From Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury to Wu Jing in Wolf Warrior 2, authors dissect Hong Kong martial arts movies – from how they are made to how they exemplify Chinese philosophy
- Hong Kong martial arts movies stand out because everyone is always moving, and edits have only got faster since Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury, a film professor says
- A film historian looks at how Hong Kong martial arts movies illustrate aspects of Chinese philosophy, and explains why Wong Kar-wai is a ‘Buddhist auteur’
Most books about Hong Kong cinema focus either on film history or how movies reflect the society and politics of the city. But two books on Hong Kong action cinema, one relatively old and one relatively new, take beguilingly different approaches.
Planet Hong Kong, by US-based film professor David Bordwell, focuses on film style and aesthetics, and uncovers the filmmaking techniques that make Hong Kong action movies unique.
Chinese Martial Arts Film and the Philosophy of Action, by leading academic Stephen Teo, who specialises in wuxia movies, is a fascinating riff on how martial arts films can elucidate the wider realm of Chinese philosophy.
Both books expand the understanding of the martial arts genre.
Planet Hong Kong
David Bordwell is well known in Hong Kong film circles. His 2000 book Planet Hong Kong does cover film historical topics, but devotes most of its pages to a breakdown of the way Hong Kong films are made.