Dunkirk (4.5/5)

Dunkirk (4.5/5)

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War movie, no matter how good it is, it always has one problem.

By their own nature, war movie are always about decisive conflict between two sides of human political parties.

American and British Empire.

White American and Native Indian.

Allied and Nazi.

Good and evil?

To the audience, when one side is good the other one must be bad. No matter how sympathetic they try to make the 'bad guy' are, we will always pick who's good and bad based on our life and experience.  In reality, war and conflict are much more complicated but no matter how hard anyone try it never really work. In my opinion, no director can tell how complicate war really was in cinema. Quentin Tarantino might (unintentionally) try to put some grey a bit in Inglorious Bastard, where the Bastard are sadistic Allied commando, but we always know who that Nazi is a bad guy. American Sniper might try to portray Chris Kyle as a family man and PTSD survivor, but we also know that it’s a story about US Marine badass who fight evil Arab.

No matter to how hard someone might try, war movie will always be about ‘good’ vs ‘evil’. Simple as that.

Until ‘Dunkirk’ shows up.

Dunkirk is a movie that based on a true story about Dunkirk evacuation in World War II. Where the British soldiers were push back to the beach of Dunkirk and facing disastrous evacuation. The film shifts back and forth between three stories with DIFFERENT perspective of times.

The first story (the mole) was from on infantry perspective as he struggle to evacuate back and forth between Dunkirk beach and the sea.

It expands about 1 week.

The mole

The second story (the sea) was based from volunteer evacuation ship. The crew must made decision and faced their fear as they had to continue their mission along with keeping PTSD stricken soldier (Cillian Murphy) at bay.

This story expands about 1 day.

The sea

The last one(the Air) is a story about a pilot (Tom Hardy- who once again played a ‘guy with a mask with British(?) accent’ role) , who has to shoot down German bombers before they reached Dunkirk while running out of fuel.

This story expands about 1 hour.

The sky

As you can see here, the script timing makes the film a remarkable in itself. Rarely (if ever) there was any film that cover multiple perspectives based on different timeframe and make it seamless like this one had done. This film was an instant classic and would be a case study for many film students to come. It was intriguing, imaginative and a sight to see for those who love cinematography and editing. I couldn’t think of any word to say on how great it is.

The two symbols

The more important however is that this film is a film that finally BREAKS the whole the war movie genre itself. This film is not about a group of soldier fighting each other.

There are NO bad guys in this war movie.

Well, technically the Nazi German/Wehrmacht is a bad guy in this movie. However, this movie went beyond making Nazi a general ‘bad guy’ war movie. You saw their destruction but you never actually see them.  You might see their plane and silhouette but you never saw their face in an entire movie. You know that they exist but you never ever seen them. Christopher Nolan removed those ‘human’ face from them. They came out and attack allied outside the screen.

They are not human…. 

But as we watch from the safety of the screen, we can't say for sure that they are not monster either.  How could we identify something that we can’t see? Are they a ghost? They are not even a character. For the purpose of this movie, the German were served for something different.

They were neither man nor monster but a symbol.

A symbol of obstacle and hardship.

What about the Allied then, were they heroes? Maybe they were but they were not memorable. Not by old school war movie standard. They were heroic but somehow Christopher Nolan seem to remove something ‘extraordinary’ from them. I didn’t see Sergeant Rock and Captain Smooth. I didn’t see Cold Sniper who never misses. I didn’t see Ace pilot who could shoot five plane in a single run. Everything seems natural like I was not watching a movie but a documentary. 

If the Germans were symbol, then the Allied characters were also symbols.

Symbols of humanity by themselves.

As I said earlier, this was not a movie about two human factions fighting with each other.

This is a movie about human internal struggling in a war situation.

True, it’s the German that pushed the Allied to the beach. It was the German that bombed the ship and prevented the evacuation. But this movie is (mostly) not about heroic individual. It’s about humanity facing fear and hardship.  The difficulty that the character has is NOT about the courage fighting with the  German. It’s about the courage they fight the evil that exist within their heart.

The infantries’ worst enemies were not the German troop, but their despair and selfishness. There’s a lot time of time that one of them would have better chances of survival if they left their friend. They never did.

