Top 14 Wuxia Films Of The Recent Past
2 & 3. Drunken Master I-II
Two films helped define, and bring to life, an entire generation of martial arts heroes existing in Chinese folklore, in various forms of Wuxia literature, and Manhua comics. Both of these films were separated by over 16 years (22 if you count when the second was officially released in the U.S.), helping define the career of one of the greatest Hong Kong film stars to ever come out of Peking Opera School, Jackie Chan.
The main focus in style for these films was the Drunken Fist, as the title suggests, Zui Quan. The main character is again based on one of the most famous heroes in modern Chinese history and folklore, Wong Fei-Hung. Featuring some of the greatest martial arts choreography for it's time, Drunken Master didn't hold back any of Jackie Chan's budding talent, and still preserved much of his comedic styling, the very nature of what's made him famous over the years.
Drunken Master II, which was released in the United States in 2000 with the title The Legend of the Drunken Master isn't a direct sequel to the 1978 film, but a follow-up film. There was a third film made the same year, Drunken Master III (Drunken Master Killer), but it has no relation to either of these films, even though it was directed by Lar Kar-Leung who also directed and stared in Drunken Master II.
Drunken Master II film has gone on to be listed as one of the greatest films of all time by Time Magazine.