Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong

In this action-packed original co-production from the Independent Film Channel, filmmaker Ian Taylor takes a behind-the-scenes look at the stars, fighting styles and weaponry of Hong Kong cinema from its earliest beginnings to the latest big-budget epics.

Originating with the monastic practices of Chinese Shaolin Monks, the art of "Kung Fu" has dominated Hong Kong cinema since the silent era. Through rarely seen film clips, Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong chronicles the genre's explosive growth from the early adventures of Wong Fei Hung, the first martial arts hero, to the groundbreaking choreographed work of Chang Cheh (The One Armed Swordsman), and the intense hyper-realistic fight sequences of Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon). Through stop motion analysis and commentary by filmmaking masters like Lar Kar-Leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), the film analyzes the innovative techniques and aesthetics that have elevated the King-Fu flick to pop-culture eminence.

Featuring in depth interviews with martial arts masters such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li and John Woo, Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong provides an in-depth portrait of Hong Kong's wholly original and undeniably unique contribution to world cinema.