THE FURIOUS: Ten Films To Watch Ahead Of Kenji Tanigaki’s Buzzy Action Epic
It’s the final leg of promo this month as martial arts and action film fans await the release of director Kenji Tanigaki’s new movie, The Furious. The film has already sparked massive buzz since premiering in Toronto late last year and to help set the tone, I’m diving into a listicle – something I haven’t done in a while, but I figured I’d take the opportunity for since so many other websites tend to do these, and for me, this film is pretty special in a few ways.
The movie is simply amazing too. I thought I was ready before I got to screen it back in April, and I simply wasn’t – something that emboldened me to just inform other folks as entrenched as they are in the genre and fandom. It had me thinking just as well about what films folks could watch to help warm themselves up before jumping into The Furious, and so below are what I consider a list of at least ten (10) films to take in to help get ready for the big screen slaughter that’s about to go down; I’ve also tacked on links to reviews that were written for some of these as well, so feel free to have at ’em…
And hey, if you have your own choice picks to share, leave them in a comment across our Facebook, BlueSky and Instagram posts. I’m more than open to sharing the energy with folks who I know are gonna love this movie as I did. Otherwise, read on, and stay tuned for more The Furious coverage in the weeks ahead.
My Father Is A Hero: Corey Yuen’s 1995 follow-up to New Legend Of Shaolin sets up a modern day tale starring Jet Li as a cop struggling to balance duty and fatherhood, escalating into an all-out battle between an unbeatable father/son duo, and a vicious gang of terrorists. Also featuring performances by Anita Mui, Yu Rongguang and Blackie Ko, for one of the most memorable Hong Kong thrillers you’ll ever see.
Eye For An Eye 2: Blind Vengeance: Yang Bingjia’s sequel follows through on the exploits of “ghostkiller” Blind Cheng, a bounty hunter who takes after a young girl desperate to avenge the murder of her family. Actress Yang Enyou is the girl in question which rightly serves up a neat preamble in the chemistry she shares with her on-screen father in the first of two films they appear in together. (REVIEW)
The Raid: 20 elite cops are tasked with raiding a 30-floor apartment block only to learn their mission has already gone bust, leaving a rookie to fight for his life in a bittersweet reunion with his estranged brother. Without question, Gareth Huw Evans’ 2011 crime flick is a showstopper by any measure, ringing all the bells and whistles in part for co-stars Joe Taslim and Yayan Ruhian in their entry into the world spotlight.
The Night Comes For Us: I’m only including this one as a measure of the level of stylized violence that sets up nicely for The Furious to make its entry to, centering on a gangland enforcer (Joe Taslim) caring for a young girl after wiping out her beach side village, only to confront the unforgiving criminal organization that now threatens to pit him against one of his own blood brothers. Director Timo Tjahjanto really raised the bar with this flick in 2018, so it’s only fitting to revisit this flick ahead of Tanigaki’s latest. (REVIEW)
Raging Phoenix: Nearly twenty years since Jeeja Yanin’s breakout into stardom with Prachya Pinkaew’s Chocolate, this one from director Rashane Limtrakul still sits fresh to this day, following the exploits of a heartbroken drummer who finds renewed purpose with a small band of vigilantes who train in a rare style of martial arts to rescue kidnapping and trafficked young women. There are maybe one or two similar character points seen here that contribute to The Furious a little bit but don’t really take anything away from the film’s value, plus the action and spectacle is a must-see for all Jeeja fans.
Gladiator Underground: Shot in Thailand as the backdrop of a fictitious city, Chaya Supannarat’s latest martial arts collab tells of two brothers at odds as they engage the city’s deadly underworld tournament. Co-star Brian Le serves as one of the ancillary characters in this film though, and honestly puts on one hell of a performance, bringing degrees of depth and nuance to a character that would otherwise be treated as a throwaway under most directors, and speaks purely to the potential he exudes in The Furious. (REVIEW)
Rurouni Kenshin: The first of a five-part film saga, Keishi Otomo’s 2012 live-action manga adaptation draws a sweeping look at the inaugural story of a lost ronin who finds purpose in pacifist pugilism, using a reverse blade to fend off ghosts of his violent past as Japan enters a new age. Featuring blistering performances from a cast led by Takeru Satoh, this film remains one of the foremost action adventures ever covered in the mainstream, with the kind of exemplary fight sequences that have made Kenji Tanigaki a pillar in his field.
Baby Assassins 2: Yugo Sakamoto’s second-of-three entries in this whipsmart assassin comedy follows career assassins Chisato and Mahiro as they cope with daily mundanity and financial upkeep while targeted by a pair of brothers looking to climb the assassin ranks. I think the question of which of the current trilogy is best is debatable, but the fight finale between Saori Izawa and Joey Inagawa is not only insane, but speaks to the otherworldly brilliance of Kensuke Sonomura’s work with a tangential nod to Eric Jacobus a la Death Grip. IYKYK. (REVIEW)
Hydra: Starring Masanori Mimoto as a midnight diner chef thrust into action when the war between the covert vigilante organization he kills for, and an elusive criminal group, threatens the fate of the young woman he once swore to her dying father to protect. This film is not only badass, but it’s a bookmark in martial arts film fandom, and the film that first brought me into prospective circles with Kensuke Sonomura when I met him seven years ago during the film’s festival run. Matter of factly, it was this film that caught the eye of the minds and execs behind The Furious that led to Sonomura being brought on board this film, making his directional debut a notable intro to The Furious before showtime. (REVIEW)
Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In: Soi Cheang’s dazzling manhua adaptation squares up a tale of vengeance as a migrant takes refuge in the former British enclave set in the 1980s, and enveloped into a world of explosive gangland conflict. The film also stands as Tanigaki’s other recent major achievement as an awarded feat in stunts and action from several organizations, including at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards. (REVIEW)
Lead image: Norachai Kajchapanont/Courtesy of Lionsgate
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
