The Best Movie Fight Scenes: Dong Mau Anh Hung aka The Rebel (2006) Johnny Nguyen, Ngo Thanh Van

Dong Mau Anh Hung aka The Rebel (2006) Johnny Nguyen, Ngo Thanh Van

Posted on 6:51 PM | By CroakerBC | In Johnny Nguyen , Ngo Thanh Van

IMDB

Quote from Mark Pollard's Kung Fu Cinema Review:

THE REBEL is a hard-biting martial arts and gunplay actioner from Vietnam, the first of its kind from the country and a showcase for the phenomenal talents of international stunt actor Johnny Nguyen. Armed with a wide array of dynamic martial arts skills, the actor teams with his equally impressive discovery, singer and model-turned-martial arts starlet Veronica Ngo, as they take on Dustin Nguyen (FINISHING THE GAME) and French occupiers in 1920s-era Colonial Vietnam.

Martial arts action in THE REBEL is an intriguing mixture of techniques that reflect action director Johnny Nguyen’s varied training and experience working in Hollywood, Thailand and Hong Kong. With THE PROTECTOR being his most recent work previous to THE REBEL, Johnny noticeably incorporates a variety of Muay Thai strikes using elbows, knees and front extension kicks. He uses wushu in various spinning kicks and in some bladed weapons work. There are also more military or modern takedowns and grappling used that look similar to MMA and the Keysi Fighting Method.

Nguyen also makes an effort to feature more unique Vietnamese fighting styles, notably an art known as Vovinam. His co-star Ngo Thanh Van repeatedly performs a distinctive scissor headlock that traps her opponent’s neck between her legs and brings him to the ground to crush his throat or choke him. The move looks great and she appears to perform it flawlessly. It’s a move that hasn’t been used much in martial arts cinema.

As lead villain, Dustin Nguyen performs his duty well. He comes across little too much like Agent Smith from the MATRIX films but is effectively menacing and manages his action sequences opposite Johnny and Ngo with skill. His movements are stiffer than his co-stars but work for the character. He’s reserved in personality and movement so action and acting complement each other.

There are a few problems with the movie. Johnny relies too much on flying spinning kicks, particularly in situations where it doesn’t seem logical or appropriate given the often direct nature of attacks during some scenes. He strikes an awkward balance between military-style combat and flashier performance moves throughout the movie.

Enjoy 3 of the numerous fights in the film.

Fight 1: Johnny Nguyen vs a french fighter