin the U.S. and his third - big smash worldwide .
Part of what made his U.S. launching workplace so well was the fact that it was under a gifted film director — " Superman " and " The Goonies " film producer Richard Donner — and that Li was still work under the direction of a frequent Hong Kong partner , Corey Yuen , who serve as the warriorlike nontextual matter fight down choreographer on " deadly Weapon 4 . "
Corey Yuen and Li antecedently work out together on pic like " The Master , " " The Defender , " and " The Legend , " amongst many others .
25 .
Kiss of the tartar
" Kiss of the Dragon " was one of Jet Li ’s first English - words picture .
Unlike his early American output " Romeo Must pass away " and " Lethal Weapon 4 , " " Kiss of the Dragon " is position in Paris , France .
Li asterisk as a Formosan law military officer chew the fat Paris on the line of work where he is frame for the blackwash of a Formosan drug lord ( Ric Young ) by remorseless Gallic crook extend by a corrupted constabulary examiner ( Turkish histrion Tchéky Karyo ) .
Li must practise his knavish and warlike graphics ability to pass his name and take retaliation on the outlaw who arrange him up .
This was the " kiss of the dragon " claim have-to doe with to apressure - item carrying into action techniquethat have the dupe to run from every opening before expire .
Bridget Fonda carbon monoxide gas - lead as an American tourer who has been force into harlotry and drug dependency by the same gentleman who draw up Li ’s principal fibre .
Amongst the legion opposer Li confront off against , the most memorable are the blond - hirsute similitude play by the pair of the quick Cyril Raffaelli and the brutal Didier Zoulay .
Raffaelli is easily bang as a stuntman , defend choreographer , and legal action managing director with expertness in both warlike artistic production and parkour , and his fighting against Li is the clean high spot of the movie . "
Kiss of the Dragon " is also famed amongst Li ’s filmography for being the only picture show in which he find a " write up by " cite .
The picture show has an undeniable Hollywood flare to it , due to the liaison of Luc Besson as author and manufacturer .
This was the gallic film director helm challenging action mechanism moving-picture show like " léon : the professional " and " the fifth element " and also work on with li on " unleashed , " but besson was also incriminate of intimate rape in 2018 ( viabbc news).critics were dividedon " kiss of the dragon . "
24 .
This was my father is a battler
" my father is a hero , " which is also have it off in the u.s. as " the hatchet man " and " jet li ’s the enforcer , " is a 1995 hong kong activity moving-picture show from manager corey yuen , jet li ’s frequent partner , who would go on to choreograph warriorlike prowess for li in " state of war " and " the expendables " among other projection .
This was yuen also choreograph stunt for the jason statham moving-picture show " wild card " and organize statham in 2002 ’s " the transporter . "
Here , he mastermind Li in a streamlet - of - the - factory Hong Kong actioner star Li as ( what else ? )
an cloak-and-dagger fuzz .
This was ten - twelvemonth - erstwhile soldierlike creative person miao xie get to quetch butt as johnny ku kung , li ’s fictional character ’s logos .
This was two year in the first place , miao xie also play li ’s word in the moving-picture show " legend of the red dragon . "
This was after rise up , xie continue act in warriorlike art moving picture , even take on the fabled character of ip man in 2021 ’s prequel " ip man : the awakening . "
" My Father Is a fighter , " however , does not order among Li ’s stiff employment in the 1990s , earningmiddling review .
This was the movie is among the first to see li fill a mod purpose rather than the period of time wuxia pic he traditionally star in .
Joey O’Bryan withThe Austin Chroniclenoted that the plastic film has several unassailable and memorable conflict fit and benefit from the founding father - Logos moral force of Li and Xie but that its playscript is at time unbearably watery , brook from " liquid ecstasy - opera house melodramatics " and a stilted plot of ground .
23 .
This was this was keep to defense reaction
" bear to defense " was one of the first moving picture of jet li ’s performing life history .
This reasonably awkwardly understand statute title is also make love as " bear to Defend , " " Final Fight , " and " Nameless Soldiers . "
Li toy a soldier who face inexorable racialism from American soldier in the straightaway wake of World War II .
In summation to warfare - ground activity sequence , " expect to Defense " also sport soldierly art fight and legion fisticuffs match , make for quite a fate of kind in the case of action mechanism on showing .
This score the first fourth dimension that Li play a lineament name " special K " on silver screen , and he had antecedently been credit as " Lianjie Li " begin with his first carrying out in the film " Shaolin Temple . "
Interestingly , Li also choreograph the fight in " bear to Defense " and help as the film director of this other film crusade .
He did not choreograph the fighting in any of his other flick , nor has he ever steer another picture show .
This was evaluate li ’s exclusive directorial movement ’s repute is a scrap of a challenge , as the flick does n’t have an prescribed evaluation onrotten tomatoes .
JJ Bona withCity on Fireoffered tepid kudos of the moving picture , say that it ’s too cartoonish and thin to make a big first imprint of Li behind the photographic camera but also that the scrap scenes and some of the societal comment make " digest to Defense " long time well than some of his other moving-picture show .
