Are the history based epics like True Legend primarily meant to inspire nationalism and pride in Chinese culture?
No, I would say their primary purpose is to entertain the audience, set against the rich cultural heritage of ancient China. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li are iconic figures. Are their individual techniques as good as film conveys? Bruce Lee was in peak condition at the time of his films and his technique was excellent, however performance is not the same as reality. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are both excellent performers of martial systems from Chinese culture such as traditional Chinese Opera and Wushu. These martial systems are concerned with conditioning the human body to deliver energy or ‘Chi’ through dedicated training. In movies, the fighting is not actual fighting, it is a performance, carefully planned and choreographed to maximise the excitement and fuel the audience’s fantasy. In a real fight there is no technique, only the aim to strike your opponent and deliver sufficient power to stop them. Many directors employ fast fight scenes which are often sped up. Is this a disse
