21 Best Films Of The 21st Century By Genre

The Martial Arts genre has sure expanded over the years, becoming a major box office weapon in Hollywood. Master Director Quentin Tarantino has utilised epic martial arts sequences in the Kill Bill films, while the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker Rush Hour series utilised Chan's skills in an action comedy format that was a hit throughout the western world.

But for the best martial arts film of the century we need to look no further than the groundbreaking 2000 hit Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The groundbreaking nature of the film comes in the manner western audiences embraced the product, something that had not been achieved on this scale before for a foreign language film before.

The film's plot centres around a sword, 'Green Destiny', which is in the possession of master swordsman Li Mu Bai. The action then kicks into gear when a mysterious thief steals the sword from its recently retired owner.

While utilising epic martial arts sequences and outstanding special effects that sees our combatants literally launch themselves into the air, it was the love stories at the heart of the film that make this so good. Chow Yun-Fat and former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh are outstanding as the film's protagonists, equally adept in their portrayal of unrequited love as in their spectacular fight sequences.