However, based on some sources, some of the most popular wuxia movies are:
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Directed by Ang Lee and based on the novel by Wang Dulu, this movie features a couple unable to fulfill their love due to the wide gap in their social status. The theft of a famed sword provides them the opportunity to finally be in love. It is widely regarded as one of the best and most successful wuxia movies ever made, winning four Academy Awards and becoming an international sensation.
- Hero (2002). Directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Jet Li, this movie tells the story of a nameless assassin who claims to have killed three legendary warriors who plotted to assassinate the King of Qin. The king, however, doubts his story and questions him about his motives and methods. It is a visually stunning and philosophically rich movie that explores the themes of heroism, patriotism, and truth. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was a box office hit.
- The Grandmaster (2013). Directed by Wong Kar-wai and starring Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi, this movie depicts the life and times of Ip Man, a legendary martial arts master who trained Bruce Lee. It spans several decades of Chinese history, from the fall of the Qing dynasty to the Japanese invasion to the rise of communism. It is a stylish and poetic movie that showcases the beauty and diversity of Chinese martial arts styles. It was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.
- Shadow (2018). Directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Deng Chao, this movie follows a young man who serves as a body double for a wounded general who plots to reclaim his city from a rival kingdom. He trains in a secret martial arts technique that uses umbrellas as weapons and falls in love with the general’s wife. It is a visually stunning and thrilling movie that uses a monochromatic color scheme to create a contrast between light and dark, reality and illusion, and loyalty and betrayal. It won four awards at the Golden Horse Film Festival, including Best Director.
- A Touch of Zen (1971). Directed by King Hu and starring Hsu Feng, this movie follows an artist who helps a beautiful woman avenge her family. Featuring elegant sword fights and kung-fu sequences, A Touch of Zen was an instant hit with fans of the wuxia genre. The movie also touches on many themes such as spirituality, feminism, and conservatism. Due to the movie’s stunning visual shots, enthralling story, and energetic scenes, it is the first Chinese-language movie to win the Cannes Film Festival’s Technical Grand Prize.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed learning about wuxia novels and movies. They are a fascinating genre of Chinese fiction that showcases the adventures of martial heroes in ancient China.