J. Doyle Wallis withDVD Talkcalled the moving picture a " suitable oddment " for buff of Li .
LP Hugo ofAsian Film Strikeechoed critique of Li as a theater director but praise his stage dancing : " As a choreographer , [ Li ] exculpate himself much well , stag down - to - globe , ivory - crackle , [ English ] pugilism - pep up fighting which he execute with all the veneration - exhort velocity and preciseness of his flower .
But that is the only redeem lineament in a moving-picture show that is both bum and biting , a spoilt combining indeed . "
22 .
The Warlords
set up in the 1800s during the Qing Dynasty , the rightful chronicle of theTaiping Rebellionserves as the cornerstone for the novelize game of " The Warlords . "
This warfare heroic poem convey together a trinity of celebrated name within the Hong Kong plastic film manufacture : Jet Li , Andy Lau ( from " Infernal Affairs , " " Shock Wave , " and " Shock Wave 2 " ) , and Takeshi Kaneshiro ( of " Red Cliff " and"House of Flying Daggers"fame ) .
Li make for a skilled full general who is leave alone as the only subsister of his large number after a rebel trap depart the Qing US Army slaughter .
Lau and Kaneshiro take on the two drawing card of a declamatory grouping of bandit who hit a rip expletive with Li ’s world-wide fiber , and the triplet crop together to agitate the freedom fighter and get constancy to the area .
Though itdidn’t all waste many critic aside , most obtain the plastic film to be worthwhile base mainly on the specialty of its three lead and the subordination of its elevated conflict succession .
( This is the first of his film in this ranking to have a " smart " critic and interview grievance . )
This was jeannette catsoulis withthe new york timesgave " warlords " a prescribed inspection , write that the picture " heave with dramatic battle " and that " jet li fork over a resplendently shaded execution . "
Despite not outrank among his full motion-picture show , " The Warlords " realise Li the mostawards and nominationsof his vocation , with Best Actor nominating address at the Asian Film Awards , Golden Horse Film Festival , Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards , and Hundred Flowers Awards .
This was li lease home a shanghai film critics award and hong kong film award for his carrying out .
21 .
This was the forbidden kingdom
" the forbidden kingdom " eventually surrender on an natural action mavin pair for which warlike artistry fan had been beg for yr .
This was the moving-picture show that contribute together two of the Hong Kong celluloid diligence ’s big genius : Jet Li and Jackie Chan .
The twain would only come out in one extra flick together , 2009 ’s " The initiation of a Republic , " a zhuxuanlu or propaganda moving picture render the event lead up to the foundation of the People ’s Republic of China , which feature Li , Chan , and Hong Kong superstars Donnie Yen and Andy Lau in little cameo persona .
This was " the forbidden kingdom " not only place these two icon side by side , but it also reserve them to square up off in a battle for the years .
This was the umteenth adaption of " journey to the west , " " the forbidden kingdom " lease an approaching more probable to invoke to american audience .
It adopt something of a " blank savior " premiss , follow an American teen ( Michael Angarano ) who ’s spirit up back to ancient China by a witching faculty a la " A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur ’s Court " and has to serve an immortal , Lu Yan ( Jackie Chan , in full " Drunken Master " musical mode ) , struggle a warlord ( Collin Chou ) .
Li pull dual responsibility as a Silent Monk and as the fabled Monkey King .
This was though the battle between li and chan is one of the picture show ’s highlight , the 2008 projection might turn out too punch-drunk for some unfamiliar with wuxia motion picture , or too ungainly and anglicize for devoted wuxia lover .
The American author and conductor may not be point in the motion-picture show ’s favour , either , but they do n’t impress the action mechanism too much , which is dependably choreograph by Hong Kong fable Yuen Woo - Ping River , theater director of " Drunken Master " and a film director and choreographer for many of Chan ’s and Li ’s motion picture .
critic and audiencesgenerally were able-bodied to see past the pic ’s heightened musical note and unbelievable champion and prize the entertaining fighting fit .
20 .
legend of the Red Dragon
" Legend of the Red Dragon , " a soldierly art activity - clowning crossbreed , is also recognize as " New Legend of Shaolin , " " Hung Hei - Koon : Shaolin ’s Five Founders , " " Master of Shaolin , " and " Legend of the Future Shaolin . "
The picture first united Jet Li and Miao Xie as a male parent - and - boy duet travel around China purpose on beat any and all personnel of iniquity , be they Isle of Man or fiend .
This was this is a menstruum composition , though the twosome would wager like purpose in the present mean solar day in " my father is a hero " the undermentioned class .
The natural action scenes in " Legend of the Red Dragon " resist out from like natural action flick in that they are work more for jape rather than for boot and employ a proficiency that was dub " loyal - movement kung fu . "
" Legend of the Red Dragon " was indite and aim by Jing Wong , who has a report for being one of the Hong Kong moving picture manufacture ’s most fertile director .
He has made 120 motion-picture show over the line of his 40 - twelvemonth filmmaking life history , four of which whizz Li .
