Legend of the Wolf (1997)

I freaking love this movie.

Everyone may not love Donnie's experimental take, but i'd argue that the fights in this movie, in particular the final fights with Mak Wai Cheung and Ben Lam, all show much more fun directorial/creative chops than the modern 87Eleven/John Wick style of action.

I've already said this before but the 87Eleven style has always been too clean for me. Their style to me has always just looked like a glorified stunt reel rather than an actual film. And in John Wick in particular, the fun stuff almost always goes to the set design and never the choreography or camera work.

But when it comes to Legend of the Wolf, We see Donnie go full action expressionistic madman. Utilizing insane frenetic camera work, fast chaotic movement that evokes insane bursts of kinetic energy, and his classic "uncooperative" style choreography which utilizes less holds, poses, and shapes to make the fight look more "real" or more dangerous.

All of it is then topped with a consistent editing rhythm, that balances all the chaos that fuckin ensues in the film.

If the John Wick movies are like watching a beautiful river run smooth, then Donnie's Legend of The Wolf is like a big forrest fire that just cannot be stopped.

Words alone cannot really do this movie justice, you're just gonna have to watch it.