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Martial arts film

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For other uses see Martial arts (disambiguation)

Martial arts film is a film genre that originated in the Pacific Rim. This genre is a type of action film characterized by extensive fighting scenes employing various types of martial arts. This genre has mainly been produced in China, peaking in the 1970s, and has been dominated by Hong Kong action cinema and its kung fu and wuxia films. Famous actors include Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. This genre is no longer limited to Asian films - there are many action movies starring western martial artists such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mark Dacascos and Steven Seagal.

Martial arts film stars

Martial arts film stars can be classified into two types: genuine martial artists who pursued a film career, versus regular actors without martial arts skills who performed in martial arts film under the directions of action choreographers.

Asian martial arts film stars

  • Chin Tsi-ang became the first martial arts film star at age 16 in 1925, having begun training at age 8. Sammo Hung is her grandson.
  • Kwan Tak-Hing was the original celluloid Wong Fei-Hung, starring as the Hung Gar master in roughly 100 films from the late 1940s to the 1960s, possibly the most prolific movie series ever.[citation needed] Kwan himself was a master of Tibetan White Crane rather than Hung Gar and specialized in the use of the whip.
  • Yu So Chow is probably the best known female martial arts actress of the 50's and 60's.[citation needed] She starred in over 170 martial arts films, still a record among all actresses.
  • Connie Chan Po-chu, a Cantonese screen idol who grew up starring in wuxia films during the 1960s and was famous for her male roles.
  • Bruce Lee was one of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century. His movie, Enter the Dragon (1973), was one of the films that brought the genre into mainstream Western acceptance. His fame also helped popularize Wing Chun, the martial art that he originally trained in, and Jeet Kune Do, the martial art that he later created based on one's own personal preferences, applying modified techniques from various styles.
  • Bolo Yeung practiced martial arts from childhood, and also became a professional bodybuilder. He also starred in Enter the Dragon. His favorite martial art is Tai Chi.
  • Gordon Liu is another martial arts film star, synonymous with the Shaw Brothers.
  • Jackie Chan continued this crossover during the 80s and 90s, finally conquering the US market with Rumble in the Bronx (1995) and the three Rush Hour films. He is renowned for his blend of martial arts and slapstick comedy, but has directed, action directed and starred in over 50 films of almost all conceivable genres. Despite intensive martial arts training from a Chinese opera school, he often tells people that he is an actor, not a martial artist.
  • Sammo Hung was a fellow opera school student of Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. He has directed, action directed and starred in numerous Hong Kong films, as well as playing the leading role in the American TV series Martial Law.
  • Yuen Biao trained at the China Drama Academy, a Peking Opera School, with Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, and is the youngest of the three.
  • Leung Kar Yan : had no formal martial arts training but was skilled at mimicking moves given to him by the action choreographer.
  • Lam Ching Ying learned Peking Opera at the Spring and Autumn Drama School in Hong Kong.
  • Jet Li won the Chinese national wushu championships five times in a row before becoming a movie star, starting with the 1982 film Shaolin Temple. His role in Lethal Weapon 4 was the first film to gain him notoriety in the US market.
  • Donnie Yen learned wushu and tai chi from a young age and trained in Beijing.
  • Michelle Yeoh : A dancer turned actress. No formal martial arts training.
  • Zhang Ziyi : Another dancer/gymnast turned actress. No formal martial arts training.
  • Stephen Chow is primarily a comedian, though he has starred in many martial arts-themed films. He admits he has received very little training in kung fu, though he did learn various forms of Wing Chun by watching instructional videos on television.
  • Tony Jaa from Thailand is highly skilled in muay thai, tae kwon do & swordplay.
  • Chow Yun-Fat is a Chinese actor from Hong Kong, playing in mostly dramatic movies.
  • Sonny Chiba is a Japanese martial arts actor famous for movies such as The Street Fighter and Samurai Reincarnation.

Western martial arts film stars

See also

References

  1. ^ IMDB bio http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001092/bio
  2. ^ "Little pictures have a big year", Los Angeles Times, 3 January 2003
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