Martial arts films have been around for over half a century and have entertained us for several reasons. Fight scenes, stunts, lore and symbols that the genre gave us. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Tony Jaa are names that have achieved success in the US and Asia. These films are always produced, even if they don’t seem to dominate the market. One of the most interesting things about martial arts films is that some of them are based on real events.
Bloodsport (1988)
In the film Bloodsport, Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Frank Dukes, an American soldier who arrives in Hong Kong to fight in kumite. A very dangerous underground fighting tournament. Van Damme’s character, Frank Dux, is apparently a real person, a Vietnam veteran who crossed paths with Bloodsport screenwriter Sheldon Lettich. The real Frank told him stories about the secret, no-holds-barred fighting rings he fought in throughout the 1970s. One of them was called Kumite. Some plot points were adjusted for the film, but Frank appears to have been a real person.
Hero (2002)
Hero is based on a true story about something that happened in 227 BC. The Jet Li-led film was the first Chinese film to hit number one at the box office in America. A film loaded with gorgeous cinematography and color palette, as well as imagery that can prove any cinephile wrong who thinks it’s just another film with sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat. Hero is loosely based on an assassination attempt on the tyrannical king of Qin by a group of assassins.RELATED:
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Fist of Fury (1972)
Fist of Fury Lee plays Chen Zhen, a man who seeks revenge for the death of his master. Overall, Fist of Fury is a work of fiction, but it is believed that Chen Zhen’s teacher, Huo Yuanjia, was a real kung fu master who even had his own movie made about him. It is rumored that Li’s character is actually based on Yuanjia’s most accomplished disciple, Liu Zhengsheng. It has one of the best fight scenes ever, with Lee fighting several unarmed Japanese soldiers. And if you pay close attention, you might see a young Jackie Chan as an extra in the film.
The Lost Bladesman (2011)
Donnie Yen will appear on this list several times. The Lost Bladesman is a historical war biopic and action film. It is about Guan Yu and is based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is based on historical facts about Guan Yu and how he killed six generals and played a key role in the fall of the Han Dynasty. A film full of epic battle scenes and brutal fights.
The Grandmaster (2013)
Although Ip Man stands alone as its own franchise, The Grandmaster is its own take and interpretation on the story of the man who would eventually become the trainer of the great Bruce Lee. The film takes place during the fall of the last Chinese Dynasty, which was an era loaded with violence and chaos. Ip Man was a man whose path of peace gets thwarted. The highly stylized aesthetic look of the film complements the brilliant fight scenes.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
The biggest icon of martial arts films, Bruce Lee. However, by 1993, Bruce Lee had been gone for two decades, so Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story provides audiences with information about Lee that may not have been known at the time. Jason Scott Lee plays the lead well as we follow young Bruce Lee from childhood until he leaves China for Hollywood to become a martial arts teacher, which then leads him to his first acting role in the famous TV series The Green Hornet ”RELATED:
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The Executioners From Shaolin (1977)
A classic Shaw Brothers-produced-kung fu film from the 1970s. A movie adored by Quentin Tarantino and mentioned in lyrics by the Wu-Tang Clan. The Executioners of Shaolin is a revenge tale that spans multiple generations. After the death of his father, a kung fu master, he learns both fighting styles of Tiger and Crane. He uses both of these fighting styles to wage war against the evil priest who was responsible for the death of his father. The film is based on the true account of Shaolin hero Hong Xiguan. A man who survived the destruction of his temple by priest Bai Mei (a character who is played by Gordon Liu. The film is highly fictionalized but is based on folklore drawn from what is believed to be actual events.
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
Wong Fei-Hung is a grandmaster in Hung Ga style. Countless films, TV shows and novels have been written about him over the past years. He had more adaptations of his life for telling stories than any other master of martial arts. One of the most recognizable films is “Once Upon a Time in China” and its two sequels, in which Jet Li plays the main role. A film that talks a lot about China of that time from the point of view of imperialism of other countries. In the film, the master is depicted as a person who teaches men to protect themselves from external threats.
Fearless (2006)
Jet Li plays Huo Yuanjia in the Ronny Yu-directed Fearless. A film about the countless victories of Yuanzi in martial arts battles with opponents from all over the world. But fame turned his head, and a tragedy happened when he was sent to rural China. He seeks redemption upon his return and leads life more humbly, especially against his opponents. As mentioned above in “Fist of Fury”, Huo Yuanjia was a real person born in January 1868. He had the reputation of one of the most formidable fighters in history. Fight with Russia and Great Britain. fighters in the times of imperialism in China.