Hidden Gems And Cult Classics

Jet Li is one of the world’s most renowned martial arts actors, but the movies he made in Hollywood are a mixed bag of beloved classics and hidden gems. The Chinese-born actor began training in various martial arts styles at a young age, and even represented his country at various international expositions.

This sports success quickly translated into an acting career in his native country, and Li easily brought his actual skills to the big screen. Beginning in the early ’80s, Li established himself as one of the hottest commodities in Chinese cinema, with several of his films becoming series, such as Shaolin Temple and Once Upon a Time in China.

Unlike contemporaries like Jackie Chan, who combined action and comedy in many of his films, Li specialized in playing straightforward heroes. These heroic figures were typically pulled from Chinese history, and Li’s early filmography is quintessential to Chinese popular culture because they’re so intricately tied to folklore. This status makes Li one of China’s biggest stars still to this day.

It took a while for Li to come to Hollywood, but he hit the ground running with several notable roles that highlighted his martial arts acumen above all else. While he never found consistent success stateside, some of his American movies are bona fide cult classics and have audiences of loyal fans.

10

The One (2001)

Jet Li’s early American films smartly put the focus on his martial arts abilities, and The One was perhaps the strangest use of his talents to date. With its convoluted plot involving multiverses and mysticism, the 2001 science fiction action movie cast Li to play numerous versions of himself from different timelines.

The action sequences are crisp and exciting, and Li partnered up nicely with up-and-comer Jason Statham. Though the movie’s plot is absolutely bonkers, and its humor borders on absurdity, the martial arts action elevates what could have easily been another forgettable sci-fi movie from the early 2000s. The One is certainly better than its poor reviews.

9

War (2007)

Nearly a decade after their first team-up, Jet Li and Jason Statham reunited for the utterly bombastic action flick, War. Unlike his Chinese roles, Li is tapped to play a villain, and he’s strong as the silent killer who has nearly driven Statham’s Jack Crawford to the edge. The movie uses Li to his strengths, while playing down his weaknesses.

The clash of styles makes for an interesting mix of visuals with Statham’s rough-and-ready approach blending nicely with Li’s smooth martial arts. The revenge plot is razor-thin, and the acting is often suspect, but the action movie is never dull. War is the type of film to be enjoyed for what it is; an over-the-top spectacle.

8

The Expendables 3 (2014)

Surprisingly, the wheels hadn’t begun to come off the Expendables franchise by the third installment, and it actually made for an entertaining film. Jet Li reprises his role as Yin Yang, though he’s mostly lost in a massive ensemble of older and younger stars. Had Li been given more to do, it would have improved the movie immensely.

Nevertheless, The Expendables 3 is still a fun action flick that introduces a clever twist on the franchise formula. Seeing the old dogs use their tricks to defeat a team of modern rogues adds some gravity to the movie’s nonstop action, and it never pretends to be anything more than light entertainment.

7

Cradle 2 The Grave (2003)

Mismatched dynamics are a big theme in Jet Li’s American filmography, and Cradle 2 the Grave puts a major emphasis on that point. Li is partnered with musician DMX, and he plays a Taiwanese agent who must work with the jaded criminal he was originally trying to capture. Like always, Li’s martial arts save what would have been boilerplate.

Though the plot is rife with action movie clichés, the movie’s use of humor is a welcome addition. DMX is one of the better musicians-turned-actors, and supporting stars like Gabrielle Union keep things from growing too lean and overly focused. As was shown earlier in Romeo Must Die, martial arts and hip-hop make for a strong combination.

6

The Expendables (2010)

Without its cast, The Expendables would be yet another run-of-the-mill action film, but its all-star roster is worth the price of admission. Acting alongside legends like Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li is given a major role as Yin Yang. Li’s Yang is a crucial addition, because he brings actual fighting skills to supplement his heavily-muscled co-stars, who mostly just shoot guns.

Because The Expendables has fun with its over-the-top plot, the movie never gets bogged down as a cynical Hollywood cash-grab. The cast has decent chemistry, and there was clear franchise potential from the start. The movie also reunited Li with frequent collaborator, Jason Statham, and it’s the highlight of their filmmaking partnership.

5

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Jet Li’s Hollywood debut came in the final Lethal Weapon movie, and he was immediately cast against type. The fourth installment in the classic ’80s action franchise sees Li play an evil Chinese gangster, and he’s the perfect foil for the familiar Riggs and Murtaugh. Though Lethal Weapon 4 pales in comparison to its predecessors, it’s still a decent film.

All the heart and charm is still present, and the buddy cop elements are played to perfection in the over-the-top action sequences. The biggest sin that Lethal Weapon 4 commits is being too overstuffed, and the addition of new and returning characters detracts from the plot. Nevertheless, Li made a great impression and was soon a Hollywood star.

4

Mulan (2020)

Disney’s live-action remakes of their classic animated films have been hit-or-miss, but the live-action version of Mulan was surprisingly strong. With a cast chock-full of recognizable Asian stars, the remake properly honors Chinese cinema while keeping the whimsy of the cartoon. Jet Li appears as the emperor, and he co-stars alongside fellow martial arts legend, Donnie Yen.

Unlike many of the other remakes, Mulan actually makes changes to justify its own existence, though the changes are hit-or-miss. Li’s role is somewhat small, but it shows his elevation in status as a true icon of Chinese cinema. Casting him as the emperor was certainly symbolic, and it befits his legendary station.

3

The Expendables 2 (2012)

After the first film established the ground rules, The Expendables 2 came along and improved upon every detail for a shockingly strong cinematic experience. Alongside Stallone and Statham, Li reprised his role as Yin, and the sequel upped the ante with an even bigger plot involving plutonium and revenge. The movie even added another legend with Bruce Willis tagging in.

The cheapness of the first film gave way to a slightly better-looking product, and The Expendables 2 knew exactly which avenues to explore. By adding more Expendables and making the plot increasingly bombastic, the sequel distanced itself further from other cash-in action films. Li is lost in the shuffle again, but it’s still one of his best American films.

2

Romeo Must Die (2000)

Though it got really poor reviews upon release in 2000, Romeo Must Die is still Jet Li’s most beloved American film in martial arts circles. Based loosely on Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, the story of star-crossed lovers spans continents and is accentuated with a lot of highly-choreographed martial arts action.

Li got to strut his stuff, and the movie knew what audiences were buying a ticket to see. Furthermore, it mixes urban culture with martial arts, a popular combo at the time. Though the movie is quite dated, Jet Li’s action sequences have aged like fine wine, and are still some of the best work of his entire career.

1

Unleashed (2005)

The biggest hidden gem in Jet Li’s American catalog, Unleashed deserves to be considered the best movie he’s made Stateside. Playing a challenging role compared to his other American films, Li is a man who only knows how to fight. He must uncover his past, and he gets to kick a lot of butt along the way too.

While Jet Li headlines the film, he’s supported by Morgan Freeman, and antagonized by the memorable villain played by Bob Hoskins. Unlike Li’s other American films, Unleashed isn’t just a platform for his martial arts skills. That’s not to say the fighting is bad, but the movie succeeds on its own, with the martial arts adding spice and visual excitement.