Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu (2003)

• 74%
• 2003
• Documentary
• TV Movie
• Ian Taylor
• Jackie Chan
• Jet Li
• John Woo

A look at Hong Kong action films, from their roots in choreography of Beijing Opera and the Wuxia tradition of honorable solitary fighters to the evolution in film from martial arts (swordplay) to Kung Fu (fists, feet, and sticks). Talking heads discuss actors: the stylized fighting of David Chiang, the realism of Bruce Lee, and the comedy of Jackie Chan. They discuss directors: King Hu and Cheng Che, whose work leads to international successes of Ang Lee and John Woo. There's a demonstration of editing in the camera, and there are discussions of Japan's influence, the increased violence of 70s and 80s films, the emergence of the superhero, and the films' cultural subtext.