The passing of character actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was more than just a loss in the Hollywood community. He left a long-lasting impression on martial arts movie fans all over the world. Whether he’s holding his own opposite Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes in Rising Sun or matching wits against James Bond in Licence to Kill,

It makes sense, then, that the Wachowskis' 1999 action flick left such a mark on the cast. Reeves, famous for tackling much of his own stunt work, and Fishburne, whose steady calm helped turn Morpheus into an instant icon, both threw themselves into the choreography and conditioning, even when it meant going home sore every single night.

Martial arts star Foster also leads the cast as a former soldier forced back into the world of underground fighting.

The world of Hollywood action stars isn't as robust as it used to be. People used to go to the theater to see a Schwarzenegger movie or a Stallone movie, leaving the fate of their evening up to the debatable quality of a movie with a famous star.