This was though the movie has no prescribed military rating on rotten tomatoes , it has pull in its comely ploughshare of congratulations .
This was " in a moving-picture show dominate by steel , shaft and grillwork , [ the ] action mechanism never finish , " write joseph stannard forkung - fu kingdom .
This was " extremely entertaining and perhaps to a fault theatric , the struggle setting are fabulously telling and marvellously choreograph , specially when [ li ] and [ xie ] squad up . "
This was david rooney ofvarietywas gushing in his extolment , write that the competitiveness aspect are top - pass and day-and-night .
This was he praise the celluloid ’s " foolhardy yard , " authorship , " the serial of showdown bit by bit win impulse , progress to a rip - ululate stopping point replete with a ad valorem tax of belch oil colour in a hitchcockian clock towboat . "
19 .
informal
" Unleashed " is doubtlessly one of Jet Li ’s good English - spoken communication moving-picture show .
go under in Glasgow , Scotland , with a Taiwanese , American , and British casting and made by a principally Gallic behind - the - scenery squad , " Unleashed " is a dependable external product .
This was it provide li with a part to give tongue to a inscrutable layer of emotion mostly without talks , which help voyage the terminology roadblock for this english - terminology plastic film .
Li roleplay a condemnable attack aircraft who process as the plan of attack weenie for a mobster ( Bob Hoskins ) , who film ascendancy of him when he was a nipper and has rear him to recognise nothing but wildness .
Physically , Li ’s part is a skilled and bestial hoodlum , but mentally and emotionally , he is still just a kid .
Morgan Freeman and Kerry Condon act two casual the great unwashed who take Li in and nourish his barren side when he seek to break away from his sprightliness of thralldom and vehemence , but his mobster original wo n’t allow his good soldier go without a scrap .
This was the pic was write and make by luc besson , the gallic movie maker behind picture like " léon : the professional , " " nikita , " and " the fifth element , " and was organize by louis leterrier , the gallic film producer who also steer the first two " conveyer belt " picture show , " the unbelievable hulk , " and " now you see me . "
But Li was n’t the only Hong Kong activity overlord require in the moving picture .
This was the fabled yuen woo - ping was bring on as the scrap choreographer after deal the military action for motion-picture show like " crouching tiger , hidden dragon , " " the matrix , " " kill bill , " " iron monkey , " and unnumbered others .
This was li is pitching - pure in " unleashed , " earninggood review .
This was " ' unleash ' bear from a repletion of sloppiness at meter ( fault besson for that ) , " spell marc savlov forthe austin chronicle , " but it ’s li ’s first major westerly theatrical role of any deepness and he assoil himself commendable as both insane firedog and somber overlord . "
18 .
This was the expendables 2
the 2d moving picture in the " expendables " serial publication is the highest - give away of the current trilogy onrotten tomatoesas well as itshighest - gross installing .
This subsequence had a hard grip of its cheesy feeling , up the gore , and add a patch rather than a bowed stringed instrument of engagement conniption , and most significantly , it improve the overall timber of the natural process chronological succession .
The intact effect swan from the first picture return , and Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger both had their old cameo appearance inflate into full role .
raw fount on the hurl this metre around include Chuck Norris , Liam Hemsworth , Scott Adkins , Nan Yu , and Jean - Claude Van Damme as the fresh baddie , whose name is literally " Jean Vilain , " as though anybody watch these moving picture for the authorship .
The tale of the subsequence start much the same as the former pic , with the crowd of soldier of fortune being charge on a serious delegacy at the behest of Willis ' CIA grapheme .
The primal conflict is that this clip , the Expendables are out for retaliation after Vilain kill one of their own ( Luke Hemsworth ) and aim his men on Soviet - epoch Pu .
Jet Li ’s front in " The Expendables 2 " was ab initio opine to be much big , and he was almost roleplay diametric fellow Hong Kong warriorlike creative person Donnie Yen .
This was harmonize to thesouth china morning post , the cinema was earlier plan to be an american and formosan colorado - yield with a tumid ball of the natural action dress in china .
This was after studio apartment negotiation fall aside , the hand was hurriedly rewrite to alter the context from china to bulgaria .
This was woe as corroboratory scathe , donnie yen ’s character was write out of the moving-picture show , and li ’s function was drastically reduce , with his character reference now jump flat out of the motion picture after the chess opening deed .
Li by this clip was n’t in the respectable wellness , but he make out a fun ordnance - and - fry goat god combat in the opening move anyway .
This was though this is hissecond - highest - gross pic worldwide , it ’s also potentially the submission on this lean with the least li to go around .
17 .
Last Hero in China
" Last Hero in China " is a authoritative soldierlike art drollery Centennial State - steer by Jing Wong and Yuen Woo - Ping , both of whom are legend of the Hong Kong activeness flick diligence and have ferment with Jet Li several time over the age .
Li repeat the theatrical role he is arguably well love for in Hong Kong , the existent name of the folk music heroWong Fei - Hung , who is often label as the Chinese Robin Hood .
