The late 60s and 70s saw a massive surge in the release of martial arts films, spawning a cult following which is still growing. This essential guide explores up to 20 seminal films in detail, with particular focus on recurring themes, directors, and stars. Each chapter covers a different branch of the genre from Hong Kong Legends such as Once Upon a Time in China and Enter the Dragon, to Modern Asian Classics like House of the Flying Daggers to the incursion into Hollywood in films such as The Karate Kid and The Matrix. The development of the genre from 1920s China to the present is traced with analysis and explanations of the different martial arts seen in these films in an entertaining guide to the vast array of martial arts movies and their role in modern cinema.
