Has anybody stopped watching kung fu movies?
I simply cannot reconcile what goes on in the movies with my impression of what kung fu REALLY should be like.
The skill is incredible, and I enjoy watching Jet/Jackie/Bruce/Gordon flying around on screen. But I simply can’t get into movies the way I did before.
Anybody else feel the same way?
hmmm
i use to get that feeling but i try to find a kung fu movie that has less wire work the less wires the better the story and the kung fu like sammo hung the prodigal boxer great kung fu or warrior two. just two name a few but there are some exceptions like iron monkey part 1
No, my understanding of the difference between fantasy and reality is strong enough that the silliness doesn’t bother me. Every once in a while, I even pick up an idea or technique from one of the better ones, like those Doug mentioned.
I am the Grand Ultimate Silk Pyjama
Not at all. I love kung-fu movies and understand that it is pure escapism and that is all it is. It’s entertainment…if it was more “realistic” then the movie industry would be pretty boring.
We are trained in wushu; we must protect the Temple!
okay!
here’s a sugestion that i did a few time get your camcorder out and make your own kung fu flick then you’ll never get tired of watching the “real” stuff
Never
I’ll never stop watching kungfu movies. Are you kidding? It’s one of my greatest pleasures.
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
RE:
Those guys trained more than 8 hours a day man. but yah I’ve gotta remember when Sammo does a spinning back kick it isn’t a real spinning back kick, its the dancing version. Jackies jump spin heel kick isn’t the real thing, it’s the one dancers do. The speed and power in the kicks are false. Because some of you critics say so. Because according to you traditional Kung Fu doesn’t exist in China. Kung fu movies are the most popular movies in China and they don’t even know that Kung Fu really exist.
BTW,
Master Yuen was very serious about Kung Fu, he even said that Jackie never really shows how good his kung fu is back in the 70’s or 80’s. Master Gini lau (you know, the daughter of lau fat mang, grandmaster of Eagle Claw) studied in the same opera school at the same time as jackie chan. Then guess what? Jackie learned more after he left the opera. he left when he was a teenager man, you don’t think he learned anything since then? BEFORE he went to the opera his father was also teaching him traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi. After he left the opera he learned Hapkido,Wing Chun and other shizz. Yuen Biao says that he wants a student but he’s having a hard time finding someone to teach. Why? because he says he teaches the traditional way, and its hard to find someone to sign up for that. Same thing with Sammo. He learned traditional Northern Shaolin YES THE TRUE STYLE in the opera and then afterwards he learned hapkido wing chun and tons of other craps. If someone looks good on a movie it means they have good form. They aren’t faking, they have really refined technique in alot of cases. The acrobatics in the opera are learned in ADDITION to the Kung Fu man. And some styles like Northern Shaolin, Monkey, Northern Eagle etc are hella acrobatic on they’re own. Plus Gordon Liu, Lo meng and others that weren’t in the Opera learned real Kung Fu and for years. They have true skill, that is how they showcase it on film. Have you heard of Bruce Lee? Have you heard of Hwang Yang Lee? The men who was an officer of the Korean Army and killed a Vietnamese knife expert in self defense (in 1 kick).
I may have “stopped” watching kung fu movies recently, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not glued to the screen when a new one comes out.
Kung Fu movies are just the best. There is something about bad plots, terrible dialogue and shocking dubbing that I just can’t go past. All the lame stop-start fighting is just inexplicably cool. The more B-grade the more I enjoy them. I have watched every kung fu movie I have ever come across, and that is hundreds.
Plus you get excellent one liners from KF movies.
“Your Kung Fu is obsolete, old man”
I have SO wanted to say that to someone. 
“Pain is merely weakness leaving the body”
I don’t necessarily equate “kung fu movie” with having “bad plots, bad acting, etc.” It depends on the movie. Some of the older ones, such as the Chang Cheh mid-1970s Shaolin classics like Shaolin Martial Arts, etc., have interesting stories from a kung fu point of view. A lot of those are movie versions of the southern Shaolin legends anyway.
I just look at kung fu movies as entertainment. I train kung fu but don’t mix the two in my mind. My interest in watching them is not constant, however. I can go a year or two without wanting to watch one, then I’ll go nuts and watch them all the time for a while.
Really, America and other countries make loads of sh!tty movies, with or without martial arts, that are just as fake as the worst kung fu films were. Incompetent acting? A couple years ago I saw a crummy horror film (can’t remember the title) starring Kim Basinger, who did some of the worst acting I’ve ever seen in a movie, and she did it without the benefit of bad dubbing.
Jim
No, I haven’t stopped watching them. As someone already mentioned, I too have the ability to divorce fantasy from reality.
I take these movies for what they are: pure enjoyment.
K. Mark Hoover
HK film
I used to write for Hong Kong Film Magazine. It’s a great genre and so affirming now that it’s emerging from the stigma of low production into stuff like Crouching Tiger and Matrix. If you can’t enjoy kungfu movies because they aren’t “real” well, that’s nuts. No movies are real. They’re movies. Its actors performing scripts.