The worst enemy of the boat crew was neither planes nor U-boats, but the uncertainty and loneliness of endless sea.  There’s also fear that come in the form of Cillian Murphy’s character who meant no harm but become mentally obstacle for them.

And lastly, the worst enemy of the pilot was not the German planes. It’s a choice between saving himself and saving other. With low fuel and a high chance to be strand in enemy territory, the pilot needs to choose between duty and his life. 

Aside from last story, no one won this war stories by shooting anyone.

Another face in a crowd and a war in all of us.

All in all, this is a unique war movie that won’t show up again any time soon. It’s a strange creature in itself. It distances us from the character but somehow better for it. Aside from the boat crew, most characters were just a face in the crowd. Just another man in uniform. Someone who was so plain. So unspecial like us.

But what they did was extraordinary.

Not because of these guys had highest killing count but because of they fought their struggle and KEEP at it. Curtain will not be cut after we found accomplished or failure. Tomorrow maybe better or worst. But until the last breath, we must fight our struggle and hope for the better day.

For that is what human is.

That said, I like to end this review with this quote:

“Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

 – Winston Churchill.

Note: In case that someone might thought that I sound more 'neutral' to German in WWII. I don't support any action relate to Nazi by any shape and form. Anything that I wrote is only based on I saw screenplay on this movie only.

By all mean, I'm glad that Allied won this war. 

To all WWII veteran, I salute you with all my heart and soul. You fought for all of us and deserve a better world than we currently have.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awaken (4/5)

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awaken (4/5)

A long time ago in a country far far away....

There was a boy who loved Star Wars. He watch the VHS version that his dad borrow from the video shop. It was a whisper of love that grown into full-time crush when he watch the special edition in the theater. From that day on, he love all Star Wars film. 

While the American are cursing prequel like it was Anti-Christ, the boy did not care. He all the film except for Attack of the Clone and Jar Jar Bink which he love a bit less. He play most of Star Wars videogame and try to read some of the sequel novel after he found out that it existed.

Then the dark time come, creator are run out of idea and the boys realized that Star Wars sequel novel is a book for nerd who have nothing else to read in his life. He decide that Star Wars end at Return of the Jedi(or was it Star Wars:Union-where Luke married a gorgeous tsundere red-head Mara Jade)

Anywho, the boy become a man with jobs and master degree. He never thought that sequel movie would happen. Little that the man know that Disney have a cunning plan to buy Lucasfilm. With JJ Abram at it helm, they have announce to film a sequel trilogy and plan to bring peace to nerd galaxy......

Before there was Abram.

I stop give a damn about Star Wars sequel five years ago.

It’s not that I don’t care about Star Wars. I seriously do. I consider myself to be quite a Star Wars nerd back then. While I didn’t read every book or hoarding myself with action figure, I do play most of the videogame and know quite a bit of what going on behind the scene of Star Wars nerddom.

Thing is there was a sequel in the past. Long story short is that George Lucas give some permission for a Del-Rey publisher to publish a story after Return of the Jedi and after hundred of authors come and gone it was quite a mess.

For some idea on how messy it get. Han and Leia got a kid who turns to darkside. Luke Skywalker got married. New Republic fight against Borg Alien then lost to Empire again 100 years later.

The last time I bother to check the Galaxy was save by a junkie who happen to have last name Skywalker. He fought Sith lord who was an old buff dude who use to hang out with Anakin. That very same Sith lord also have a Sith Twi’lek sidekick who dress like a stripper.

Hell, it's about time......... to quit the franchise.

It is my belief that good story need to have an end. By that point it obviously clear to me that Star Wars become a franchise zombie and everybody that got hook into it will write on whatever they damn please.

So I stop give a damn about ‘sequel’.

Until JJ Abram get into the picture.

As you probably already notice, the internet went nuts after first trailer of Episode 7 came out. Everybody is excited about the film and hail it like one of a greatest achievement of a mankind. I feels a bit skeptic however. The trailers looks good but I'm not really certain on how the franchise will turn into. Disney surely want to run Star Wars as a yearly franchise, a concept that I'm not really fond of.