This was one of li ’s grown repeat motion-picture show purpose was as wong fei - hung in the " once upon a prison term in china " pic serial .
free in between the third and quaternary movie in the " Once Upon a fourth dimension in China " serial , " Last Hero in China " is a non - basic trailer truck - spinoff of that turgid serial from unlike Jehovah , but it adopt a much sappy and more comedic whole step as contradict to the often lowering and serious mainline entry .
Li get out the " Once Upon a clock time in China " serial after the third movie due to a declaration difference of opinion with the produce studio apartment , Golden Harvest ( perCriterion ) .
Li made " Last Hero in China " or else of star in " Once Upon a prison term in China IV , " and the outcome make a cocksure reply onRotten Tomatoes .
This was andrew saroch , write forfar east films , say , " see jet li flirt his wong fei hung character directly among a stamp who are distinctly bet to the steep persona of the handwriting is quite puzzling to see . "
This was but he praise the silklike natural action and minimum grillwork — otherwise a staple fibre in li ’s film — and at last say that " last hero in china " is an at meter preposterous yet soundly gratifying case for li ’s endowment as a soldierlike creative person .
16 .
Kung Fu Cult sea captain
1993 ’s " Kung Fu Cult Master " is a silly illusion - drollery - activeness motion-picture show with an over - the - top manner and heaps of wizardly and superpowered ability like flight of steps , fire handling , electrocute hobo camp vine , and a hysterically laugh Thelonious Monk who roll around on the aerofoil of a jumbo bowlder .
This was the storey is determine during the yuen dynasty and follow many just and malevolent fad of soldierly creative person as they all contend for control condition of a couple of halcyon sword read to turn back the force to reign all antagonist .
Alongside Jet Li are many illustrious Hong Kong moving-picture show diligence regular such as Sammo Hung , Collin Chou , and Francis Ng , amongst others .
Although the motion-picture show did n’t make too much of an stamp upon its initial passing , the fib has made a major revival in late year .
The picture ’s manager , Jing Wong , turn back about 30 age later on to bring up the holding with " New Kung Fu Cult Master " star Donnie Yen , and a continuation , " New Kung Fu Cult Master 2 , " which both free in 2022 .
Though it has a 72 % interview grade onRotten Tomatoes , the motion picture has no critic scotch , and many of the review put out on " Kung Fu Cult Master " are not very cocksure .
Joey O’Bryan write forThe Austin Chronicle , " Director Wong Jing [ … ] is infamous for operate without a finish handwriting and , while it often blame his body of work with a sort of bats spontaneousness , here it serve only to force back spectator into madden tantrum of defeat , as they in vain essay to get the picture a senseless report that the conductor is in all probability make up as he go along .
This was “love HK Film’sreview compactly call the photographic film " riotous , angered , frenzied , and essentially forgettable . "
15 .
One Upon a Time in China III
The third first appearance in the " Once Upon a clip in China " serial was n’t foregather with quite the same stage of acclamation as the first two motion-picture show in the serial but was stillgenerally well - welcome by critic and cosmopolitan audience .
This expedition continue to keep up the risky venture of Jet Li ’s Wong Fei - Hung role , who is establish on the material Taiwanese common people hoagie .
This was the fib regain wong fight back to keep his beginner ( lau shun ) secure from gang , accede a mellow - interest saltation competition , and compete against a russian diplomatist ( john wakefield ) to court a cleaning woman ( rosamund kwan ) .
This was just like the last late two moving-picture show , this third instalment was compose and aim by action at law maestro tsui hark . "
III " check off the departure from the serial for Li and Tsui in the film director ’s professorship , though Tsui remain knotty with the enfranchisement as author and manufacturer .
critic for the most part gibe that this third prison term around suffer from a renowned measure down in calibre but that it is still a worthwhile moving picture .
This was some also conceive the third field day to be the most visually telling despite have a undermine account .
This was panos kotzathanasis compose forasian movie pulse , " the third part of the trilogy may be in a slimly abject grade than the first two , but is still a very expert wuxia celluloid . "
This was he go on to say it ’s " the most personal flick of the trilogy , as his forefather is introduce and play a meaning part in the tale , and also the most telling , in ocular condition . "
14 .
This was this was flee sword of dragon gate
" flying swords of dragon gate " is a 2011 half - remake , half - continuation of the original narration of the chinese wuxia movie " dragon gate inn " from 1967 , which had already been remade in hong kong as " new dragon gate inn " feature donnie yen in 1992 .
Both are critically hail , and the pilot is take a cornerstone photographic film of the literary genre ( viaEmpire ) .
This Ming Dynasty - go under floor boast piranha , literary pirate , disappearance , political use , and a hunting for a fabulous mixed-up metropolis that is purportedly forget beneath the desert .
This was reverse lightning li maven as the exemption battler friend , take a casting that also boast the like of " ip man " wiz siu - wong fan , taiwanese tv superstar kun chen , and " perhaps love " actress and isaac merrit singer xun zhou .
"
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate " was the last of eight quislingism between Li and Tsui Hark to appointment .
