Cynthia Rothrock Is The Original Atomic Blonde
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- Before Charlize Theron was helping to take down post-apocalyptic dictators in Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, before former MMA champion Gina Carano was hurting your favorite leading man in Haywire, and before that Uma Thurman was separating the arms and feet of Yakuza members from their bodies in Kill Bill, there was Law Fu Lok-better known as Cynthia Rothrock.
A world champion martial artist with black belts in both Chinese (Eagle Claw, Northern Shaolin, Pai Lum Took Kung Fu) and Korean (Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do Moo Duk) marital art styles, Rothrock was the first American woman to appear in a Hong Kong movie (action or otherwise) with the release of Yes Madam in 1985, starring alongside fellow action movie legend Michelle Yeoh.
Discovered by director, producer, and action choreographer Corey Yuen, Rothrock appeared in numerous Hong Kong action films throughout the 1980’s. She got to work alongside (and sometimes fight against) legends like Sammo Hung (Millionaire’s Express), Yuen Biao (Righting Wrongs), and Andy Lau (The Magic Crystal). In 1989, Rothrock became the first western actor in history to headline a Hong Kong action film in Righting Wrongs II: The Blonde Fury, also known as Female Reporter.
While a major action star in Asia, Rothrock never became a household name in the United States. She continued to star in action movies throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s, with many of those films going straight-to-video. While the average American moviegoer may not recognize her name or be aware of her accomplishments, anyone who ever played Mortal Kombat might recognize her influence. Sonya Blade, a blonde American solider who is a playable character starting with the original arcade game, was reportedly inspired by Rothrock.
Today it’s not uncommon to see an American action movie with a female character in either a supporting or main role. This year alone we’ve seen Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman, Michelle Rodriguez in Furious 8, Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and later this year Daisy Ridley returns in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.
Of course, as in many other areas of the film industry, we could always see more women in action movies. But as we move forward and more women headline blockbusters and new cult classics, it’s best not to forget pioneers like Rothrock.
The difference between Cynthia Rothrock and todays female stars is that she did her own stunts and put in 100% in her action sequences just like Michelle Yeoh. She deserves mad respect.
She was magnificent! It's a shame alot of ppl aren't familiar with her work. She went undefeated in world competition. She definitely paved the way for female martial artists action stars. Love her, great video 👍
Cynthia Rothrock is and will always be the queen of action movies, not only her martial arts qualities say so, but also because Rothrock is a specialist in action films, no other actress has achieved the status of action film specialist, only Rothrock, In addition, Cynthia has more than 60 action movies and martial arts, other actresses like Michelle Rodriguez, Milla Jovovich, or Scarlett Johansson reach only 30 action movies, they still have much to overcome the action queen Cynthia Rothrock, the pioneer of the cinema of martial arts and action, the best, unforgettable, a timeless icon, the atomic blonde
Well, Michelle Yeoh is right up there herself - so it fits that her Rothrock's first movie was co-starring with Yeoh.
Now I want to see an episode of ST: DISCOVERY with Cynthia Rothrock as a badass Section 31 operative working with Yeoh's Evil Gregoriou....
Awesome!!! Thank you 4 This! Great Tribute to The First Woman Inducted into the Martial arts Hall of Fame! She Dominated Cable through the 90s. So deserving. A Legend! Can't wait to see her receive The Lifetime Achievement Award! Bless you ❤☮
This woman does not get enough credit.
It's so interesting how I've never heard of her even though the action scenes you showed were so great. Would anyone recommend some films of hers?
collinvb7 Right Wrongs
A film I think It's best.
I strongly suggest to see "yes madam" with michelle yeoh.... she's fantastic
Magic crystals has some epic fight scenes.
YES, MADAM is the the one where you get her and Michelle Yeoh tag-teaming in the ass-kicking and name-taking department (sometimes listed as SUPERCOPS, POLICE ASSASSIN, ULTRA FORCE 1 or 2, IN THE LINE OF DUTY, and I think I saw it once as POLICE STORY 3?). Her American movies include CHINA O'BRIEN, GUARDIAN ANGEL, and the recent Asylum "Mockbuster" MERCENARIES (as part of a female action star team VERY similar to THE EXPENDABLES series!). A more complete list can be found here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Rothrock#Filmography .
I've been LOVING Cynthia Rothrock for over THIRTY YEARS NOW!! Since I was a KID (in my 40's now)!!
Thank you for this video! I've never heard of her before, though now I'll keep an eye out for those films.
Uma Turman and Charlize Theron with all respect are not martial artists and/or fighters at all. So it is unaccurate to compare them to Cynthia. As for video, damn nice that there is people who do remember actors and real life fighters/martial artists like legend Cynthia Rothrock!)))
She was underrated. She could have been Lori in Total Recall but Verhoeven chose Sharon Stone because Cynthia's fighting skills could overshadow Arnie's role and even seriously kick his butt. This is so unjust. Cynthia never talks about it Does she know it ? It's a real pity because Fast Getway and its sequel proved the world she could act very well and not only fight
She is and always shall be, my fav!!!
Her Choreography was amazing. Jackie chan had also helped her on some of the movies. Back then the Choreography was extremely detailed and had to be flawless in one take. She is very talented. If anyone is unaware of what she does now. She is a instructor at a school in California still holding a lot of belts under her name. She was one of the first women to win at a tournament as well along with being in the martial arts magazine and holding so many titles. I have to admit that her later movies got pretty bad and her choreography got bad over time but her first 7-8 movies were extremely detailed.
Agree with the name of this video.
EXCELLENT!
This woman taught me to be brave
Did Yuzo Koshiro make this music?
My Idol! ❤
Respect 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Scorpion Kick!
If they'd made a Wonder Woman movie in the actual 1980s, Cynthia Rothrock would've been the best choice to play her.
Hong kong movies were crazy, back in the 80s, they don't even use proper protection for fight scenes, bodies were dropped like flies.
She was big in asia in the 80s & early 90s wonder what happened to her
She is a instructor at a school in California and still holds a lot of belts to her name. She still kicks everyone's assholes to this day.
She mainly teaches martial arts in Studio City, CA, but shows up in movies sometimes as Action Grandma.
She is still hot in her ‘60’s. She has a page on Facebook.
A true American
She is still hot in her ‘60’s. She has a page on Facebook.
"Worked with Andy Lau" isn't that Richard Norton? Or is Andy Lau the man on the right in that clip?
andy lau and richard norton
Wasn’t she supposed to be in 1987’s *Armour Of God* with Jackie Chan
I thought Jennifer Lawrence was the original Atomic Blonde.