Can you name non-martial arts actors that have been entertaining fighters in movies?
09-20-08, 12:26 AM
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Can you name non-martial arts actors that have been entertaining fighters in movies?
Can anyone list those actors that actually have consistently shown off some impressive fighting moves in their movies? It doesn't even matter if they really learned the fighting skills or not - just as long as they looked good doing it on film. And I don't mean those actors associated as being "martial-artist stars" such as Jet Li, Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, or Jackie Chan. I'm refering to actors that may even be martial artists in real life, but the main thing is that they aren't "associated" as being "martial arts stars", rather just actors. I wish I could put Vin Diesel in the list since I like him, but he's been so poorly filmed (quick cuts) and really has no memorable fight scenes (not even in those Riddick films).
Christian Bale: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Equilibrium
Chiwetel Ejiofor: Serenity, Redbelt
Wesley Snipes: Blade Trilogy, Demolition Man
Keanu Reeves: Matrix Trilogy
Milla Jovovich: The Fifth Element, Resident Evil Trilogy, Ultraviolet
Matt Damon: The Bourne Trilogy
Kate Beckinsale: Underworld 1 & 2, Van Helsing
Hugh Jackman: X-Men Trilogy, Van Helsing, The Fountain, Wolverine
Viggo Mortenson: Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Alatriste, Eastern Promises
Brad Pitt: Fight Club, Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Michael Jai White: Undisputed 2, Exit Wounds, Universal Soldier 2, Spawn, Kill Bill (deleted scene), Silver Hawk
Luke Goss: Blade 2, Hellboy 2, Silver Hawk
Angelina Jolie: Tomb Raiders, Wanted, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Antonio Banderas: Zorros, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Marc Whalberg: The Big Hit, The Corruptor, Planet of the Apes, Shooter, Max Payne
Christian Bale: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Equilibrium
Chiwetel Ejiofor: Serenity, Redbelt
Wesley Snipes: Blade Trilogy, Demolition Man
Keanu Reeves: Matrix Trilogy
Milla Jovovich: The Fifth Element, Resident Evil Trilogy, Ultraviolet
Matt Damon: The Bourne Trilogy
Kate Beckinsale: Underworld 1 & 2, Van Helsing
Hugh Jackman: X-Men Trilogy, Van Helsing, The Fountain, Wolverine
Viggo Mortenson: Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Alatriste, Eastern Promises
Brad Pitt: Fight Club, Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Michael Jai White: Undisputed 2, Exit Wounds, Universal Soldier 2, Spawn, Kill Bill (deleted scene), Silver Hawk
Luke Goss: Blade 2, Hellboy 2, Silver Hawk
Angelina Jolie: Tomb Raiders, Wanted, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Antonio Banderas: Zorros, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Marc Whalberg: The Big Hit, The Corruptor, Planet of the Apes, Shooter, Max Payne
09-20-08, 10:09 AM
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Chow Yun-Fat - although famous in some martial arts film roles (like in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), he actually does not know martial arts very well at all.
09-20-08, 10:50 AM
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I thought Snipes and Jai-White had previous Martial Arts Training?
09-20-08, 10:59 AM
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09-20-08, 11:29 AM
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Jason Statham, is actually incredible physically in what he did in the first Transporter film. Although he hasn't lived up to his potential since.
Summer Glau also, physically did some fantastic action in Serenity, hasn't done anything near as good on SCC, or even on Firefly.
Summer Glau also, physically did some fantastic action in Serenity, hasn't done anything near as good on SCC, or even on Firefly.
09-20-08, 12:30 PM
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Jason Statham, is actually incredible physically in what he did in the first Transporter film. Although he hasn't lived up to his potential since.
Summer Glau also, physically did some fantastic action in Serenity, hasn't done anything near as good on SCC, or even on Firefly.
Summer Glau also, physically did some fantastic action in Serenity, hasn't done anything near as good on SCC, or even on Firefly.
That Summer Glau sequence in Serenity wasn't particularly good, it sound redundant to say it felt staged, but it really stood out on that sequence. Though to her credit, she is really flexible.
I think Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon did an excellent job. Especially the scene vs. Michelle Yeoh.
09-20-08, 12:56 PM
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If we are just talking about actors who don't know martial arts, but do great action, then the last person you named is at the very top of the list, Michelle Yeoh, knew zero martial arts before getting into movies.
But overall, I don't really get what the OP is asking, or his standards. I mean Bradd Pitt & Jolie? Both have been dreadful, near unwatchable IMO in terms of their "action" roles.
And 2 people that have done phenomenal IMO, he didn't even mention in Matt Damon & Danielle Craig/
09-20-08, 01:08 PM
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Yeah, but I thought for the sake of this thread, the OP wanted actors that weren't known for Martial Arts films, & Ziyi especially in the US is pretty much only known for them, so she doesn't count.
If we are just talking about actors who don't know martial arts, but do great action, then the last person you named is at the very top of the list, Michelle Yeoh, knew zero martial arts before getting into movies.
But overall, I don't really get what the OP is asking, or his standards. I mean Bradd Pitt & Jolie? Both have been dreadful, near unwatchable IMO in terms of their "action" roles.
And 2 people that have done phenomenal IMO, he didn't even mention in Matt Damon & Danielle Craig/
If we are just talking about actors who don't know martial arts, but do great action, then the last person you named is at the very top of the list, Michelle Yeoh, knew zero martial arts before getting into movies.
But overall, I don't really get what the OP is asking, or his standards. I mean Bradd Pitt & Jolie? Both have been dreadful, near unwatchable IMO in terms of their "action" roles.
And 2 people that have done phenomenal IMO, he didn't even mention in Matt Damon & Danielle Craig/
09-20-08, 03:13 PM
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09-20-08, 07:22 PM
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I mentioned Matt Damon in my original thread...
Daniel Craig is another one, you are right. Besides James Bond films, did he have any fighting scene in the Tomb Raider film?
And Mickey Rourke in Sin City, Double Team, and probably in The Wrestler
Daniel Craig is another one, you are right. Besides James Bond films, did he have any fighting scene in the Tomb Raider film?
And Mickey Rourke in Sin City, Double Team, and probably in The Wrestler
Last edited by toddly6666; 09-20-08 at 07:32 PM.