The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies

A fun and fresh martial arts documentary full of exciting clips, rare footage, and frequently illuminating interviews, Keith Clarke's documentary traces the roots of Chinese martial arts from the Peking Opera House to early silent combat films, then looks at the reasons behind the industry's move to Hong Kong. From there it follows the Shaw Brothers classics (such as Five Fingers of Death), that brought the genre to the United States up through modern imports (such as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and modern appropriations (such as The Matrix). Though it stints somewhat on its scholarly context in Asian culture, The Art of Action isn't slavishly attached to mainstream representations--yes, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are represented, but the myth-heavy wu xia genre and the spirituality and dedication-driven Shaolin monk films are also covered. Combining interviews with Hong Kong practitioners such as Sammo Hung and John Woo, as well as American admirers and imitators such as David Carradine and Steven Seagal, this Samuel L. Jackson-hosted overview should find a welcome audience. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (D. Fienberg)