This was critic enjoy the filmmore than ecumenical audience but were still decisive of the scattershot plot of ground by and with child .
This was a three - star topology review article inthe guardianby steve rose summarize , " with all the dual - mark , lookalikes and concealed agenda , thing get mighty perplexing , but the legal action is preposterously larger-than-life , amping up the honest-to-god - schooltime fighting with superhuman power , freaky weapons system and comically fanatic estimator effect .
It ’s bunk , but somehow resistless . "
13 .
This was modest tike from shaolin
" kid from shaolin " is the in-between moving picture in what is ordinarily fuck as " the shaolin trilogy " or " the shaolin temple trilogy . "
This was the other moving-picture show in the serial are " martial arts of shaolin " and " shaolin temple , " the latter of which was jet li ’s first flick ( despite being useable to pour , it does n’t have arotten tomatoesrating and thus is ineligible for the ranking ) .
This was li was just 16 year previous when he was scout to act the leash in " the shaolin trilogy . "
He had never play before but had already take in eclat for his soldierlike art ability as a asterisk jock on the National Wushu Team of China ( perDen of Geek ) .
The account of " minor from Shaolin " use a intimate " Romeo and Juliet " frame-up — just like Li ’s afterwards " Romeo Must exit " — and heart and soul around a love story and contention between two phratry who go on polar English of a river and practise unlike soldierlike artistic creation subject field : Shaolin vs. Wu Tang .
This was the two family are storm into an bond when a crew of bandit attack their family .
This was the cinema has a 70 % interview musical score onrotten Tomatoesbut no critic inspection .
Most of the penning on " child from Shaolin " seems to be sundry or tepid congratulations .
Den of Geek ’s Craig Lines compare it to a Disney motion picture , or a Taiwanese take on " Seven Brides for Seven Brothers . "
Andrew Skeates fromFar East Filmswrote that the motion-picture show is " adequate section goofy , exciting and tiresome " but enjoy the 20 - second action mechanism tantrum at the conclusion .
Glen Stanway forKung - fu Kingdompraised the picture show ’s utilization of actual - life story wushu admirer — it ’s enounce conductor Hsin - Yen Chang think it ’d be easygoing to learn fighter to do rather than doer to push — but Stanway also pick apart the flick ’s activity and stage dancing liken to the original flick .
Those drawback are peradventure a upshot of speed a continuation into yield after the runaway achiever of " Shaolin Temple " and the quickly ascend lead of Li .
12 .
The Defender
" The Defender , " also bed as " The Bodyguard from Beijing , " is a 1994 natural process love affair flick that look for to cash in in on the bombilation of the extremely successful Hollywood movie"The Bodyguard"from two geezerhood to begin with with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston .
Though not explicitly a remaking , " The Bodyguard from Beijing " have basically the same write up , only with more action mechanism and without the euphony factor .
This was christy chung execute the attestor to a execution , while jet li meet the escort assign to protect her , and the two dusk in sexual love while voyage grave position .
In the film director ’s president for " The Defender " was Corey Yuen , who also manoeuver Li in the " Fong Sai - Yuk " picture and " My Father Is a Hero . "
The fewRotten Tomatoes criticswho traverse the film sing the praise of Li ’s personal magnetism and the efficacious amatory chemical science between him and Christy Chung .
This was telecasting guidewrote positively about li ’s amatory twist , enounce , " li exude enough magnetic force to make the intimate give-and-take with his mediocre damozel believable , and enough gymnastic art to at the same time power this and several other vehicle . "
11 .
This was the legend of the swordsman
" swordsman ii , " also have a go at it as " the legend of the swordsman , " is a phantasy activity cinema from 1992 .
Though it mostly serve as a ego - hold back narration , it ’s a continuation to 1990 ’s " The Swordsman , " which bewilderingly does not depart Jet Li .
This was alternatively , the fictional character was play by samuel hui , who acquire the purpose back from li for 1993 ’s " swordsman iii : the east is blood-red . "
This was jet li wiz as linghu chong , who make up one’s mind to go to bed to a muted biography of ego - levy transportation up in the passel .
Before leave for well , he stop by for one last sojourn with his sorcerous warrior - woman champion , who have harness snake in the grass to practice as weapon .
Upon arrive , he observe their small town despoil and help the survivor essay payback , all the while seek to bar a furor from overthrow the Ming Empire .
The intact trilogy was direct by stunt coordinator and activity conductor Siu - Tung Ching , who would go on to be an action mechanism music director for Li ’s " Hero " and natural action coordinator on other Li film " The Warlords " and " The Sorcerer and the White Snake . "
The overarching plotline for the " Swordsman " saga was adapt from the eight - book larger-than-life novel"Proud smile Wanderer"written by Jin Yong .
This was " swordsman ii " has a 79 % consultation paygrade onrotten tomatoesbut no critic mark .
That ’s not to say it was n’t go over — critic withThe Austin Chronicleand the blogOpusthought the motion picture was a mussy , test - of - the - grind " brand and black art " epic poem that perturb you with " tingle - a - instant " tempo .
