Martial arts film

For other uses see Martial arts (disambiguation)

Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous, extensive martial arts fight scenes between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently featured in training scenes and other sequences in addition to fights. Martial arts films commonly include other types of action, such as stuntwork, chases, and/or gunfights.

As with other action films, martial arts films are dominated by action to varying degrees; many martial arts films have only a minimal plot and amount of character development and focus almost exclusively on the action, while other martial arts films have more creative and complex plots and characters along with action scenes. Films of the latter type are generally considered to be artistically superior films, but many films of the former type are commercially successful and well received by fans of the genre.

Martial arts films contain many characters who are martial artists, and these roles are often played by actors who are real martial artists. If not, actors frequently train in preparation for their roles, or the action director may rely more on stylized action or filmmaking tricks like camera angles, editing, doubles, undercranking, wire work, and computer-generated imagery. These techniques are sometimes used by real martial artists as well, depending on the style of action in the film.

Martial arts films have been produced all over the world, but the genre has been dominated by Hong Kong action cinema, peaking from 1971 with the rise of Bruce Lee until the mid 1990s with a general decline in the industry. Other notable figures in the genre include Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Donnie Yen. Hollywood has also participated in the genre with actors such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Wesley Snipes, and Jason Statham. In recent years, Thailand's film industry has become an international force in the genre with the films of Tony Jaa. Women have also played key roles in the genre, including such actresses as Michelle Yeoh, Angela Mao, and Cynthia Rothrock.

List of notable martial arts films

Notable martial arts films:

See also

• Hong Kong action cinema
• Wuxia
• Combat in film
• Girls with guns
• Wire fu
• Martial arts
• Action film
• Shaw Brothers
• Golden Harvest
• Samurai cinema

References

External links

• Martial Arts subgenre at Rotten Tomatoes
• martial arts at imdb.com
• The 20 Greatest Fights Scenes Ever at Rotten Tomatoes
• The 50 Greatest Fight Scenes of Film (progressiveboink.com)
• The Five Best Fight Scenes Ever Filmed (esquire.com)