But now we must focus on the present. The film come out, and there is one question needs to be answer.

Is it good?

The film  review

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awaken is a story of Rey(Daisy Ridley), the young scavenger of desert planet of Jakku. She meets a guy name Finn(John Boyega), a deserted soldier of fascist First Order. They have adventure through galaxy while being chase by Kylo Ren(Adam driver), a ruthless dark side user from the First Order.

And that’s the summary I can provide without spoiler.

The casting is solid. The wooden dialog and acting from the Prequel trilogy are gone. All of newcomer did they job perfectly. Daisy Ridley was great in her first lead role and John Boyega is very convincing in his role as Finn. Oscar Isaac as Poe Cameron, while not have much screen time like his friends, makes every scene he appear count. While his role is best summarized as 'ace pilot', I’m really glad to see we have one return to Star Wars universe.

The main duo

From villain side, Adam Driver gave a great performance as Kylo Ren.  While I personally thought that Kylo ‘coolness’ is debatable, he is definitely not a one-dimension character. Sadly, everybody else from the villain side is forgettable. Maybe except Supreme leader Snoke(Andy Serkis), who probably have more role in a sequel.

The only villain this film really need.

The cinematography of the film is gorgeous and the fight scene is definitely make Age of Ultron seems like a school project. However, most scenery seems to lack some exotic 'not on earth' feeling that always present from the old film. The Alien is there and there's Star Wars architecture here and there but I just feels it a bit too plain and lack of wildlife. I also feels a bit disappoint on soundtrack since the film does not seems to have any unique like in six previous film. Which is pretty sad since this is only things that prequel did it better.

It's a nitpicking of course. Not a big deal, but I just needs to mention it.

The plot of the film is ok, although I feel it a bits rush sometime.  There some part that is so cliché even by Star Wars standard and most of plot element are heavily borrowed from episode4-5.  However, the film does it best when it comes to characterization. It does not use a lot of exposition like the old film and rely heavily on cinematic queue and acting. And fortunately, with a superb acting of the main stars, the film delivers.

However, while some of them details are probably left for artistic license, I can’t help some of them are left of as sequel bait. While I neither condone nor support the ‘make film to hype the sequel’ business model that Disney is doing with Marvel cinematic universe, this unfortunately make the plot considerably weaker as a standalone film.

Overall, it’s a solid film. Force Awaken is a new fresh start in the franchise. While I'm still remain skeptical on whether Star Wars become franchise zombie again, I will be looking forward to see how it goes.

Eat Pray Love 1/5

I'm going to get flak for this.....

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Eat, Pray, Love was adapted from a memoir of Elizabeth Gilbeth. Lizz(Julia Robert) is woman who have it all: nice job, money, and a lovely husband. Yet she still feels empty. The film chronicle her life from divorce and go along Lizz's journey to discover herself from Italy to India and end up with love in Bali.

Sound promising, isn't it?

Well yeah, I admit that they have quite a good cast. Julia Robert is a likable actor and Javier Bardem is good on most movie that he's in. The scenery and camera work are also quite good. But there is one big problem.

The protagonist is unlikable.

Now, I understand that there are many people who suffer a lot of trouble that Lizz has. But for me she's pretty selfish, stubborn, and impossible to satisfy from the beginning. At start, she divorce her husband(Billy Crudup) for reason that he was boring blabbing husband. It's only get worst from that point on because of bad screenplay. The dialog are bland and transition between each scenes are very abrupt. I think understand her a bit but I don't feel any empathy on her at all.

In fact, 'EMPTY' is the word that summarize my feeling about this movie. It might be better if this is make as a miniseries where we can have time to absorb on character thought. But the bad screenplay and trashy dialog from hipster wannabe make the film dry and tasteless.

Do not waste your time with this movie. Just go out and do something. Eat at some good restaurant. Hang out with friend. Do some yoga. Join meditation class. Time is too precious and you should not spend 140 minutes of your life with this piece of eye candy garbage.

1/5 for scenery and shot of yummy spaghetti. I couldn't rate more for Julia Robert's free travel ticket.

Bond retrospective: Part 1 – The film.

Bond retrospective: Part 1 – The film.

