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Chasing dragons : an introduction to the martial arts film / David West.
Van Pelt Library PN1995.9.H3 W47 2006
Available
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- West, David (Writer on martial arts)
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Martial arts films--History and criticism.
- Martial arts films.
- Physical Description:
- vi, 272 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
- Place of Publication:
- London ; New York : I.B. Tauris, 2006.
- Summary:
- Written for both interested filmgoers and established aficionados, Chasing Dragons is the essential introduction and guide to the martial arts cinemas of Japan, Hong Kong and Hollywood. Chasing Dragons explores over fifty key films, their texts, fighting techniques, stars and directors-set in the distinct cultures producing and forming them.
- Chasing Dragons examines the Japanese masters of the samurai film like Kurosawa Akira and Kobayashi Masaki; encounters Zatoichi and the lethal swordsmen of the screen, and the superstars of Hong Kong, from Kwan Tak Hing through 'Little Dragon' Bruce Lee and Sammo Hung, to Jackie Chan and Jet Li. It traces Hollywood's martial arts cinema, including exploitation ninja movies and box-office blockbusters like The Matrix and Kill Bill. All this and much more in this fresh and informative companion to a remarkable cinema.
- Contents:
- Japan 3
- Japan - A Selective History 3
- Kurosawa Akira 8
- Miyamoto Musashi-Zen and Sword 20
- The Chambara Film and the Hero as Stray Dog 26
- The Adventures of Zatoichi 33
- Oichi, the Blind Swordswoman 37
- Kobayashi Masaki and the Family under Bushido 39
- Okamoto Kihachi 46
- Gosha Hideo 53
- The Decline of the Chambara Genre 60
- Pursuing the Youth Audience - Japanese Cinema Post-Decline 71
- A Resurgence of Humanism 77
- Closing the Circle 84
- Hong Kong 87
- A Note About Names 87
- China and the Monks of Shaolin 88
- The Process of Genre 91
- Kwan Tak Hing and Wong Fey Hung 91
- The Classic Kung Fu Movie 96
- King Hu 98
- Chang Cheh and the Shaolin Heroes 101
- Lau Gar Leung 110
- Bruce Lee and Golden Harvest 121
- The Kung Fu Comedy and Jackie Chan 136
- The Shift to a Contemporary Cinema 146
- A Modern Action Cinema 152
- Sammo Hung 156
- John Woo - Hong Kong Gangsters 164
- Ringo Lam - Hong Kong On Fire 169
- Women Action Stars in Hong Kong Cinema 172
- Chow Sing Chi - Parody and Deconstruction 174
- Tsui Hark and the New Wave 179
- The Return of the Traditional Heroes 187
- The Hong Kong Diaspora 193
- After the New Wave 199
- Hollywood and the USA 207
- Before Bruce Lee 208
- Robert Clouse and Fred Weintraub 214
- Chuck Norris, Cannon Films and Ninja 215
- A-list Action Heroes 219
- American Martial Arts Films 225
- Enter the Matrix 242
- Hong Kong Imports 245
- Aftermath 254.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [259]-261) and index.
- Includes filmography (pages [263]-264).
- ISBN:
- 1850439826
- OCLC:
- 68263330
- Publisher Number:
- 9781850439820
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