Unlike other fighting styles, Martial Arts has spawned a movie genre all of its own and earned an impressive number of fans. Martial Arts movies usually fall within the sub-genre of action films due to the large number of fight scenes and high standard of stunt work that is involved. However, they can also come under the headings of comedy and even animation.
History
Kung-Fu movies became highly popular during the 1970s, with many of those produced in Hong Kong by the likes of Joseph Lai and the Shaw Brothers dubbed into English. Hundreds of these movies were shown on television and in theatres and they remained popular even when English subtitles were used. With storylines involving loyalty, treachery and honour, many found it possible to follow movies without being able to understand the dialogue. Rather than being actors by trade, those that appeared in these movies were usually real, and highly skilled, martial artists. This intensified the action by making it seem real, which earned the genre more fans and kept it popular for over 20 years.
Diversification
As the popularity of dedicated Martial Arts movies began to decline in the 1990s, some of the skills demonstrated in these movies were appropriated and adapted for use in other genres. Hollywood movie producers have made use of the stylish, fluid appearance of fight scenes in Martial Arts movies. Mainstream actors who take part in fight scenes within action movies will often use techniques created by Martial Arts. The number of actors who train in Martial Arts as part of their preparation for a movie has risen exponentially, as has the number of movies that use the fighting style without falling within the genre.
Notable Actors
There are many people whose first experience of Martial Arts was watching Bruce Lee in one of his popular movies, but there have been a number of others, such as his son, Brandon Lee. Jackie Chan has a long and impressive career, not least because he is known for doing his own stunts – and has all the injuries to prove it. Jet Li is another popular actor who uses his Martial Arts skills. There are also a number of actors who have had extensive training in the fighting style, such as Steven Segal, Jason Statham, Uma Thurman and Wesley Snipes.
Img.: strixcode – Fotolia
Martial Arts in the Movies
Posted by Cris K. in Martial Arts
History
Kung-Fu movies became highly popular during the 1970s, with many of those produced in Hong Kong by the likes of Joseph Lai and the Shaw Brothers dubbed into English. Hundreds of these movies were shown on television and in theatres and they remained popular even when English subtitles were used. With storylines involving loyalty, treachery and honour, many found it possible to follow movies without being able to understand the dialogue. Rather than being actors by trade, those that appeared in these movies were usually real, and highly skilled, martial artists. This intensified the action by making it seem real, which earned the genre more fans and kept it popular for over 20 years.
Diversification
As the popularity of dedicated Martial Arts movies began to decline in the 1990s, some of the skills demonstrated in these movies were appropriated and adapted for use in other genres. Hollywood movie producers have made use of the stylish, fluid appearance of fight scenes in Martial Arts movies. Mainstream actors who take part in fight scenes within action movies will often use techniques created by Martial Arts. The number of actors who train in Martial Arts as part of their preparation for a movie has risen exponentially, as has the number of movies that use the fighting style without falling within the genre.
Notable Actors
There are many people whose first experience of Martial Arts was watching Bruce Lee in one of his popular movies, but there have been a number of others, such as his son, Brandon Lee. Jackie Chan has a long and impressive career, not least because he is known for doing his own stunts – and has all the injuries to prove it. Jet Li is another popular actor who uses his Martial Arts skills. There are also a number of actors who have had extensive training in the fighting style, such as Steven Segal, Jason Statham, Uma Thurman and Wesley Snipes.
Img.: strixcode – Fotolia
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