The Art of Action: Martial Arts in Motion Picture

I love my martial art films and the made-for-television documentary "Martial Arts in Motion Picture" that was hosted / narrated by Samuel L Jackson made for a light, but entertaining viewing. Maybe a little uneven in its vast context by trying to squeeze so much in, while sometimes wallowing on certain aspects /stars / films more so than some other deserving enterprises. So much is not touched upon, which can be disappointing if you're looking for a very in-depth analysis on the genre but at only 100 minutes is there was going to be plenty of significant topics on the cutting room floor. I didn't care all that much for the contemporary Hollywood influences (e.g. "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon", "The Matrix", "Rush Hour 2"and "Charlie's Angels,") and the segments touching upon them. I got more out of the passages showcasing the pioneers of the genre focusing on Peking Opera's involvement and its gelling with the Shoalin temple. The interviews and footage were great though --- some rare shots too. Plenty of dynamically righteous combat on show. It was a treat. Especially seeing some of the silent features were interesting. There it looked at the influence and importance women had --- and how kung-fu were performed by actors and it wasn't until later on when professional martial arts students were used. Then it would focus upon instrumental factors including Bruce Lee (an iconic figure around the world), Shaw Brothers productions, and producer Raymond Chow, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan (with his knack for humour) and John Woo. Unfortunately they only mentioned / showed Woo's American efforts "Face/Off" and "Mission Impossible II". There are a whole lot of riveting thoughts / interviews by the likes of Pei-pei Cheng, Chia Hui Liu, Stanley Tong, Cynthia Rothrock, David Carradine, Steven Segal (which his work isn't even mentioned or shown) and Ronny Yu. It's a curious look at the evolution of the experimental styles through the decades, but the spirit, the discipline and innovation remains intact within each new wave. Like they mention it's not just about fighting, it's a way of life and those concerned passionately embrace it.

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.

Samuel L. Jackson is the perfect host/narrator for this well done look at how martial arts movies began and progressed. There is plenty of footage from the silent era to 2000 put into context by interviews with Chinese directors, actors and producers. Jackson introduces and explains the various periods and sub-genres, paying special attention to the most important individuals including Bruce Lee, John Woo, Ang Lee plus others whose names will be immediately familiar only to fans of Chinese cinema from the 1950s.

Of particular note is the way the narration links two of the most important influences on martial arts film--Beijing Opera and the destruction of the Shaolin Temple by the Manchu dynasty along with the traditional stories around that destruction.

As a fan of kung fu movies, I enjoyed this trip through the ages of kung fu movies. Yeah, the title would have you believe the documentary is about action films in general, but it's not. It would have you believe it's about martial arts films in general, but - as before - it's not. They're really just focused on the kung fu movies that came out of Hong Kong, and other films influenced from those.

The film is "hosted" by Samuel L. Jackson, but I sure don't know why. He doesn't have the credentials to lend anything to the narration. And his taped narrative segments were awkward, read from a teleprompter, and distractingly shot by someone with an infatuation with gratuitous camera movement. The production company could've saved a lot of money by hiring a film historian to just narrate from a static angle or all in voice-over.

This film was a gift from a friend who found it in the bargain bin at the video store for $3, so I guess it's worth that. But don't pay $20 for it. I'll give it a 4 out of 10.

This documentary uses the term "martial arts" very loosely, as the main focus is on the Chinese martial art kung fu (with only a small part dedicated to Japanese director Akira Kurosawa,) while some major stars from karate and muay thai movies (specifically, Sonny Chiba and Tony Jaa) are not mentioned whatsoever. However, kung fu has been the prevailing martial art in cinema, and the main point seems to be a historical progression from the origin of martial arts movies to their use in today's American films. So, because the emphasis is on telling the story of how The Matrix and Face/Off (and more ridiculously, Charlie's Angels and Exit Wounds) came to use "martial arts", the gaps in history are forgivable. This incidentally also makes Samuel Jackson a fairly perfect narrator. The documentary progresses mainly through segments on each major kung fu icon in the history of cinema, and gives a fairly basic overview. If you have any prior knowledge of the history, there may not be a lot of information you don't already know. Also, John Woo gets his own segment in which he is called a "serious filmmaker." Please ignore this. While John Woo movies can be fun, he has no business being talked about in a movie about martial arts. Basically, if you're an American who wants to understand the history of kung fu in movies, or if you're wondering if there's any job Samuel L. Jackson won't say yes to, this doc is definitely worth checking out.