It was in 1952 in Jamaica. A man was sitting idle on his balcony. His eyes were cold and relentless. He looked at a martini glass in his hand and ponders on his life. His life is changing. The world was trembling with a cold war. The dominance of Great Britain is shaken as the power struggle between the American and Russian goes on.

And worst of it all. He’s getting married.

It’s not that he don’t know how to handle stress. The war time teach him well. But this was something else. His adventure days are soon to be over. No more thrilled and excitement of war. No more days of meeting and gasping of pleasure from beauty of London. He’s going to be just another retired British spy.

He can’t handle it.

He needs some escape.

So he finished his drink and went to his private study and write. The book was finish in 1953. His wife hates it but it sells pretty well.

The book is called ‘Casino Royale’.

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Well, the new James Bond film is coming up pretty soon. As a long time James Bond fan, I’m pretty excited about it. But as month comes by and spy movie came in and out, we have a good deconstruction film like ‘Spy’ or even Bond-ish film than Skyfall like ‘Kingsmen’. I began to question something to myself?

“What will become of James Bond film?”

While ‘James Bonds will return’ until MGM become bankrupt, I still think it might be a good idea to reflex on what James Bond really is. When I was a kid he was kind of a guy I like to be. But when I grow older and ‘Casino Royale’ came by, my perspective began to change. Bond is no longer a hero I thought he was. As I watch the old film my question begins to grow. Is he a classic gentleman hero? Is he man who sees woman only as sexual object or he was only keeps them out of his life so that they can be safe? Is he British patriot or he just a guy who traps in his job?

Or the most important: “Is he the world hero or just British’s?”

So I decide to sit down and write something a bit for myself. A reflection of my part-time study on the history of James Bond.

While I did not read all the books and some of my information might be inaccurate, I hope that you might get something from it. 

But first, let get back in time.

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The tough beginning

Ian Fleming writes Casino Royale, the first James Bond book, in 1953. Like any good book nowadays, Casino Royale license was bought immediately by CBS in 1954 for  one hour TV series. At that time, Americans were not ready for British anti-hero that Daniel Craig portray today. So CBS decided to make the most Americanized Bond ever. James Bond became CIA agent ‘Jimmy’ Bond who was play by…..Willie Nelson.

Suffice to say that it’s not accurate adaptation. 

Barry Nelson as 'Jimmy' Bond.

For some reason, Fleming also sold Casino Royale license to another studio in 1954 which complete 1968. This time it’s a parody. And as for the accuracy of the film………………….

The word inaccurately can’t even describe it.

Seriously, this is not from Austin Power. 

The day Bond became an icon.

Fortunately, a guy name Harry Saltzman got another license from Fleming. He partner up with Albert R. Broccoli for another adaptation. This time they got publish by United Artist. Unlike other adaptation, the main lead was no name whose only work is in commercial. Ian Fleming even unimpressed with the guy.

The name of that guy was Sean Connery

The film name was Dr. No.

Surprisingly, Dr No becomes a smashing hit. With the subsequent success of 'from Russia with Love' and 'Goldfinger, Connery change Bond perception from Cold sadist British Spy to charming Womanizer superspy we' know today.

 

The one that start it all.

Six shade of Bond

As years gone by and actors came in and out of role, each one gave their unique taste.

Sean Connery’s Bond was a charming dangerous secret agent who throw woman around like a toilet paper.  Sexist role models that people that people love even on this very day.

The adventurer

George Lazenby, with only film he made, was Connery clone with less sexism and sentimental heart for his tragic wife.

The tragic hero

Roger Moore’s was a satanic playboy who casually toss bad guy down the cliff while making a fool of himself.

The genius fool.

Timothy Dalton’s was Daniel Craig’s prototype, dry angry man who hated his job and look down upon woman. Yet, despite his brooding nature, he’s loyal to his friend and some sentimental spot for his girl.

The impulse.

Pierce Brosnan’s was a boy with toys who have the best trait of all four. He has muscularity of Connery with Moore’s comedic line along with Dalton’s ruthlessness and Lazenby’s vulnerability for pretty broken bird.

The charmer.

