Latest from Richard James Havis
The martial arts films made in Hong Kong would never have been worldwide hits if it had not been for a select group of choreographers who revolutionised their fight scenes. Yet for years their names were absent from film credits.
The martial arts films made in Hong Kong would never have been worldwide hits if it had not been for a select group of choreographers who revolutionised their fight scenes. Yet for years their names were absent from film credits.
Shinichi Sawada’s strange, bestial and anthropomorphic figures, creatures of an imaginative realm known only to the artist himself, are now on show in New York.
Shinichi Sawada’s strange, bestial and anthropomorphic figures, creatures of an imaginative realm known only to the artist himself, are now on show in New York.
Beloved MGM cartoon series is traduced in this dire update that fails on every level. The action moves to New York and, realising they had a hopelessly thin story to hold the film up, the writers tacked on a whole other one that takes it over.
Beloved MGM cartoon series is traduced in this dire update that fails on every level. The action moves to New York and, realising they had a hopelessly thin story to hold the film up, the writers tacked on a whole other one that takes it over.
The glamorous martial arts actor plays a romantic hero in The Assassin, a historical tragedy inspired by the 1967 Hong Kong riots that followed his success in One-Armed Swordsman.
The glamorous martial arts actor plays a romantic hero in The Assassin, a historical tragedy inspired by the 1967 Hong Kong riots that followed his success in One-Armed Swordsman.
An interstellar object to our solar system in 2017 may be our first sign of intelligent life beyond Earth says an astrobiologist. The object, ‘Oumuamua, may be some kind of buoy, a probe launcher, or just a piece of junk, Avi Loeb theorises.
An interstellar object to our solar system in 2017 may be our first sign of intelligent life beyond Earth says an astrobiologist. The object, ‘Oumuamua, may be some kind of buoy, a probe launcher, or just a piece of junk, Avi Loeb theorises.
The gaming industry will play an increasingly important role in entertainment, from film production to musical artists embedding their songs and themselves in video games, say panellists at the Digital Entertainment World conference.
The gaming industry will play an increasingly important role in entertainment, from film production to musical artists embedding their songs and themselves in video games, say panellists at the Digital Entertainment World conference.
Director Ronny Yu reveals what it was like working with ‘the best dramatic actress and actor in Hong Kong’ and why he made the fantasy kung fu movie in this previously unpublished interview from 1993.
Director Ronny Yu reveals what it was like working with ‘the best dramatic actress and actor in Hong Kong’ and why he made the fantasy kung fu movie in this previously unpublished interview from 1993.
Chan climbing up a speeding double-decker bus, and sliding down a pole exploding electric lights as he goes, the destruction of a squatter village – how did the superstar and his stuntmen pull off these memorable stunts?
Chan climbing up a speeding double-decker bus, and sliding down a pole exploding electric lights as he goes, the destruction of a squatter village – how did the superstar and his stuntmen pull off these memorable stunts?
The animation in Earwig and the Witch is the first from Studio Ghibli to be fully computer generated, but it still retains its unique hand-drawn look.
The animation in Earwig and the Witch is the first from Studio Ghibli to be fully computer generated, but it still retains its unique hand-drawn look.
The subject of 100 films, as well as pulp novels and radio plays, Wong Fei-hung was born in the mid-19th century in Guangdong, southern China. Taught kung fu by his father, he is reputed never to have lost a fight in his life.
The subject of 100 films, as well as pulp novels and radio plays, Wong Fei-hung was born in the mid-19th century in Guangdong, southern China. Taught kung fu by his father, he is reputed never to have lost a fight in his life.
Vengeance!, a hideously violent revenge drama set in the warlord era in 20th century China, won awards for its director, Chang Cheh, and lead actor, the suave David Chiang – giving the latter’s career a major boost.
Vengeance!, a hideously violent revenge drama set in the warlord era in 20th century China, won awards for its director, Chang Cheh, and lead actor, the suave David Chiang – giving the latter’s career a major boost.
Superstar martial arts actor joined other top Hong Kong movie talent such as Jackie Chan, John Woo and Chow Yun-fat in Hollywood, but never got to show his full potential there as a martial artist or as an actor.
Superstar martial arts actor joined other top Hong Kong movie talent such as Jackie Chan, John Woo and Chow Yun-fat in Hollywood, but never got to show his full potential there as a martial artist or as an actor.
A digitally created Fire Dragon, the manipulation of water, flying … The Storm Riders was one of the first films to fuse martial arts with digital effects and computer animation. Director Andrew Lau made no secret of his desire to change action cinema.
A digitally created Fire Dragon, the manipulation of water, flying … The Storm Riders was one of the first films to fuse martial arts with digital effects and computer animation. Director Andrew Lau made no secret of his desire to change action cinema.
Real and meaningful action, Cantonese-style kung fu rather than swordplay, plot and characters that move people, and above all entertainment – these are the ingredients legends of Hong Kong action cinema look for in a film.
Real and meaningful action, Cantonese-style kung fu rather than swordplay, plot and characters that move people, and above all entertainment – these are the ingredients legends of Hong Kong action cinema look for in a film.
The nihilism of Tsui’s 1995 film did not go down well with cinema-goers who had, besides, had their fill of wuxia movies. Yet its realistic style, improvised scenes and sophisticated storytelling make it the director’s most mature work.