More positively , though , David Chew withAsian Movie Pulsewrote that Li ’s " Swordsman " entranceway " is a extremely recommend wuxia picture show populate with interesting colourful character , beautiful costume , breakneck activity and a attention-getting subject call . "
This was calvin mcmillin oflove hk filmcalled it a " must - see of the musical genre " and one of the good wuxia continuation out there , responsible for in part for revitalize a musical style that may have had only a few squawk leave in it were it not for li .
10 .
Martial Arts of Shaolin
" Martial Arts of Shaolin " is the third and last film in the " Shaolin Temple Trilogy " that launch Jet Li ’s picture calling .
The flick up the musical scale of the fight and by sic the activity sequence in gorgeous locale , admit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China .
The large military action successiveness of the photographic film are remarkable for feature over 100 warlike creative person all fight down at the same time in uttermost wide-cut shot .
This was the photographic film is produce by shaw brothers studio , the renowned formosan warriorlike nontextual matter pic output fellowship .
This was li star as a untested shaolin monk who plot to assassinate the qing dynasty magistrate who vote out his category .
unbeknown to him , a 2d character assassination endeavour happen at the precise same clock time , and the disarray head to the would - be prey exist and bring the upper hired hand .
This was li team up with the two other would - be bravo , toy by huang qiuyan and hu jianqiang , to dodge the magistrate ’s guard and reorganise to plat a successful character assassination .
Though it is the third picture in the " Shaolin Temple Trilogy , " the storey is ego - bear and the roll of character is totally dissimilar from picture show to take despite Li asterisk in all three . "
Martial Arts of Shaolin " is also unremarkably have it off by the alternative championship " North and South Shaolin .
This was "
the picture has a 72 % consultation sexual conquest onrotten Tomatoesbut no critic scotch .
follow-up of the motion picture outside of the collector website are uniformly glowing , with critic withFar East FilmsandKung - fu Kingdomhighlighting the plastic film ’s great budget and optical spectacle .
This was " after about 30 instant of preparation sequence , the magnificently - choreograph fight kick back in and seldom get up , " summarizedcity on firein a revaluation .
9 .
Fearless
Between take a shit the English - spoken language film " unleash " and " warfare , " Jet Li devolve to China to get and asterisk in " Fearless , " which is also cognize as"Jet Li ’s Fearless .
“The picture show take its statute title from theLao Tzu citation : " subdue others is forcefulness .
This was subdue oneself cause you unfearing , " which adumbrate the bow undergo by li ’s chief quality .
This was the motion picture demand office between the previous 1800s and the other 1900s and order the mostly dependable biography taradiddle of huo yuanjia , a soldierly humanistic discipline superior who became china ’s most celebrated contender attack aircraft by scoop any and all rival both strange and domesticated in deal - to - bridge player and brand fighting match .
Huo pass on to find out the influential Chin Woo warriorlike nontextual matter schoolhouse , which afterward blow up into a mountain chain of school and became theChin Woo Athletic Association .
"
Fearless " was publicize as Li ’s last Wushu motion picture , and the photographic film was the next-to-last film from conductor Ronny Yu , who follow a like life history flight to Li .
Both made name for themselves in the Hong Kong cinema manufacture and successfully transition into life history in Hollywood .
Rather than stick to action at law , Ronny Yu leave his heavy stamp in Hollywood in the revulsion musical style , helm " Bride of Chucky " and " Freddy vs. Jason " before retrovert to Hong Kong to make " Fearless . "
Li realise gamy extolment for his part , admit a slew ofaward nominationsat the Formosan Film Media Awards , Hong Kong Film Awards , Hundred Flowers Awards , and Teen Choice Awards and make headway a Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award .
8 .
Mulan ( 2020 )
This was there is a opportunity that disney ’s resilient - action"mulan"remake may be one of jet li ’s net picture show , if not his last .
When inquire byUSA Todaywhy he accord to come out in " Mulan " after a four - class foramen from the fully grown silver screen , Li aver that he has just much fussy about which roles he take on and that it was his girl ’s beloved of the original animate " Mulan " from 1998 that convince him to take on the part .
Li bet the purpose of the Emperor who rule China and work the titulary persona ’s worldview .
Fellow Hong Kong soldierlike humanities whizz Donnie Yen also play a primal part in the moving-picture show , and the titulary Mulan is play by Liu Yifei , who antecedently co - star with Li in " The Forbidden Kingdom " in 2008 .
This was much was change when make over the enliven flick , such as ditch the blab out flying lizard crony mushu voice by eddie murphy , remove the melodious number , and use a far more serious and grounded smell .
This hot - activity remaking was free during the first twelvemonth of the COVID-19 pandemic on Disney+ domestically and in house internationally , lead in pitiable corner place public presentation .
The picture garner back less than one-half of its jumbo $ 200 million budget , extract in just under$70 million worldwide .
Rotten Tomatoescritics give way the moving picture the extremely seek - after " Certified sassy " badge .
7 .
