Michael Jai White is a force to reckon with in action cinema and martial arts. He is good-looking, an exceptional writer, and a director with extensive knowledge and mastery of martial arts, all of which are accessible through his YouTube channel that attracts millions of worldwide viewers. As an actor in the movie scene since 1997, White has written and produced some incredible films that are gems to martial arts fans. Let’s go through some of his iconic movies.
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8 S.W.A.T. Under Siege (2017)
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Releasing
S.W.A.T. Under Siege is a low-budget film that delivers great action. On the fourth of July, an elite Seattle S.W.A.T. unit is tasked with the operation of retrieving a shipping container that contains sensitive cargo. However, when the S.W.A.T. unit diffuses the threat guarding the container, instead of finding cargo, they discover a mystery man called Scorpion (Michael Jai White) who is en route to meet some bad guys who want valuable information that he possesses. Scorpion is remanded in a SWAT training facility where the bad guys, instructed by the villain Lars Cohagen, storm the facility in an attempt to retrieve him. White and the S.W.A.T team fight the assailants, who have what it takes to kill everyone in the facility.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
Stage 6 Films Releasing
Michael Jai White directed Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown hardcore film that is packed with violence. This is it if you are looking for a movie series with a better sequel than the original. The movie tells the story of four kids from different backgrounds trying to become well-rounded fighters who can participate in the upcoming Beatdown show. The four boys include Tim (Todd Duffee a former U.F.C. fighter), a student in college who is trying to help his single mom; Zack (Alex Meraz), an ex-boxer with an eye injury that was as a result of a humiliating loss that ended his career; Justin (Scottie Epstein), a comic book geek who wants to take revenge on bullies; and Mike (Dean Geyer), a college freshman who is trying to deal with the fact that his dad chose to elope with another man and leave his mom. White is the supporting cast that trains the four boys to evolve and become better fighters. And guess who among the four goes rogue?
6 Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016)
Destination Films Releasing
Michael Jai White is the lead role in this sequel’s third entry and brings in the flare and excitement in the best installment in the series. White not only comes back as a director, but he also co-wrote the movie with Chris Hauty, the mastermind who wrote the two previous films. What is special about this movie is that White has more latitude in showing some of his philosophies that make him a decent human being. This movie shows a warrior’s human and brutal side. If you are an M.M.A. fan, you should watch this movie.
5 Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
Sony Pictures Releasing
Universal Soldier: The Return is one of the best action movies of the late ’90s. White’s performance as Seth the supervillain elevated his status in the action scene as he fought Luke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) in the climactic fight. White in the movie is an autonomous program known as S.E.T.H. that goes rogue and controls other soldiers to go on a murder spree. After Seth finds a strong and much quicker host, it is hard for the aging Luke to stand against the super soldier. What remains is a game of wits to outsmart the rogue A.I.
4 Triple Threat (2019)
Aurora Alliance Films Releasing
Triple Threat is an action-packed film that stars three of the best Asian stars. This type of movie is full of memorable set-pieces, captivating fights and thrills similar to what is present in Michael Davis’ Shoot ‘Em Up. However, the talents present in this movie are a dream cast for action movie fans. For example, the film features Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Iko Uwais, Tony Ja, Jeeja Yanin, Tiger Chen, and Michael Bisping (former U.F.C. champion. Pair the actors with fight choreographer Tim Man and action auteur Jesse V. Johnson, and you have a ride you don’t want to miss.
3 Falcon Rising (2014)
Freestyle Releasing
Shot in the slums of Brazil, Falcon Rising is a thriller that showcases the fighting skills of the actors through a series of awesome scenes. White is cast as Falcon Chapman, an ex-marine who suffers from frequent P.T.S.D. flashbacks; his struggle is seen in the opening scenes where he plays Russian Roulette with bullets. One of the best scenes in the movie is when he enters a convenience store to buy liquor, and robbers walk in shouting for everybody to lie down, but Falcon continues with his business. He taunts one of the robbers with a shotgun to shoot him in the mouth before quickly disarming him and leaving the store without paying for his liquor bottle.
2 Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)
New Line Home Entertainment Releasing
George “Iceman” Chambers, a heavyweight champion, is imprisoned in Russia on fabricated charges. To earn his freedom, he is forced to fight the undisputed champion Uri Boyka to death. One of the unique elements of Undisputed II: Last Man Standing is that it is the first movie in history where a digital TV sequel became more popular than the original movie, a 2002 Walter Hill boxing movie starring Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes. Although this movie stands on its own, it is a continuation of Walter Hill’s production.
1 Blood and Bone (2009)
Sony Pictures Entertainment Releasing
Michael Jai White is one mysterious martial artist that Hollywood hasn’t figured out yet. Still, fans know him and continuously wait for his new movies. Finally, Blood and Bone is an action movie that encompasses clever plotting, incredible action, relatable support characters, vengeful villains, and a lovable action hero in Michael Jai White as Isaiah Bone.
This movie is structured like the old school movies where the hero is a fighter with incredible skills and can take down anyone. Ideally, most people are not intrigued by a story built around such a structure. But the interesting thing about White is that he is a force to reckon with in real life. He holds black belts in the following classes of martial arts: Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan Karate, Goju Ryu, Kyokushin Karate, Okinawan Kobudo, Wushu, and Tang Soo Do. And with such a background, watching the movie is like having a show of White displaying his mastery in various disciplines as he fights numerous opponents with different fighting styles.