And man, I’ve always dreamed of kicking someone like how Bruce Lee kicked Bob Wall in Enter the Dragon. But then, I’ve always dreamed of splitting someone with a lightsaber in a cantina and knocking someone out with a vulcan neck pinch. Movies are dreams cast in light and shadow. Trust me, it’s not going to spoil your training anymore than reading this forum will.
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
KF flicks enhance my training. I don’t add movements from movies but the fantasy helps keep me excited about it. Some anime does the same thing. Oh wait I do somtimes try some of those cool training sequences for fun 
I started KF because when I was younger I loved super heroes and in the movies the KF masters are like superheroes. I guess I may be one of the few people who actually like wire stunts.
Was Hapkido big in China at one time?
“Americans don’t have the courage to come here,” Mullah Mohammed Omar, leader of the Taliban
There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change; it is, ‘To use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.’ Patton
Hong Kong Kung Fu movies rule
martial art movies are like the most unique and interesting movies. They are also often based on legends and Chinese history which is very interesting to me as well as the mysterious styles and secret techniques. These guys have true skill (I am talking about old school). If you don’t believe me read a biography on Lo Meng or Hwang Jang Lee.
“Lo Meng (he played the Toad in Five Deadly Venoms) is a lifelong dedicated student of the mantis fist.
Lo Meng has an incredible physique and is a true powerhouse. He began studying at the age of 13, and continues to practice the style today. The Mantis style focuses on the strength of the arms, gathering strength from the shoulder sockets straight down to the hands, using the whole body to help the power of the arms- and it is this technique that you almost always see Lo Meng using in his fight sequences. Rarely does he use weapons- he doesn’t need them!”
"Hwang Jang Lee
Nickname
Silver Fox
King of the Leg Fighters
Former taekwondo(eventually reaching 7th dan equivalent) teacher of Korean Army
This Korean powerhouse actually killed a man in real life (in self-defense) during when he was stationed in Vietnam, during war there. It seems the man was a “knife expert” who claimed that the knife is superior to “any” form of unarmed combat. Wang disagreed with that “statement” and an argument soon followed where the “knife expert” challenged Wang to “prove” his point to which Wang declined, went to turn his back when the guy lunged at him. Wang turned and fired a “round-kick” hitting the guy “square” in the temple, killing him instantly."
Here is a story I read on Sammo Hung
"Sammo was getting severely drunk in a bar one night (the reason I’ve forgotten, but the point is he was extremely non-sober). Some guy entered the bar, saying “I heard that fat ****ing ***** martial artist guy was in here!” Sammo, too drunk to think very well, stood up yelled “Hey, are you talking to me?” The guy walked up to the bar, ordered a beer, poued it out right in front of Sammo, then broke the bottle and started threatening him. Sammo returned to drinking (again) while the guy and his 4 friends continued to make fun of him. Eventually, Sammo completely lost it and started wailing away on the 5 guys. After the head guy managed to slash Sammo across the face with the broken beer bottle, Sammo stopped playing around - although still completely drunk - and sent all 5 of them to the hospital with broken arms, legs, ribs, noses, fingers, etc. The lead one had his jaw broken, not to mention almost having his stomach ruptured from Sammo’s beatings.
The point - even intoxicated, Sammo Hung is an incredibly deadly opponent. If the barkeep hadn’t pulled a gun and “escorted” Sammo outside, there’s no telling what he might have done to those guys. Imagine if he’d been sober! Oh yeah - if you look at Sammo closely, you’ll see a scar just above his lip. This is where he was slashed by the bottle. Note to self - NEVER slash Sammo Hung with a bottle."
As for jackie Chan
“In the opera they learn Traditional Kung Fu. Master Yuen was very serious about Kung Fu, he even said that Jackie never really shows how good his kung fu is back in the 70’s or 80’s. Master Gini lau (you know, the daughter of lau fat mang, grandmaster of Eagle Claw) studied in the same opera school at the same time as jackie chan. Then guess what? Jackie learned more after he left the opera. he left when he was a teenager. He learned various weapon and hand to hand techniques/styles. His father was also teaching him Shaolin since he was young, he was obsessed with learning new styles. He used a new style in nearly every movie heh heh. Jackie Chan IS a VERY legit martial artist, who knows VARIOUS forms of Kungfu”
And you all know about Bruce Lee, but I don’t know mutch about Gordon except that he comes from a family of Hung Gar, and he kicks a@@ on film.
These guys represent themselves, their skills, and abilities.
I also heard other stories of Hwang Jang Lee in Vietnam, also that in Hong Kong in 1977 he was involved in a publicized challenge match with Cheng Ki-Ying, then a full-contact champ in HK. The bout never happened, as Cheng’s wife was afraid Cheng would get hurt. Hwang is definitely one of the genuine old school martial artists who were in KF movies.
I heard many years ago that Gordon Liu was attacked in HK by a group of about eight men who tried to rob him with “chopper” knives (probably melon knives or meat cleavers). Although he was injured, he supposedly successfully fought all eight men off. (I read this in a British(?) magazine when I lived overseas).
Jim