There are now so many kinds of gongfu movie, with such variations in quality, that it’s difficult to generalise. Nonetheless, here are a few observations on the genre, and what these films contain that is of interest to gongfu practitioners.
Pro, gongfu movies can tell us about legendary martial artists and heroes, important historical settings, and let us see places that we may not be able to visit. Con, the stories are often utter fantasties, even in the case of films based on supposedly real people (Jet Li’s Fearless led to a lawsuit, for example, because of its portrayal of the main character, Huo). Because of this they tend to perpetuate silly misunderstandings (for example, that there were literally wooden robots at Shaolin, as opposed to monks in armour).
Pro, by showing gongfu-based combat, films promote interest in martial arts. The characters usually display the virtues we would (hopefully) associate with martial artists, such as bravery, humility, and compassion. Con, very few gongfu actors have traditional martial-arts training. They can’t be said to represent particular gongfu styles. Also, the stop-start (staccato) nature of the choreographed fights is unrealistic; it’s intended to slow things down so we can see the action. Additionally, the techniques that look good onscreen, such as high kicks, are not always ones that are effective. Therefore, what appears in films, and is associated with gongfu in popular imagination, has little resemblance to the real thing.
Pro, the movies are entertaining. Con, some real-life instructors tailor their classes to match the expectations people have derived from movies, including the Cruel Master persona, and silly training practices (think Drunken Master).
Overall, I’m neither in favour nor against. Like any cinema, some gongfu films are worth watching and others aren’t, but this is based entirely on their merits as entertainment. Don’t think you will learn anything worthwhile.
The Wandering Fist 