Get Your Kicks With High Flying Flicks

< I>Every week, Vern Seward takes a look at Appleis latest offerings at the QuickTime Trailer site, letting your know whatis new.

Back in the late sixties kung fu movies became extremely popular. It could have been Americais then-fascination with everything Eastern, but most would not argue that kung fu, and martial arts in general, was popularized by one man: Bruce Lee. In fact, almost any movie Bruce Lee was in was a success in the States, the most widely known, of course, was Enter the Dragon, which enjoys brisk DVD sales 30 years after the movie originally opened.

Kung fu movies are enjoying somewhat of a renaissance lately. A new breed of Eastern actors have taken up the baton that Bruce Lee has passed on. Chow Young Fat, Jett Li, and Jackie Chan all come to mind when you talk about modern kung fu movies. Chow Yun-Fat became widely known after his role as master Li in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but many Americans would be surprised to know that Mr. Yun-Fat has more than 50 movies to his credit. Jet Li has had many choice roles in American cinema and may be more widely recognized in his role as the mean kick-butt bad guy, Wah Sing Ku, in Lethal Weapon 4. And everybody knows Jackie Chan, who may be credited with the renaissance of martial arts in American movies.

For those of you who get your kicks watching these high flying flicks, 2003 is gonna be your year. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson reprise the roles they played as a Chinese Imperial Guard and a cowboy in the right place at the wrong time in Shanghi Noon. Now they do it in dreary Great Britain in the upcoming Shanghi Knights.

Chow Yun-Fat will be starring in Bulletproof Monk and Lucy Liu reprises her role in Charlieis Angels: Full Throttle. Of course, thereis the Matrix Reloaded, Daredevil and X-Men 2 if you donit mind your kung fu homogenized and devoid of any Eastern actors, but two upcoming movies promises to deliver that same feeling that made you want to take up Thai Kwan Do in the first place, and both have trailers featured this week at Appleis QuickTime Movie Trailer site.

Speaking of Appleis QuickTime Movie Trailer site, we start off this weekis look with Kill Bill. OK, we will admit that the name is really odd, but what did you expect from a movie by Quentin Tarantino? Always hot, Ulma Thurman wakes from a coma and remember the events that put her there and seeks revenge. Thereis an all-star cast including Lucy Liu, Samuel L. Jackson, Daryl Hannah, Vivica Fox, and David Carradine. If Quentin Tarantino has anything to do with it you know this movie is gonna be a wild ride. You will definitely want to check out the official movie site.

Next up is another oddly titled flick, but action fans and high-kick junkies will want to watch it; Cradle 2 the Grave (the 2 is suppose to be in there) lacks the star power of Kill Bill but makes up for it by putting Jet Li and rapper DMX in the starring roles. The trailer is slick, with DMX doing the hip-hop theme. If this movie ainit good, it ainit the traileris fault, itis rockini.

Here are some other trailers you should check out:

  • In America: Samatha Morton, Paddy Considine and Djimon Hounsou star in a movie about an Irish family who moves to New York looking for a fresh start after the loss of one of the children. This movie got great reviews at the Toronoto Film Festival. Keep an eye on Djimon Hounsou. Heis going to be one of those guys you wonit mind seeing more often.
  • Bend It Like Beckham: A British Indian ( a native of India who lives in Britain) girl is torn between the desires and traditions of her family and the new morals and lifestyles offered by her adopted country. Looks like one that will be a sleeper-hit.
  • View From The Top: Gwyneth Paltrow, Mike Myers, and Candice Bergen star in this comedy about a girl on a quest to fulfill her dream of becoming an airline stewardess. Mike Myers looks like heill be the standout in this one if the trailer is any indication.
  • A Man Apart: Vin Diesel is an undercover cop whose is seeking revenge after the murder of his wife. Vin Diesel fans may like this role that seems to have a bit more depth than his role in Triple X. Should be a good one.

Thatis going to do it for this week. If you are feeling lucky you might want to check out the MPEG4 Superstar Sweepstakes 8. Good music and prizes, a great combination.