The international fan base of kung fu movies speaks volumes about the genre's popular appeal. Originally made in China, where locals refer to it as wushu, it contains elements of the country's rich historical and cultural past. Here are some fascinating aspects about these flicks since its historical emergence.
Chinese film makers released the first version of the genre in 1928. That movie was and still is the longest feature film ever made, taking about 27 hours to watch from start to finish. Then it was shown in serial episodes. Martial arts movies really took off in Hong Kong however, and in the 1970's its influence spread from there to Western cinemas.
The original wushu films featured a literary tradition invoking elements of the mysterious and sword-fighting. This evolved into more mundane stories with lots of unarmed combat. Conventionally its heroes were common folk that were nevertheless chivalrous and sided with the oppressed and the poor, fighting to avenge or defend the rights of the ordinary population.
These days the movie stars are all authentic and accomplished martial artists. It's an aspect that draws huge numbers of crowds to the cinema to see the stars going through the paces with magnificent grace. With time the action scenes became ever more spectacular and the settings more familiar, incorporating harsh modern urban landscapes for example that fans easily relate to. While the onscreen stunts never fail to impress, the genre has also incorporated elements of comedy to enhance its entertainment value.
Western film makers have eventually taken martial arts movies on board and reworked it to appeal to younger audiences at home. And when stunning Asian females with equally stunning martial arts moves began taking leading roles it shifted its steady rise to popularity into overdrive. Even Hollywood film stars began to take notice and some took to performing in such films, thereby motivating younger audiences to train in the martial arts.
It's perhaps typical of this sort of flick to feature fight scenes involving many people. This naturally makes it very challenging to shoot, hence the need for lots of equipment and having highly skilled martial arts actors on board. And even though the scenes are choreographed and rehearsed many times before the actual filming starts, it nevertheless requires tremendous skills to pull off the moves which awe cinema audiences.
Traditionally directors and producers paid scant attention to narrative ploys common to mainstream storytelling. Plots were generally means to showcase combat moves. And the same could be said about character development, or it's lack thereof. But the modern versions have caught up and plot and character are as much a consideration as the fighting sequences.
Modern technology has helped to elevate the status of kung fu movies to new heights of film making. Though some fans may find the use of computer generated special effects distracting to the authenticity of older flicks, it still fascinates the fans to no end. Hopefully these bits of information help to clarify why these films continue to be global hits today.
Chinese film makers released the first version of the genre in 1928. That movie was and still is the longest feature film ever made, taking about 27 hours to watch from start to finish. Then it was shown in serial episodes. Martial arts movies really took off in Hong Kong however, and in the 1970's its influence spread from there to Western cinemas.
The original wushu films featured a literary tradition invoking elements of the mysterious and sword-fighting. This evolved into more mundane stories with lots of unarmed combat. Conventionally its heroes were common folk that were nevertheless chivalrous and sided with the oppressed and the poor, fighting to avenge or defend the rights of the ordinary population.
These days the movie stars are all authentic and accomplished martial artists. It's an aspect that draws huge numbers of crowds to the cinema to see the stars going through the paces with magnificent grace. With time the action scenes became ever more spectacular and the settings more familiar, incorporating harsh modern urban landscapes for example that fans easily relate to. While the onscreen stunts never fail to impress, the genre has also incorporated elements of comedy to enhance its entertainment value.
Western film makers have eventually taken martial arts movies on board and reworked it to appeal to younger audiences at home. And when stunning Asian females with equally stunning martial arts moves began taking leading roles it shifted its steady rise to popularity into overdrive. Even Hollywood film stars began to take notice and some took to performing in such films, thereby motivating younger audiences to train in the martial arts.
It's perhaps typical of this sort of flick to feature fight scenes involving many people. This naturally makes it very challenging to shoot, hence the need for lots of equipment and having highly skilled martial arts actors on board. And even though the scenes are choreographed and rehearsed many times before the actual filming starts, it nevertheless requires tremendous skills to pull off the moves which awe cinema audiences.
Traditionally directors and producers paid scant attention to narrative ploys common to mainstream storytelling. Plots were generally means to showcase combat moves. And the same could be said about character development, or it's lack thereof. But the modern versions have caught up and plot and character are as much a consideration as the fighting sequences.
Modern technology has helped to elevate the status of kung fu movies to new heights of film making. Though some fans may find the use of computer generated special effects distracting to the authenticity of older flicks, it still fascinates the fans to no end. Hopefully these bits of information help to clarify why these films continue to be global hits today.
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