These new Chinese movies are lame..

[Koenigsegg]

I'm watching Hero right now and have also seen House of Flying Daggers..

Why can't they just let the martial artists simply do what they do best, without special effects? Sure the scenes are quite pleasant to look at, but I thought special effects were reserved for those who don't have any sense of martial arts skills?

I really enjoy "real" martial arts in the Americanized movies, few of which see the actors fly or walk on water. Sure they're movies, but are we supposed to believe these people have trained so hard that they've achieved superhuman abilities? Now I don't mind a back flip 10 feet into the air or anything, but when you can float 50 feet into the air, to me that just takes away a little bit..

 

[sniperruff]

because it is what's being described in those cool martial arts novels, which i missed reading, btw.

 

[Schadenfroh]

They are yielding to the abilities of the characters in Final Fantasy, Anime, etc.

 

[Cuda1447]

Thats their culture. I personally love those movies. I think they are a nice change of pace when compared to your typical american movies, not to mention the stories are usually excellent. Hero and House of Flying Daggers were both excellent movies IMO, of course not everyone will like them.

 

[Baked]

Just be quiet. Yes, ancient martial artists are indeed like super heroes. But you wouldn't understand because you've never read any chinese martial arts novels.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg

Why can't they just let the martial artists simply do what they do best, without special effects? Sure the scenes are quite pleasant to look at, but I thought special effects were reserved for those who don't have any sense of martial arts skills?

New Chinese movies? Most Chinese movies have had this wire-fu for decades. It's just part of the history and myths of Chinese martial arts... that's like complaining that Gandalf is a wizard, or Constantine (with Reeves) had angels, etc. They ARE 'fantasy' movies, they're not suppose to be 'normal' martial arts... if you want that, then watch 'normal' martial arts movies like Fist of Legend.

 

[Koenigsegg]

I didn't realize reading obscure novels was a prerequisite to enjoying movies nowadays?

 

[thirdlegstump]

You gotta watch the flying kung fu porn.

 

[PlatinumGold]

in Korea, they used to say, the best cars are made in Germany, the best electronics in Japan and the best Movies in Hong Kong.

the world has changed somewhat since then.

 

[morkinva]

I agree with you, wire-fu sux!

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
in Korea, they used to say, the best cars are made in Germany, the best electronics in Japan and the best Movies in Hong Kong.

the world has changed somewhat since then.

well the best electonics are still made in japan... movies in general has gone down plot-wise globally, and best cars... hmm i guess it's not the case anymore.

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg

Why can't they just let the martial artists simply do what they do best, without special effects? Sure the scenes are quite pleasant to look at, but I thought special effects were reserved for those who don't have any sense of martial arts skills?

New Chinese movies? Most Chinese movies have had this wire-fu for decades. It's just part of the history and myths of Chinese martial arts... that's like complaining that Gandalf is a wizard, or Constantine (with Reeves) had angels, etc. They ARE 'fantasy' movies, they're not suppose to be 'normal' martial arts... if you want that, then watch 'normal' martial arts movies like Fist of Legend.

ditto

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: deathkoba
You gotta watch the flying kung fu porn.

that was good...

 

[Baked]

Jin Yong, aka Louis Cha novels then you'll understand Hero and House of Flying Daggers. English translated version of his novels is available.

 

[OulOat]

Why is there so much sex in American movies? Can't they have a movie without the sex?

 

[dighn]

super-human abilities have been commonplace in chinese martial arts movies/shows/novels for decades. think of it as the chinese version of superheros.

if you can't understand it then don't watch it. it's not meant for you anyway.

 

[BtBJester]

All these new movies with walking on trees and stuff along those line are really really bad. They just make no sense at all. And there is no way to explain it. Yea sure in the matrix they did it two sorta but hey they gave a pretty good damn reason why they could.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Run Run Shaw / Shaw Brothers chinese sword and sorcery movies like these date back to the 1970s, predating the more realistic kung fu craze of the 80s - on.

Chinese Ghost Story I-III, Bride With White Hair I-II, etc. were the second wave.

This third wave is more artistic but still well worth watching.

Complaining about the magic / chi powers in these movies is as silly as complaining that samurai movies don't include kung fu. They are different genres.

And there is no way to explain it.

you must really hate the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Magic, nonhuman races, etc. all so unrealistic!

 

[hans030390]

i saw hero...i thought it sucked. it looked so freakin fake.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: BtBJester
All these new movies with walking on trees and stuff along those line are really really bad. They just make no sense at all. And there is no way to explain it. Yea sure in the matrix they did it two sorta but hey they gave a pretty good damn reason why they could.

They didn't need to explain it, because the target audience (ie Chinese viewers), know what the myths are. Are you upset that Superman can fly? Spiderman can climb walls? Hulk can turn from a human into a monster?

 

[Koenigsegg]

Originally posted by: dighn
it's not meant for american viewers. super-human abilities have been commonplace in chinese martial arts movies/shows/novels for decades. think of it as the chinese version of superheros.

if you can't understand it then don't watch it. it's not meant for you anyway.

Yes, god forbid I try to expand my taste in movies..

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg

Originally posted by: dighn
it's not meant for american viewers. super-human abilities have been commonplace in chinese martial arts movies/shows/novels for decades. think of it as the chinese version of superheros.

if you can't understand it then don't watch it. it's not meant for you anyway.

Yes, god forbid I try to expand my taste in movies..

Well obviously you don't understand the genre, and you don't want to understand it. So why bother torturing yourself to movies you don't like?

 

[DaveSimmons]

People complaining about this must also hate Star Wars. Where you you think Lucas borrowed his ideas from!?

Chinese sword and sorcery movies are not supposed to be kung fu movies.

 

[Koenigsegg]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: BtBJester
All these new movies with walking on trees and stuff along those line are really really bad. They just make no sense at all. And there is no way to explain it. Yea sure in the matrix they did it two sorta but hey they gave a pretty good damn reason why they could.

They didn't need to explain it, because the target audience (ie Chinese viewers), know what the myths are.

Yes, why on earth should a movie actually explain anything to the audience? They should just assume everyone knows everything!

Are you upset that Superman can fly? Spiderman can climb walls? Hulk can turn from a human into a monster?

Those things had explanations..Superman was from another planet, Spiderman was bit by a genetically engineered spider, and the Hulk had his thing.

 

[ghostman]

Looney is right. Hero and Flying Daggers are meant to be mythic movies (basically, the ones where guys have long hair). All Chinese movies based on or inspired by legend have unrealistic martial arts. It's not new at all and there are other more realistic martial arts movies, but for some reason, its the only Chinese movies that make it to the US.

It's off topic since it's not a martial arts film at all, but I thought Infernal Affairs ("new" Chinese movie) was excellent.