History of Hong Kong Cinema

The History of Hong Kong Cinema "What do swordplay, gunplay, melodrama and ghosts have in common? Hong Kong cinema," according to Film Studies Professor David Cook (Cook, 1999). Fighting with swords and guns, exaggerated drama and a bent for the supernatural--ghosts, vampires and the spirits of dead ancestors--are four basic ingredients in the last 20 years of films from Hong Kong. The history of film is an important one today. Many people in our society today may …

…Western culture seems to indicate that they will only get better. Films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, directed by Ang Lee, have helped get Chinese cinema the recognition it deserves. The actors and directors of China have done a superb job of making quality films however; we must not forget that the people and culture of China are what influence the films. Without that influence, Chinese cinema would quite possibly be just another story.