jet li's best

11 THINGS: Jet Li's best

Thursday, September 21, 2006

1. Fist of Legend: (1994) Based on Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury." Jaw-dropping everything. Key quote: "What fist is this? Don't ask, it's a good fist if it wins."

2. Once Upon a Time in China II: (1991) The sequel to the classic Tsui Hark film. Once upon a time, there weren't so many "Once Upon a Time" movies.

3. The Tai-Chi Master: (1993) Tianbao chooses ambition over friendship, Junbao is overcome by grief at the betrayal and yours truly still loves Michelle Yeoh.

4. Fong Sai-Yuk: (1993) Jet Li and his (awesome) mom help dad and the Red Lotus Society. A tribute to parents everywhere.

5. Once Upon a Time in China: (1990) Tsui Hark's classic. Years after seeing the film I still find it quite healthy to blurt out "Wong Fei Hung" every now and then.

6. My Father Is a Hero: (1995) Jet Li goes undercover and his kung fu fighting son steals the show. A sentimental film made more so by the fact that Anita Mui passed away in 2003.

7. Fearless: (2006) Jet Li finally returns to his early '90s glory. Go see it this weekend ... and then go see it again.

8. Fong Sai-Yuk II: (1993) Jet Li deals with moral conflict ... and two high-maintenance wives. Gender-bender craziness throughout.

9. Swordsman II: (1992) Jet Li renounces violence, goes into seclusion and inevitably gets drawn back into conflict. Oh and um ... Brigitte Lin is in the film ... 'nough said.

10. Shaolin Temple: (1982) Jet Li's first. That alone makes it worth seeing.

11. Unleashed: (2005) Jet Li gets a new leash on life when he befriends a blind Morgan Freeman. The result? Great acting ... and a really good film. Key quote: "Ripe means sweet and sweet means good." Jet Li: (smiling) "The kiss was ripe!"

Tim Sullivan, tsullivan@sfchronicle.com

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/21/NSGFRL53HE1.DTL

This article appeared on page G - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle