A look at the history of martial arts films from their Chinese roots to the present, presented by Samuel L. Jackson.
First of all, I love the connection between martial arts and the films of Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. There is definitely a slapstick element that runs through these films, and to see that there were some direct homages really warms my heart.
Speaking more broadly, this is an excellent primer. Really being exposed to film in the 1990s, the influx of "kung fu" into mainstream film happened without context. It was not until much later that I learned about the Shaw Brothers and any of that history. The martial arts genre is so huge that it is hard to know here to begin, but this documentary makes a great road map for those just getting on the highway.
First of all, I love the connection between martial arts and the films of Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. There is definitely a slapstick element that runs through these films, and to see that there were some direct homages really warms my heart.
Speaking more broadly, this is an excellent primer. Really being exposed to film in the 1990s, the influx of "kung fu" into mainstream film happened without context. It was not until much later that I learned about the Shaw Brothers and any of that history. The martial arts genre is so huge that it is hard to know here to begin, but this documentary makes a great road map for those just getting on the highway.