Daniel Craig’s Bond was considered to be the closest to Ian Fleming’s James Bond. A sad man who hide his sadness beneath his cold and ruthless exterior.

The blunt instrument.

As you can see Bond’s concept have change by the time. After all these year did original Bond finally come back? But how much each new film closes to the original source? What did the original Bond looks like anyway? People forgot him for ages until Daniel Craig came up.

Is it really matter? Does it worth at all that we try to get Bond’s character back to original?

We can only know these answers by the looking at the source material, and the man who start it all.

Ian Fleming.

Million dollar Arm review 3/5

India.

A country with second largest population on earth. A crowd place surround by culture that are difficult to understand by foreigner.

Some said it was rural and dirty, but beneath it lie some beauty.

And people with potential, who needs to have a chance to shine.

But somehow this film choose to make it about a white guy and his sport film cliche.

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Million dollar Arm is a film base on  real life story of J.B. Bernstein(Jonn Hamm), a sport agent who went to India to find out new talent for baseball league. He put a competition called 'Million Dollar Arm' to find a best thrower and offer the winner a chance to play on major baseball league. There, they found Rinku Singh(Suraj Sharma-Life of Pi) and Dinesh Patel(Madhur Mittal- Slumdog Millionaire), and bring them back to US for training and try to impress the major league.

It might sound like a sport film cliche, but it's ok. I think the film was fine actually. Jonn Hamm is doing ok job on the lead and he twist all his charm that he could. Suraj Sharmais also doing a good job and I found pretty surprising that Madhur Patel can switch from psychotic Salim in Slumdog Millionaire to somewhat adorkable Dinesh in this film. We also have a beautiful shot here and there in Mumbai. The comedic timing are also pretty good.

However, I think the film can be so much more.

Million dollar Arm is one of the film that have potentially good story but fail to deliver because of the wrong perspective. The film should have followed Rinku and Dinesh(the Indians) perspective more than Bernstein(Jonn Hamm's character).

You might think I sound crazy but think about it. Rinku and Dinesh are two Indians boy who never travel abroad, can't speak English, and the 'Million dollar Arm' is the only ticket ticket to their dream. There are a lot of stuff that you can play with them like culture clash, heroic journey and all those stuff. They are the underdog type character that you could root for.

Can't say no to this cool pose.

On the other hand, Bernstein already have a nice house, car, and handsomeness of Jonn Hamm. The only thing that he don't have is a decent girlfriend(who he finally get one at the end).The film mention that he's about to run out of business, but it fail to build any suspends.

Beside, he's Don Draper. 

A nice film, but it could be much more better.

Divergent 2/5

Divergent is a a film about somewhat distopian future where everyone will be divide into group base on their personality at sixteen. There are: Abnegation(selfless), whose work as chicken soup volunteer; Amity(unity), whose work as a farmer; Erudite(intelligent), which consist of scientist and suit guy from politic school;  Candor(unity), which consist of guy from Howard.

And the last one is Dauntless(brave), which suppose to be some sort of soldier but act like roid rage jock running around the street.

The future of law enforcement, marathon jogger.

Those who do not pass the initiation test of their chosen faction will be put into 'Factionless' which is equivalent to homeless.

The story followed Tris, a valley girl born in Abnegation faction. On the day of her aptitude test(which consist of weird dream sequence like Ender's Games ), she was found to be 'Divergent', a person who's not really into all five stereotype. The tester warns Tris not to tell anyone of the test and just choose one for herself.

So Tris choose to be in Dauntless, the path of surrounding with hot guy in tight black leather. After that, the story followed another training from hell, meet some hot guy who will help her through her quest, and uncover conspiracy that will shock the stability of five faction.

As you might notice, the film clearly have some element from Harry Potter(a young boy/girl choose to be in faction),Ender's Game(training from hell and nightmare session), and Hunger Game(Distopian lead lady surround by hot guys). But due to several design element that seriously cater to teenage girl, I found it rather hard to take the film seriously. I guess it's suppose to be social commentary, but for me it sound more like an American college stereotype drama in bigger scale.

See. They want to be serious.

