Episode 77 - Kenji Tanigaki

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast

What a year it has been for the stunt coordinator, fight choreographer and second unit director, Kenji Tanigaki. Not only did he craft the action on two more 'Rurouni Kenshin' films - called 'Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning' and 'Rurouni Kenshin: The Final', both available now on Netflix - but he also worked as second unit director and fight choreographer on the Hollywood blockbuster, 'Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins', and helped out on the Hong Kong action hit, 'Raging Fire'. The latter saw Kenji work again with Donnie Yen, who he calls his "master". His work with Donnie stretches back to his days as a young stunt performer in Hong Kong in the 1990s. A student of martial arts screen legend, Yasuaki Kurata, Kenji made the bold decision as a young man to relocate from his home in Japan to Hong Kong in an attempt to make it in the film business. He learned Cantonese, took hits as a background actor, and was the first person from Japan to become a member of the Hong Kong Stuntman Association. His real passion, however, lay behind the camera. Spotted by Donnie Yen, Kenji became an active and vital member of Donnie's action team, and the two have been inseparable ever since, creating the action on some of Donnie's best fight films; from his early directorial efforts 'Legend of the Wolf' and 'Ballistic Kiss' to the hard-hitting, game-changing 'SPL' (2005) and 'Flash Point' (2007) - not to mention 'Legend of the Fist', 'Special ID', 'Dragon', and so many more. As Kenji increasingly works on his own projects around the world in markets including Japan, Hong Kong, China and Hollywood, we can't wait to see where his martial arts moviemaking talent will take him next.

LINKS

Kenji Tanigaki on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0849459/

Kenji Tanigaki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenjitanigaki/

Kenji Tanigaki profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/ProfileKenjiTanigaki

'Raging Fire' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/RagingFire2021

'Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/SnakeEyesGIJoeOrigins2021

Buy 'Raging Fire' Zavvi exclusive 4K Ultra HD Steelbook (includes Blu-ray), courtesy of CineAsia UK: https://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/raging-fire-zavvi-exclusive-4k-ultra-hd-steelbook-includes-blu-ray/13470245.html

''SPL II' director Soi Cheang grabs Louis Koo, Max Zhang and Richie Jen for live-action adaptation of 'Kowloon Walled City'': https://cityonfire.com/teaser-poster-for-donnie-yens-dragon-city/

'The Castle of Cagliostro' car chase scene on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/39790868

COMPETITION

This month we have teamed up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in the UK to giveaway 'The Karate Kid 4K UHD Collection' - featuring 'The Karate Kid Parts I-III'. Sign-up to our newsletter at http://kungfumovieguide.com to take part. Competition closes 30 November. Buy 'The Karate Kid 4K UHD Collection', available from 6 December: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karate-Kid-UHD-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B09HRHGYHD/

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