Martial Arts Movie Primer

With it being the month of December, it is time to do the last genre primer. The Martial Arts Movie Primer. Martial arts movies are very popular overseas in countries like China, Japan, and Hong Kong, and brought famous actors from those countries into fame in Hollywood, such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Li. I have also included Samurai movies into this, such as those by Akira Kurosawa. While they are slightly different than martial arts movies, there are enough martial arts-type aspects to them to still be included. With that said, here is the Martial Arts Movie Primer.

1. Seven Samurai (1954)

The Seven Samurai is a classic Samurai story from Akira Kurosawa. Not only is The Seven Samurai a key influence on many modern martial arts films, but it also influenced the Western genre, with The Magnificent Seven being a remake of this film. This movie pioneered the "assemble the team" plot that is used in countless films today. The movie also became a blueprint for modern action films, showcasing real and complex fight choreography. The movie is also credited with popularizing the now-common practice of introducing a character through a scene unrelated to the main plot but that still establishes the character. This classic story has also been remade time and time again, from The Magnificent Seven to Rebel Moon to even episodes of TV shows.

2. The Hidden Fortress (1958)

The Hidden Fortress is another influential film from Akira Kurosawa. This movie is key for being a heavy influence on Star Wars with things like a hidden princess (Princess Leia), a wise general (Obi Wan), and 2 comedic peasant characters (C-3PO and R2-D2). This film is also a peak example of the costume and swordplay (Chambara) subgenre. The film was also innovative from a cinematic standpoint, with Akira Kurosawa venturing into widescreen filmmaking by using the wide frame to its full potential with sweeping landscapes and action sequences.

3. Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo is the final heavily influential film from Akira Kurosawa on this list. This film started the "stranger comes to town" archetype seen in many movies nowadays, creating the template for the lone hero that navigates a corrupt world. The film was a heavy influence on the spaghetti western subgenre for films such as A Fist Full of Dollars. The film also influenced many other lone stranger films, such as Rambo and the Mad Max trilogy. The film also brought more realistic depictions of violence as compared to the artificial ones common at the time.

4. Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon is an important martial arts film as it helped popularize martial arts films in the West and helped solidify Bruce Lee as a global icon. This was also the first martial arts film to be produced by a major Hollywood studio. Bruce Lee's performance in the film also helped inspire a new generation of martial arts movie stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The tournament-style action and fight choreography also set a new standard for action movies and became a direct influence on fighting video games such as Mortal Kombat.

5. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin helped revolutionize the martial arts genre by focusing on a character's spiritual growth and rigorous and methodical training method, helping shift the focus of the genre from simple action to a deeper narrative of empowerment and spirituality. The film also created the training montage style, showing the transition from simple stances to advanced techniques that are used in other films such as The Karate Kid and The Matrix.

6. The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid set the standard for stories about mentorship. This is probably the biggest movie about karate, bringing in a new interest in the sport, especially for kids, when it came out. The movie also establishes the trope of a bullied kid learning to defend him self while learning life lessons through sports that is still used by filmmakers today. The movie has also had a huge cultural impact, inspiring several sequels, a reboot, and an acclaimed TV show. Aspects of the movie, such as the iconic crane kick and training scenes, are also parodied and referenced by countless movies and TV shows.

7. Police Story (1985)

Police Story helped redefine the martial arts genre by blending realistic, brutal stunts with comedic hard-boiled action. The film is also famous for its "everything you see is real" approach to stunts, with the actors performing things with genuine risk. This film also helped launch Jackie Chan to international stardom. Police Story is where Jackie Chan's unique style of physical comedy, martial arts, and dangerous stunts was fully realized. The film also influenced a new style of fight choreography where everyday objects are used as weapons. The film is also influential to other films, with stunts being directly copied into other films such as Tango and Cash.

8. Fist of Legend (1994)

Fist of Legend is the Jet Li representative on this list. This movie is famous for its groundbreaking action choreography and its realistic and grounded fighting style. The movie changes the game by prioritizing realistic martial arts instead of wire-fu. The film is also a major influence on Western action movies, with the directors of The Matrix tapping the fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping to choreograph the fights in The Matrix. The movie is also famous for its more complex story and layered characters as compared to its predecessor, Fist of Fury.

9. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an important martial arts film as it successfully blended traditional martial arts action with dramatic storytelling. The film also helped bring the Wuxia style (a genre of martial arts films that are characterized by their extreme superhuman feats of fighting skill) of martial arts movies to Western audiences. The movie also helped combine traditional wire fu action with a romantic drama, earning the nickname, Sense and Sensibility with a body count. The movie was also very successful at the Oscars, being nominated for 10 awards, including Best Picture, and winning 4, something that was uncommon for martial arts films.

10. Hero (2002)

Hero is an important martial arts film as it was the first Chinese film to be made with a major studio budget, as well as the first Chinese film to top the US box office. The movie is known for its stunning visual artistry and philosophical themes that elevate action beyond violence. The film also employs a Rashomon style of storytelling where the story is told from multiple conflicting perspectives, challenging the audience's perception of truth and reality. The film's visual storytelling also helped bridge the gap between cultures and helped make martial arts films more accessible to non-Chinese audiences.