The acting is nothing to be mention about. Shailene Woodley (Tris) was pretty stone for the early film but she did a bit better on emotional scene. Theo James(Four - Tris' mentor/boyfriend) is also stoneface for the whole movie but it works good enough for a stone cold mentor role. But it was Kate Winslet who save the day with role of Jeanine Matthews, Erudite leader and big bad of the role.

Also, I would like to mention one more thing about the film. The fight choreography in this film is better than other recent young adult novel film(The Hunger game, Ender's game, Twilight). Still it have pretty weird stance which I pretty doubt for it effectiveness in real life.

Please consult your boxing class before try this in a bar.
Safety not guarantee.

Not entirely horrible film, but passable.

Common Things in Wuxia genre.

In the last article I went a little bit about meaning of Wuxia genre. For this one, I will go over common term  that are usually in the genre.

To put it bluntly, this is what separate 'Couching Tiger' and the likes of 'Ip man'. So if you watch a movie that mention anything of these term, feel free to throw 'realistic' out of your head.

Still, please note that some of these term are actually exist in real world but it is very exaggerated.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

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1) Inner energy(Qi).

A source of hero/heroine power. It's an energy that flow our around your body. It can increase user psychical ability such as toughness and agility.  In most novel/movie, wuxia hero usually gain more inner energy by practice kung fu, meditate, and/or channel breath around body.

Not real life example.

Those who have inner energy will gain enhance strength, agility, and sense at very least. May have other additional effect depend on writer.

2) Floating skill/Lightness kungfu(Qinggong)

A skill to make wuxia go faster beyond normal human, usually use as a gauge on how 'fast' each character are. In real life, it is probably similar to parkour or free running. But in wuxia genre, especially after the wire technique have been introduce their feat are usually exaggerated.

Courtesy of wire work.

Still, aside from popular believe, please note that the lightness kung fu is not the same as flying. The main concept is that the user is skillful (and light) enough to jump really high and glide along the wind or walk on the water. It's more like floating and gliding, not actually flying like Superman does.

Dead, absolutely dead.

3) Acupuncture/Meridian strike.

In Chinese medicine theory, our body have an inner energy(qi) flow around the body. Ancient Chinese doctor believe that disease happen when one of body point(meridian) that the inner energy pass around has been disrupted. Therefore, Chinese doctor create an art of acupuncture, a knowledge to fix sickness by manipulate those maridian, either by penetration skin with silver needle or electric shock.

Real life acupuncture chart

Acupuncture strike is a play on those concept. In the novel/movie, the hero/villain will usually stunned their target by jamming finger on those point(usually shoulder/chest in movie).

Just like that.

Sometime, in a rare case, they can even kill their opponent by those attack.

4) Qi blast.

A blast that generate by inner power from any strike. Usually exaggerated in TV series that make them shoot it like laser beam.

5) Fire deviation.

The self inflict injury that happen when inner energy cause disastrous effect to user. Usually happen when the hero/villian make a mess of their inner power either by practice by using wrong method, or overrush their training. It usually cause internal bleeding, insanity, or death at very worst.

6) Jianghu.

Literally means "Rivers and lakes". Jianghu is a common term for community of martial artist. It usually compose of sects, clans and various kungfu school. It also include many wandering martial artist(youxia) who came from variety of occupation such as aristocrat, nobles, thieves, beggars, monks, healers, merchants, etc.

Those who are in Jianghu may or may not working against society. They might be vigilante(which most hero of the story does), criminal(which most of villain also seems to be). But they rarely make impact on society as a whole except if the author 'clearly' want to (Eg: Zhang Yimou's Hero).

Also, I want to differentiated that the word Jianghu does not reflect 'real-life' martial artist community in anyway possible. In real-life it's means to any circle of interested. If you practice any martial art( karate, wushu, boxing, krav maga, muey thai, etc.) and try to repeat the exploit of your wuxia hero like playing vigilante or beat some other martial artist on the street, You will go to jail. No exception.


And that's all I can think of for now. Hope this might explain the Wuxia weirdness a bit.

Introduction to Wuxia - Chinese Martial Fantasy genre

There was one time that I went to lunch with a group. We talk a little bit about Chinese film and it's not quite pleasant. I didn't remember much about the detail except the tiny bit when one of the guys comment on 'Hero'.