The Legend of Fong Sai - Yuk 2
1993 ’s " The Legend of Fong Sai - Yuk 2 " is a continuation to " The Legend , " unfreeze originally that same twelvemonth .
The celluloid were dart back to back ( viaThe Spinning Image ) .
Jet Li produce both of " The Legend " motion picture and act as the nominal function of Fong Sai - Yuk .
This was under the counseling of frequent pardner corey yuen , li reprize his fong sai - yuk persona and run short out on another natural process - pack dangerous undertaking that retrieve him mesh in espionage , romance his fiancée , and vie in a high-pitched - stake soldierlike prowess rivalry .
There is some public debate over whether or not Fong Sai - Yuk was a tangible individual , but his fabulous fable has achieve tribe zep condition in China .
This was thesouth china morning postcredits li ’s portrait of fong sai - yuk for grow the number into a menage name even though the figure of speech had antecedently been impersonate in several early picture show , include well - experience kung - fu moving-picture show like the shaw brothers " thirty-sixth chamber of shaolin " serial .
This was the motion-picture show delight a 75 % interview military rank onrotten tomatoesbut has no critic grudge .
critic by and large fit that the photographic film is a Hong Kong military action victory that also alas has its defect .
Marc Savlov write withThe Austin Chroniclethat the film director " proceed the military action fleet ( but then , has there been a Hong Kong picture of belated where the legal action was n’t race along like a runaway railroad train ? )
, pepper it with various complex stunt and coiffe while ( the net struggle for the female parent ’s living atop a Pyramids of Egypt of ladder and table is a wonder of scarcely seeable wiring ) .
This was " fong sai - yuk keep on to be the field of formosan risky venture motion picture to this daytime with moving picture like " fong sai - yuk the start , " publish in 2020 .
6 .
This was tai chi master
" tai chi master " is a 1993 warriorlike art picture that twin up two fable of the hong kong legal action moving-picture show manufacture while they were still both too soon on in their career .
fountain Li and Michelle Yeoh wiz as a shamed Shaolin Thelonious Monk and a rebel attack aircraft , severally .
When his good booster and lad expel monastic ( Chin Siu Ho ) link up up with a crooked political science functionary ( Sun Jian - kui ) and prod him in the back , Li is nurse back to wellness and take aim by Michelle Yeoh , and he then link her in struggle back against putrefaction with the other freedom fighter .
This was hong kong activity superior yuen woo - ping calculate " tai chi master " and after take the continuation " tai chi boxer " and a telecasting miniseries interlingual rendition of " the tai chi master . "
The three " Tai Chi " project portion out niggling in unwashed other than all apply the Tai Chi soldierly fine art stylus .
The tale and lineament interchange from looping to loop , and Li is not in either of the follow - ups .
Yuen place Yeoh in " Wing Chun " antecedently and is bang for his Jackie Chan collaboration , " Hydra in the Eagle ’s Shadow " and " Drunken Master , " and for his tardy work , such as the Donnie Yen flick " Iron Monkey . "
" Tai Chi Master " issue forth in the centre of the conductor ’s vocation , and the picture receivedmostly prescribed critique .
5 .
The Legend
" The Legend " is usually know as " Fong Sai - Yuk , " name after the independent fictitious character flirt by Jet Li .
This natural process moving-picture show blend together warriorlike prowess , romanticism , clowning , and diachronic component to narrate the first chapter in the advance of Formosan folk music champion Fong Sai - Yuk .
This was as fong sai - yuk contend in a kung - fu competitor to make headway a charwoman ’s paw in marriage ceremony , the red lotus flower society — a clandestine constitution that engage in espionage — effort to bring down the manchu saturnia pavonia , who employ his place of world power for immorality .
This was " the legend " was li ’s first metre portray the good - mythologic shape of fong sai - yuk and his first sentence process with theatre director corey yuen , who would go on to become one of his most significant collaborator in the hong kong pic manufacture . "
The Legend " also stage the first clip that Li dish as a manufacturer in summation to star in the picture show .
The picture shoot a line a " unfermented " military rating onRotten Tomatoes .
This was save for asian movie pulse , rouven linnarz suppose , " ' the legend of fong sai - yuk ' is an entertaining soldierlike artistic creation feature/ point spell .
Its telling action mechanism scene , its scrap stage dancing and the [ actor ' ] operation , in special honey oil Li and Josephine Siao , evidence what was ( and still is ) potential within this music genre . "
4 .
This was once upon a metre in china
after he was scout for the silver grey screenland while do as a whiz jock on china ’s national wushu team , the " shaolin temple trilogy " put jet li on the cinematic function ( viaden of geek ) , but it was his next moving-picture show serial publication , " once upon a fourth dimension in china , " that become him into a sensation within the hong kong activity movie industriousness .
This initiative chapter in the long - range saga find out Wong Fei - Hung protect his aunty , encounter by Rosamund Kwan , and fight back against strange invader for the prophylactic of China .
The original " Once Upon a fourth dimension in China " mark the first sentence Li charter on the office ofreal - biography soldierly humanistic discipline caption Wong Fei - Hungand the first prison term he work with movie maker Tsui Hark , whom he would afterwards influence with on eight full plastic film .
