The genre of action cinema known as martial arts films is disappearing. Versions of these highly stylized films will continue to be made, but digital and computer techniques are bringing down the curtain on the actor as stunt man that, in the opinion of many, is the principle attraction of the genre. What were once truly Kung Fu movies are increasingly produced through the agency of technology rather than human dexterity and daring.
These days, the most authentic element in the martial arts is the training sequences common to the genre. For fans, the knowledge that human beings were actually performing the stunts on screen gave these low budget features an edge. That edge began to be blunted in the last decade of the 20th century.
Wire work involves the use of harnesses under the costumes of the actors. Wires connect the harness to a system of overhead pulleys. These allow the actors or stunt persons to seemingly defy gravity by leaping long distances or even stopping in mid-air. When done in front of a green screen, digital technology allows martial arts film makers to insert the stunt person in scenes that would otherwise be impossible to film.
Digital film technology allows the wire work fighting sequences to be shot in front of green or blue screens. In the editing process the highly choreographed sequences are underlaid with the scenery in which the action supposedly occurs. The 1999 American film The Matrix introduced this technique to western audiences. It has since become common.
Film historians point to The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple as the first example of a Kung Fu movie. Made in China in 1928, Red Lotus was released as an 18 episode serial. In fact, it was shot as complete film. At 27 hours, Red Temple is reputed to be the longest film ever to see general release.
As is common in the action genre, plots in Kung Fu or martial arts movies tend to be minimalistic. The focus of the films is the action, to the exclusion of most other narrative devices such as the development and revelation of character. Villains are typically pure evil. In this way, martial arts cinema is closely related to the simplistic westerns pre the late Sixties. This began to change with the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000.
The late Bruce Lee was the foremost practitioner of Kung Fu in martial arts films. Kung Fu is Chinese in origin. Kung Fu combines a number of different fighting styles. This makes it an ideal subject for story purposes because it allows the lead character to fight in any number of styles.
Unlike Hollywood movies, in which actors often use stunt doubles for action sequences, Kung Fu Movies usually use actual martial artists as actors. This gives the genre a certain street credibility. Sound effects during fights are over the top, with blows landing with the sound of two by fours being slammed together. The over-the-top action, low budgets and generally amateurish action and writing have a kitschy attraction. The American director Quentin Tarantino has tapped into this attraction in a number of his films, most expressively in Kill Bill 1 and Kill Bill 2.
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