"It's not realistic." He laughed with an annoying grin. "The part where they jump around the water and fly into the air by stab into water is so ridiculous."

And he proceed to laugh like it was the funniest things in the world. I did not remember what my response is but it probably knock his sense enough for him to said:

"Maybe it's a culture thing."

At first, this word did not have much effect on me. But as I go on through my life, I saw several keep using that word when they keep running into their ideology vs. something else. Sometime really for mitigate situation, but for just shut down situation completely. I have use it several time myself. Along the way, I began to notice my surrounding and came to two realizations:

First is that I did not see any Chinese film in the theater for a very long time.

Second is that in western country, most people seems to categorized every Chinese film no matter how exaggerated is it with fighting as a 'Kung Fu' film.

And that was pretty wrong. A film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Hero' are in somewhat different category than 'Chinese Action' film like Bruce Lee film, 'Fearless', or 'Ip Man'(which I will call 'Kungfu' film for sake of convenience).

Film like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Hero' is in a special category Chinese people called 'Wuxia'.

Now, Wuxia is probably equivalent to Fantasy and Superhero in western country. And this make me sigh every time when I heard someone said that 'Crouching Tiger,  Hidden Dragon is not realistic! Chinese people can't fly!'

Of course, it not realistic!! What are those people expect? They watch the fantasy film and expect the film to be realistic!?

Ok, maybe they can say they don't know I guess. But then again, I rarely heard any of any Asian complaining that Harry Potter or The Lord of the Ring are 'not realistic' either.

Real documentary of British school. 

So that might come across as hypocrite, don't you think?

So after I switch back and forth between 'Battlestar Galactica', 'House of Cards', and 'Laughing in the Wind', I decide to write some sort of introduction to the Wuxia genre myself.

After all,  I got a feeling that I might write review or thought about it at some point.

But before I begin I like to make myself clear, I'm not an expert on Wuxia and I can't read Chinese. I only write from stuff I know that manifest from many of year of my exposure to the genre. So, it might be possible that I might got some meaning wrong. If I do, feel free to correct me. I would be greatly appreciated.

Also, this will be a lot more informal. If you want formal version, read wikipedia.

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What is Wuxia?

Wuxia (wu-hsia), according to good ol' wikipedia, is literally translate as 'Martial Hero'.

Wu(武) means military, martial, or armed.

Xia(侠) means honourable, chivalrous, or hero.

So combine together it probably sound something like 'Martial art hero'. It's a story about a dude/lady who learn some martial art, go around China, and do some good. How hard is that? Change the word 'dude/ lady who learn martial art' with 'knight' and 'China' with 'Europe' and you will got the same promise with western fantasy.

Not hard, isn't it?

See, I can understand it now, Gu Gu.

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When is it originate?

From what I understand, the concept of Xia(侠- chivalrous) probably went back all the way in from all of heroic story back during Autumn and Spring period[1]. But the idea of a wuxia probably generate in the Ming dynasty[2], by a book called 'Water Margin(Shui Hu Juan)'.

This one.

Water Margin (also called 'Outlaws of the Marsh') tells a story of 108 bandits who gathers around at Mount Liangshan. It told story for each of them, about their adventure, exploit, and how they were force to become bandit. It was one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese. Quite interesting badass book, if I said so myself. But I won't cover it here, I might do it in later time.

Not this version though.

Because what I want to talk about is the Wuxia in 20th story, the one that you watch in big screen.


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The Big Three (aka Guys that you should know).

At 1960-1980, it was a golden time for Wuxia novel. Despite the ban from mainland, wuxia novel become very popular among Chinese reader on other Chinese speaking country. Among them, there are three of them that rose among others.

1) Liang Yusheng(aka, Chen Wentong). He was name as a pioneer of modern wuxia genre, a baseline for all incoming writer like Jin Yong and Gu Long. Sadly, he was also the guy I know the least.

Famous work/adaptation: The Bride with White Hair(1993), Seven Swords(2005).

Liang Yusheng.

His most famous adaptation.

And it's glorious 3D remake.

