Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to violence in films, with the director employing some of the most iconic old-school techniques in his work. He is also a longtime admirer of classic martial arts cinema, something that was clearly reflected in his approach to the two-part Uma Thurman starrer Kill Bill. In a recent interview, the veteran filmmaker singled out one martial arts director whom he believes mastered the portrayal of cinematic violence.
Quentin Tarantino praises Lee Tso-Nam’s brutal ‘death blows’ in movies
Quentin Tarantino has long been vocal about his love for martial arts films. He has repeatedly endorsed the genre, and its influence is evident throughout his body of work. This is particularly evident in Kill Bill, which draws heavily from martial arts cinema.
Even when his films do not directly involve martial arts, many still feature intense and stylized violence. They are often presented in unconventional ways, such as in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
During a recent appearance on the Pure Cinema Podcast, Tarantino shared his views on martial arts films. He singled out Lee Tso-Nam as a standout filmmaker. He said the veteran director, who made numerous martial arts films during the 1970s and 1980s, excelled at staging fight sequences.
What appealed most to Tarantino was the speed used in Lee Tso-Nam’s fight scenes. At the time, many directors relied on accelerating camera movement to make combat appear more dynamic. According to Tarantino, Lee Tso-Nam perfected this technique.
He added that Lee Tso-Nam was the only director who used the approach in a truly “artistic” way. It gave his films a distinctive visual impact.
The Pulp Fiction director also noted that the action scenes in Lee Tso-Nam’s movies feel genuinely “painful,” adding to their intensity.
Lee Tso-Nam remains one of the most prolific directors in the history of the Hong Kong film industry. Many of his films have since become cult classics and continue to attract audiences worldwide.
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on ComingSoon.
