The Decline and Fall of Martial Arts Films and the Rise of the Action Blockbuster Movie

Comparing martial arts films of the 1970s to theon the "wow" factor of dazzling camera angles
action blockbusters of 2009/10and computer-aided "enhancements."
Red Cliff, Ip Man and True Legend are alreadyNinja Assassin and the Cross-Over
iconic of the early 21st century "martial artsThere are, to be sure, cross-over films such as
films"-although many can argue they are moreNinja Assassin, where actor Rain trained 14 hours
action spectacle than true "kung fu" films. Thea day for months to perfect real martial arts
1970s, on the other hand, didn't rely on eye-candymoves (albeit only a handful of repeated moves),
effects and were defined more by the true gritblended together with rather Matrix-like special
of its martial arts actors: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan,effects. To some, the beauty of the realistic CGI
the Five Venoms, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Jimmytakes away from the pleasure of watching
Wong, and other real fighters trained in genuinewell-choreographed real martial arts.
kung fu, karate and other arts.Ong Bak, on the other hand, led by genuine
Martial Arts Becomes Mainstream But Evolvesmartial arts expert Tony Jaa, got by on solid
Into Spectaclemartial arts and good choreography. No stuntmen,
Cult classics such as Enter the Dragon helpedthank you. Tony Jaa was hailed as the "next
change Hollywood. Its growing popularity forcedBruce Lee" for this reason, with much buzz and
filmmakers to adopt martial arts into the formulaexcitement in the martial arts community, and
of the "action flick." Through the eighties andmartial arts film fansites.
nineties, spectacle thrillers were expected toThere's No Escaping Escapism
deliver "the fight moves", even if it was only aAction films are, by design, escapist
few basic moves supported by some stuntmenentertainment. They have become somewhat
and wires. Action movies became spectacles thatcomic-book (pardon me, graphic novel), but that's
required equal blends of story, drama, pace, "kungwhat most audiences do want. We want to
fu", special effects and improbable plot twists.forget reality.
In the 21st century, this became less "equal" withKill Bill and Kill Bill 2 probably came closest to the
films relying first on special effects, thenideal mix for both the escapist fan and the martial
improbably plot twists (surprise is important,arts practitioner-fan. While it wasn't "real" by any
right?), followed by pace, martial arts skills, dramameans, and contained a brilliant and zesty blend of
and-last and possibly least today-story. This trendsatire, comic-book, spoof, and choreography, it
extended even to the hot movies of the last fewnever-the-less nostalgically hearkened back to the
years, including Kung Fu Panda, Forbiddenwondrous days of Enter the Dragon and the
Kingdom, G.I. Joe and even the Transformers.classic Japanese Samarai films of the 70s.
Asian Film Industry Threatens to Out-SpectacleJapanese Film Stays True to Martial Arts
HollywoodTraditions?
With the full support and weight of China's culturalPerhaps the film industry most aligned with the
industries, Asian film has blossomed intoolder traditions of martial arts film making is Japan.
mainstream spectacles in high demand, led by CGIZatoichi, the Blind Swordsman, was a low-budget
treats such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,film, that became an instant cult classic. Zatoichi
House of Flying Daggers and other instant classics.took movie audiences back to the classic
Arguably, Asian film long ago surpassed Hollywoodreal-sword skills of the old Samarai films of the
for imagination, with the western producersearlier decades, and spawned video games and an
buying rights to several hugely successful Asianentire industry.
films. With the largest population demographic inLess is More? Where is the Real Martial Arts Skill?
the world, there can be no doubt that ChineseGenuine martial arts actors still abound-led by
films are set to dominate the film industry insuperstars such as Donnie Yen and Jet Li-and
years to come.most Chinese martial arts actors are proficient. In
Red Cliff and Ip Man are perhaps the best knownHollywood, the film-makers opt for four-move
of these new hit-classics, but the rumor mills andchoreography (two kicks, a block and a punch),
fansites are buzzing with all the latest "comingmultiple camera angles (particularly close ups when
soon" gossip. The big buz movies in 2010 is Truethe skills of the martial artist are not genuine),
Legend (Su Qi Er), starring Zhao Wen-Zho as thepounding music, FX, and stuntmen. With the old
historical Begger Su, the originator of drunkenhopefuls gone from the Hollywood big
kung fu. Donnie Yen returns in both part 2 of thescreen-Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme
Ip Man saga and in the much anticipated 14and the other promising real martial artists-there's
Blades. Chow Yun-Fat breaks the mold andnow a world of difference between Asian film
surprises everyone in his role as Confucius.actors-who work in frigid cold, fourteen hours a
Both Hollywood and Asia Rely on CGI and Specialday in often primitive conditions, hammering out
Effectsgenuinely complex martial arts moves for
The growing spectacle and importance of therelatively paltry paychecks-and Hollywood films
"action film" is both enjoyable to the escapist andthat now rely on computer and actor stand-ins.
annoying for the aficionado of the true martialBatman Now Does Kung Fu
arts. While the actors in many of the films-inBatman now does kung fu, and so does G.I. Joe,
particular Asian films-are genuine martial artistsand even Hellboy. They're fun, but the martial
(for example, Donnie Yen, Jet Li and Chowartist fan misses the great luminaries of martial
Yun-Fat)-the over-dependence on CGI andarts films who built their careers on the "real
elaborate choreography turns the adventure intothing": Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, David Chiang,
comic book. With notable exceptions, such as IpSonny Chiba, Chen Kuan-tai, Tomisaburo
Man and Tony Jaa in Ong Bak (and to a lesserWkayama, Jimmy Wong Yu, Ti Lung and the Liu
extent Ong Bak 2 and 3), most action films relybrothers.