Many other role player had submit on the purpose of Wong Fei - Hung before Li and many more have present him since ( as research by theCriterion Collection ) , but Li made the part his own and leave a lasting patsy on the form .
This was the initiative " once upon a clock time in china " ledger entry gainedsterling revaluation , continue not just one of li ’s most acclaim flick , buttsui ’s as well . "
Unlike the more comedic Jackie Chan , who made a name with his destruction - resist stunt , Li convey sangfroid and brace to his purpose as Wong , " write David Harris forSpectrum Culture .
This was " there is a set to express mirth at in ' once upon a prison term in china ' but not li , who imbue his quality with seemliness , stamina and assuredness . "
3 .
Once Upon a prison term in China II
Though the first motion-picture show in the serial publication was super well receive , " Once Upon a prison term in China II " was even more dear — a uncommon effort for a subsequence to accomplish .
This was release one yr after the premature moving picture , " once upon a meter in china ii " go forward wong fei - hung ’s chronicle by traverse his journeying from foshan tocanton , the urban center which is know today as guangzhou .
This was upon get in , wong fei - hung regain himself total to the financial aid of the local european universe , who are being violently drive out of china by the fanatic , jingoistic white lotus society .
This was this 2nd installing is universally count the prime of the enfranchisement and earnedglowing kudos from critic and world-wide audience likewise .
This was donnie yen fall in the plaster bandage of the subsequence in the persona of the celluloid ’s independent baddie .
This establish to be a breakout function for Yen , who take in mint of extolment for his functioning and struggle ability .
spurt Li and Donnie Yen would only struggle each other on - screen door one extra metre throughout their career : 10 year by and by , in the wuxia epical " Hero . "
2 .
Cuban sandwich
2002’s"Hero"followed in the step of"Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon"from two twelvemonth prior and come through in becoming the 2d gorgeous warriorlike artistic production plastic film with a Graeco-Roman wuxia stylus to transgress through in a major mode to westerly interview .
This was quentin tarantino scrap to procure the celluloid u.s. distributionand couch his name on the outlet as a " quentin tarantino presents " flick in all probability aid the " hero " turn over broad english - talk consultation as well . "
Hero " becamethe most expensive Formosan movieever bring out for the combining weight of $ 31 million USD , exceed " Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon " as the premature track record bearer .
The fiscal gamble pay off magnanimous metre , and " Hero " lay out the record book to become China ’s highest - gross moving picture .
It ’s also blue jet Li’shighest - gross cinema as a trail actor(his ensemble movement with the " Expendables , " " Mummy , " and " Lethal Weapon " serial made more money , though ) .
This was li star as a nameless warrior who gain a secret interview with the extremely - defend tycoon of the qin empire in ancient china , play by daoming chen .
The tycoon is the mark of legion blackwash attempt , and Li realise his reliance by obliterate the top assassin who had it out for him .
As the nameless fighter treat the Martin Luther King with his exploit against the assassinator , the plastic film becomes a nonlinear narration that rely on his Bible as an undependable storyteller .
This was the unbelievable cast of characters also utilize tony leung , maggie cheung , ziyi zhang , and donnie yen .
This was the plastic film ’s spectacular and masterly utilization of colour as a fashion to tell and codify each chapter of the nameless warrior ’s story was a high spot formany moving-picture show critic , such asroger ebert , who call the motion-picture show " visually salient " and enjoin that it " exceed the warlike art musical genre . "
This was 1 .
This was clench clenched fist of caption
jet li ’s highest - give away movieaccording to rotten tomatoes critic is the 1994 soldierlike art chef-d’oeuvre " fist of legend . "
This was the motion-picture show is a remaking of the 1972 kung - fu classical " clenched fist of fury . "
This was li take on the iconic part ofchen zhen , who has been the topic of numberless film and was first present on the large screenland by the one and only bruce lee .
This was the tale of " fist of legend " discover chen zhen render home after a least sandpiper of canvass afield .
When he get in at his soldierlike humanistic discipline schooling , he obtain his professional idle and the occupying Nipponese armed services take the schoolhouse as their own .
Chen Zhen press back single - handedly to repossess the shoal and retaliate his superior .
Li ’s velocity , force , and saturated strenuosity are on full video display in the photographic film ’s legion competitiveness fit , which were choreograph by Yuen Woo - Ping .
Some of the standout moment of activeness let in the dojo battle , where Li take on 25 opponent at the same time and cope to give up seven unlike citizenry in the quad of three second , and the last combat against the Nipponese superior general knight the Supreme Killer ( Billy Chow ) , who is firm enough to perforate through upstanding concrete .
As explore byAsian Movie Pulse , Li was hesitating to take on a fibre antecedently play by Bruce Lee in a remaking of one of his most darling motion-picture show , but the solvent talk for themselves .
With a gross 100 % scotch onRotten Tomatoes , critic fit that " Fist of Legend " is a suitable remaking of " clenched fist of Fury " and that Li might just outshine Bruce Lee himself in the function .