2) Jin Yong(aka Louis Cha Leung-yung). Arguably the most successful Wuxia writer of all time. Several of his novel were adapt into TV series for countless time and most of his character is pretty well known in Asian country. His works usually include historical detail and their character. Genghis Khan himself was even show up as one of the important character on 'Legend of Condor hero(射雕英雄传)'.

Also, in my opinion, he's the most politic mind of all three.

Famous work: Condor Heroes Trilogy, Demi God and Semi Devil, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, The Deer and the Cauldron.

Jin Yong.

And some of his adaptation.

3) Gu Long(aka Xiong Yaohua). Arguably the most unique and most tragic of all three. Unlike Liang Yucheng, and Jin Yong who in cooperate Chinese knowledge(poem, history) within their work, Gu Long got most of his inspiration from western literature like Ernest Hemingway along with their heroes like Sherlock Holmes, Arsine Lupin, and even James Bond. Most of his work is mostly involve with internal conflict within character and more philosophic in nature.

Also, as mention by his pen name(Gu - ancient, Long - dragon), he was arguably the most conservative(which can come sexist sometime) of all three. But then again it's a product of his own time and I  don't think he's worst than Ian Fleming in that regard.

Hell, I think he's not even that bad when compare with some modern American comic writer. He's just more direct to the point.

Famous work: Xiaoli Feidao(Little Li's flying dagger) series, Chu Liuxiang series, Lu Xiaofeng series, The Legendary Twins(Jeudai SheangJiao), etc.

Gu Long.

Chu LiuXiang, the fragrance thief, one of his famous character

Special mention:

Huang Yi(aka Huang Zuqiang): He's one of the more recent writer. I'm not sure if he's as popular as the big three above but I guess he's getting there. His most well known work are 'Step Into the Past' and 'Twin of Brother'.

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I don't know Chinese. Where should I start?

Sadly, despite having a Chinatown in almost every place in US. The source for English wuxia genre are pretty limit(at least in smaller city). The easiest would be getting one of Chinese movie dvd. I think it's a good idea, but I think it's a bit too short to learn about all those wonderful world of ancient China. If you want something more than 2 hour films you can check the novel and tv series. It might be hard to find but you might be able to get one by using these tips.

1) Know which one you want to check. First you needs to know which one you want to check. You can check by one of the name above or check on these two websites.

www.wuxiaedge.com: Good site. Looks neat. It mostly feature mostly the 'new' series and frequently update. They also have a 'recommendation' section which might be a good place to start.

www.spcnet.com: Seems to have some information and review. Not update for decade but the forum was pretty active. They have a fan translation too which is a plus.

www.wuxiapedia.com Have some info but don't update for a decade.

2) Use steaming service: There are several Chinese series that was fansub all around the 'net. Aside from that you can check on dramafever.com or crunchyroll.com, it contain mostly korean but there are some Chinese series here and there (I recommend 'Laughing in the Wind') as well.

3) Buy TV series dvd. I never try it but I surprisingly found that there are some of them selling in Amazon. But check carefully, some might not have English subtitle.

4) Buy a book. Sadly, this is the worst option. There are very few Chinese translated wuxia novel. I can't find it anywhere on my local Barnes & Noble or Books-a-million. And on Amazon I found only these handful book.

Books and Sword - Jin Yong.
Deer and Couldron - Jin Yong. This one worth a special mention since it's super expensive($35+ for one of three books) and have a bad translation from what I heard.
The Eleventh Son - Gu Long.

There are also some that are write in America(Dream of Dragon Pool, Legend of Snow Wolf,  etc). I might try it someday.
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So that's it for now. I hope someone can get something out of this.

Next time, I will be writing about some common 'skill' and 'rule' in Wuxia.

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Reference:

[1]: Autumn and Spring period(771-476 BC). One of most chaotic time in Chinese history, a three century of fighting between warlords. Many great philosophy like Sun Tzu, Confucious, Lao Tzu, Han Fei came this era.

[2] Ming dynasty(1368-1644). The next-to-last Chinese dynasty and the last one that govern by Chinese. Have some reputation of corruption by Eunuch. Several wuxia writer love to use this period.