Wuxia films are some of the most distinctive and popular martial arts movies. Examples include the critically acclaimed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino favorite Master of the Flying Guillotine. The King of Wuxia is a documentary making its U.S. premiere at the Old School Kung Fu Fest that looks at one of the most influential directors in the genre.
Director King Hu is known most for Come Drink With Me and Dragon Inn. Both movies were released towards the end of the 1960s and set the template for kung fu and action movies for decades to come. Naturally, the documentary spends much of its time focusing on these two films. A great segment shows crowds lined up around the block to see Dragon Inn. Similar pictures of The Exorcist and the first Star Wars are often seen in documentaries about American cinema.
There are a number of interviews with film scholars, actors, and directors. This is to be expected in a documentary like this, and at times it does get a little dry. For the most part, the talking head sections are enlightening and entertaining. A highlight includes famed action director John Woo talk about how Hu’s influence led to a number of copycats – including himself.
There is a charm that exudes throughout The King of Wuxia. The subjects interviewed have a great respect for Hu and they discuss his works with a sense of awe and admiration. There is a sense of joy and nostalgia. This changes when people speak about the later stages of the director’s career when he was all but ignored by the Hong Kong film industry. The films he did make were less commercially successful, leading to an ailing Hu to becoming frustrated. It is a story that is heard all too often, unfortunately.
The impact Hu had on films is incredible. He invented the idea of fight choreography when he brought aspects of Peking opera to his films. (He even claimed to have invented the term.) The King of Wuxia uses archival footage and modern performance to showcase the beauty in the violence. Hu also used elements of Spaghetti Westerns and what he learned during his time with the Shaw Brothers to essentially invent a new style of filmmaking.
The King of Wuxia is a very detailed look at the director and his works. As informative as the documentary is, it will be a daunting watch for some. With a runtime of almost four hours, this is only for the most dedicated fans. Those with a passing interest or looking for an entry point to the genre will end up being overwhelmed.
This is an absolute must-watch for fans. The scenes from King Hu’s films still hold up all these decades later while the modern day segments travel to the beautiful locations the movies were shot at. The King of Wuxia is an emotional and stunning look at an underrated master.
The Old School Kung Fu Fest takes place April 21-30
You must be logged in to post a comment Login