The nihilism of Tsui’s 1995 film did not go down well with cinema-goers who had, besides, had their fill of wuxia movies. Yet its realistic style, improvised scenes and sophisticated storytelling make it the director’s most mature work.
Wong Kar-wai elegantly synthesises martial arts and Chinese history, giving faithful demonstrations of the different fighting styles. Four different versions of Wong’s film were released.
Wong Kar-wai elegantly synthesises martial arts and Chinese history, giving faithful demonstrations of the different fighting styles. Four different versions of Wong’s film were released.
Stephen Chow, Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark and Chor Yuen made martial arts films by adapting episodes and characters from the writings of authors such as Louis Cha, known as Jin Yong, and Gu Long.
Stephen Chow, Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark and Chor Yuen made martial arts films by adapting episodes and characters from the writings of authors such as Louis Cha, known as Jin Yong, and Gu Long.
When the Shanghai-born actress signed a contract with Shaw Brothers it wasn’t to star in martial arts films. But Run Run Shaw saw her dancing, liked the way she moved – and the role of Golden Swallow was hers.
When the Shanghai-born actress signed a contract with Shaw Brothers it wasn’t to star in martial arts films. But Run Run Shaw saw her dancing, liked the way she moved – and the role of Golden Swallow was hers.
The movie that made Jackie Chan a superstar in Asia, his film that spawned the kung fu comedy wave, the genius of King Hu, Wong Kar-wai’s wondrous Ashes of Time, Tsui Hark teaming up with Jet Li - we offer you a film lover’s feast.
The movie that made Jackie Chan a superstar in Asia, his film that spawned the kung fu comedy wave, the genius of King Hu, Wong Kar-wai’s wondrous Ashes of Time, Tsui Hark teaming up with Jet Li - we offer you a film lover’s feast.
‘It girl’ actress Lily Ho plays a vengeful sex worker and Betty Pei Ti her lesbian brothel madame in Chor Yuen’s film Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, which shocked viewers with its depiction of same-sex love.
‘It girl’ actress Lily Ho plays a vengeful sex worker and Betty Pei Ti her lesbian brothel madame in Chor Yuen’s film Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, which shocked viewers with its depiction of same-sex love.
Bruce Lee would have turned 80 on Friday had he lived. We gauge the influence of the jeet kune do fighting technique the martial arts superstar developed, with its ‘be water’ philosophy.
Bruce Lee would have turned 80 on Friday had he lived. We gauge the influence of the jeet kune do fighting technique the martial arts superstar developed, with its ‘be water’ philosophy.
Jet Li is a famous martial arts actor, but where did his fighting style come from and how did it make it into Hong Kong martial arts movies? We trace its origins and list the films to watch to see the best of Li’s wushu styles.
Jet Li is a famous martial arts actor, but where did his fighting style come from and how did it make it into Hong Kong martial arts movies? We trace its origins and list the films to watch to see the best of Li’s wushu styles.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Korean New Wave started a boom in domestic cinema. The phenomenal success of the action thriller Shiri in 1999 was pivotal to the rise of Korean cinema.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Korean New Wave started a boom in domestic cinema. The phenomenal success of the action thriller Shiri in 1999 was pivotal to the rise of Korean cinema.
Jackie Chan, The Matrix’s Yuen Woo-ping, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-leung – the honour roll of martial arts choreographers who influenced the direction of Hong Kong cinema is a long one. They explain the role and its challenges.
Jackie Chan, The Matrix’s Yuen Woo-ping, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-leung – the honour roll of martial arts choreographers who influenced the direction of Hong Kong cinema is a long one. They explain the role and its challenges.
Once stressed and fatigued himself, Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten says that to find happiness we need to stop searching for it, something meditation can help with.
Once stressed and fatigued himself, Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten says that to find happiness we need to stop searching for it, something meditation can help with.
The characters were one-dimensional and the storylines simplistic in this master martial arts director’s Shaolin cycle of films. That was no accident – their whole point was to showcase so-called southern kung fu fighting styles.
The characters were one-dimensional and the storylines simplistic in this master martial arts director’s Shaolin cycle of films. That was no accident – their whole point was to showcase so-called southern kung fu fighting styles.
When martial arts director King Hu wrote Dragon Inn, about rebels who thwart a bloodthirsty imperial Chinese eunuch, it was as a response to James Bond films that suggested ‘it was OK to kill people on a whim’. Tsui Hark’s remake updated the story.
When martial arts director King Hu wrote Dragon Inn, about rebels who thwart a bloodthirsty imperial Chinese eunuch, it was as a response to James Bond films that suggested ‘it was OK to kill people on a whim’. Tsui Hark’s remake updated the story.
Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon has taken sections from Lee’s handwritten notebooks and broadened them out into a guide for modern life in Be Water, My Friend.
Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon has taken sections from Lee’s handwritten notebooks and broadened them out into a guide for modern life in Be Water, My Friend.
A director who had made his name with melodramas, Chor Yuen switched to wuxia films and made some of the genre’s most accomplished literary adaptations, starting with Killer Clans in 1976.
A director who had made his name with melodramas, Chor Yuen switched to wuxia films and made some of the genre’s most accomplished literary adaptations, starting with Killer Clans in 1976.
The Paper Tigers, directed by Asian-American Tran Quoc Bao, transplants themes from classic Hong Kong martial arts films to modern-day Seattle.
The Paper Tigers, directed by Asian-American Tran Quoc Bao, transplants themes from classic Hong Kong martial arts films to modern-day Seattle.