Top 6 Outstanding Martial Arts Films in Chung Tu Don's Career

Following the highly successful first installment of the Wong Fei-Hung series produced in 1991, starring actor Jet Li, Part 2 of the film, titled Once Upon A Time In China 2, continued to captivate audiences in 1992 with stunning martial arts sequences. The name Wong Fei-Hung further propelled Jet Li's fame not only in China but also worldwide. The film features Chung Tu Don in the role of the main antagonist and delivers numerous spectacular martial arts scenes. Chung Tu Don received the award for 'Best Supporting Actor' at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

The second installment of the Wong Fei-Hung film is set during the Manchu rule when the open-door policies of the feudal dynasty were being carried out chaotically, and the political relationship among the three countries of Britain, China, and Japan remained an unpredictable mystery. While the imperial court focused solely on negotiation and maintaining cooperative relations with the British, at that time, the White Lotus sect was rampant everywhere. Exploiting the patriotism of the kind-hearted people, they pretended to be gods and ghosts, deceiving countless amounts of innocent people's money. The safety of the people is entrusted to Master Wong.

Set in the era of the Warring States in China, the land was divided into 7 states: Qin, Zhao, Han, Wei, Yan, Qi, and Chu. Fierce wars erupted incessantly among these 7 nations vying for supremacy, causing the people to suffer from endless death and lamentation. Qin was the strongest state, and the Qin King always harbored ambitions to unify the country, becoming the first emperor of China. Therefore, this king has long been the target of assassination by other states. However, there are 3 martial artists that worry the Qin King: Tan Sword, White Snow, and Empty Sky. To dispel this threat, the Qin King promised gold, silver, and land, allowing anyone who kills one of these 3 martial arts experts to be granted an audience. However, for 10 years, no one has been able to do this. Thus, when a humble villager, Nameless, came to the royal court with the legendary weapons of the 3 martial artists, the Qin King couldn't contain his curiosity to hear Nameless's achievements. Sitting in the royal court, just 10 steps away from the Qin King, Nameless recounted his extraordinary exploits: For 10 years, he diligently practiced swordsmanship, using his inherited sword techniques to defeat Empty Sky in a fierce battle. Following this initial victory, he also defeated the famous couple ruling the martial arts world, White Snow and Tan Sword. This time, Nameless used a weapon more destructive than a sword, the love triangle between these three great martial artists.

There was a time when 'Hero' became the highest-grossing film in the history of Chinese cinema. It is one of the most outstanding and impressive martial arts films ever produced and entirely deserving of being hailed as a masterpiece. Although Chung Tu Don only played a supporting role in the film, it was enough to deliver an incredibly remarkable action scene.

One of the reasons Chung Tu Don is not widely known in the West is because his films are released much later than in the East. 'Iron Monkey' is a prime example, released in 1993 but not distributed in the US until 2001. In this film, Chung Tu Don plays Hoang Ky Anh, the father of Wong Fei-Hung, and is considered by many to be one of his best martial arts roles.

Iron Monkey (1993) The story takes place in 1858, as the Qing dynasty in China enters a period of decline. The uprising and widespread corruption of officials cause the economy of Chekiang province to plummet. Floods, droughts, and epidemics occur repeatedly, causing crop failures. Peasants flock to the cities in hopes of finding work and food, only to become prey to bandits and corrupt officials. In the midst of the plight of the poor, a hero emerges. in the provincial capital of Chekiang. With superior martial arts skills, he robs the rich to give to the poor. The knights often wear masks and call themselves Tie Hou Tu when they act. Local officials organize numerous hunts but find no trace of the mysterious figure. Dozens of officials from Beijing are sent to serve as governors of Chekiang to capture Tie Hou Tu, but they each lose their positions. With the help of four high monks, the incumbent governor sets a trap for the knights at his residence. However, Tie Hou Tu not only defeats all the fighters but also steals a secret government gold stash. Will Iron Servant be caught ...?

A film that helped Chung Tu Don win the award for 'Best Martial Arts Choreography' at the Hong Kong Film Awards is none other than The Lone Warrior. This is also a must-watch martial arts film starring Chung Tu Don.

In this film, Chung Tu Don plays Ha Hao Vo, a police officer responsible for martial arts training but imprisoned for accidentally killing someone. When a serial killer targets martial artists, causing authorities headaches, Ha Hao Vo offers to help catch the villain in exchange for his own freedom. At the Hong Kong Film Awards, The Lone Warrior also marked the fourth time Chung Tu Don brilliantly received the award for 'Best Martial Arts Choreography.'

The storyline of Martial Arts Hero revolves around the involuntary return of a martial arts master - portrayed by Chung Tu Don - who had retreated into seclusion with his wife (played by Thang Duy) and two sons in a remote small village. Kim Thanh Vu plays the detective following Chung Tu Don's trail. In 1917, in the southwestern border region of China at Luu Gia village, there was a small happy family consisting of husband Luu Kim Hie (played by Chan Tu Dan), wife A Ngoc (Thang Duy), and two young children. Until one day, two bandits arrived at Luu Gia village to rob and were killed by Luu Kim Hie. This incident drew the attention of the Tu Bach Cuoi clan. During the investigation, Luu Kim Hie's true identity gradually became clear, and Luu Gia village faced a major unprecedented danger.

Chung Tu Don's success in the historical film genre continued with Martial Arts Hero released in 2011. In the film, he plays Luu Kim Hie, a man trying to conceal his identity and brutal past, but things begin to unravel when he intervenes to kill two villains to help others. The film not only features impressive martial arts scenes but also unveils intriguing mysteries gradually.

Ip Man premiered in Hong Kong on December 18, 2008, receiving acclaim from critics and audiences alike. In addition to its commercial success with earnings surpassing 100 million yuan, the film was nominated for 12 awards at the 2009 Golden Horse Awards, including 'Best Film,' 'Best Actor,' and 'Best Director.' Following this success, a sequel titled Ip Man 2 was planned by Hoang Bach Minh.

Needless to say much, 'Ip Man' is perhaps the finest film and the iconic role of Chung Tu Don as the Wing Chun grandmaster of the legendary Bruce Lee. The film's storyline is based on a part of real-life events and mainly fictionalizes Ip Man's experiences during the Japanese occupation. The film features numerous high-level martial arts scenes and achieved great success, leading to two sequel installments in 2010 and 2015.