Fight Clip Club: Hard Boiled

another dynamite one-shot hallway fight!

When I was first recruited into the Band of Young Men in the mid-’90s, one of the most important regimens of training (after the physical skills of fighting of course) was the inculcation of my previously-not-a-fan-of-action-movies self into the wonderful world of film fights. My taste in movies before joining up with my Merry Swordmen ran much more artistic, with very few action-heavy titles in my realm of favorites. Cyrano was one exception, and I did adore the first Beverly Hills Cop movie (still do, in fact). And so a large part of my training and education with this group before I performed with them in the intensive scenarios we had going at RenFaire, was a long playlist of fight films. 

Included in this series of movie nights (which were actually a lot of fun: the whole Band would get together and drink mightily and MST3K each movie in turn, a tradition I still enjoy though the alcohol consumption has calmed down significantly in my middle age) were such classics as: Enter the Dragon, Game of Death, Drunken Master, The Duellists, Four Musketeers, and Twin Dragons. Just about a year into this practice, I met who would become my husband (and then ex-), a martial artist who then sat me down in front of such great (and often cheesy as heck) martial arts heavy films as Tai Chi Boxer, Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, Gymkata, American Ninja, Hard to Kill, Last Dragon, and The Master.*

But nowhere in this amazing panoply of fighty flicks did the incredible John Woo vehicle, Hard Boiled, ever appear! What gives, gentlemen? Imagine the surprise in my partner’s voice (well, texts) as he told me he was starting this movie at home, and did I want him to wait till I got there to press play? I haven’t seen it, I responded. WHAT?? was his incredulous response, and so I hustled home for a Labor Day viewing of this martial arts masterpiece. I’m indignant that none of the men I fought with ever showed me this awesome example of film fights. Can it be that they hadn’t seen it themselves? Impossible.

So now I’ve finally seen it, I love it, and must share my love with you, as I analyze the best long-shot hallway fight I’d never heard of till now. Join me past the paywall, and let’s nerd out.

*Before you ask: Kung Fu Hustle didn’t come out till 2004. Best believe The Landlady was goals once I saw it. Still is, to be honest.