Cinemas made about martial arts are shrouded in mystery and mythology. The finest actors from all over the globe get involved with martial arts movies to express themselves in unimaginable ways. Animals, mythical beings, and forbidden techniques are the key concepts that are discussed in martial arts cinema. These concepts are passed down from generation to generation in order to safeguard rich traditions of fighting styles.

Action heroes in international films must go through treacherous training exercises to master martial arts. Beautiful maidens and princesses require the protection of martial artists to survive without losing their dignity. Mythology in martial arts films can help the audiences discover the true essence of fighting and the values that fighters hold dear to them.

Have a look at these martial arts cinemas to understand the role of mythology in different cultures.

Enter the Dragon

Enter the Dragon is a masterpiece of martial arts cinema. Bruce Lee is the star of the movie. He was 32 years of age at the time of its release in 1973. Many people in Hollywood and the film industry consider Enter the Dragon to be the greatest martial arts film of all time. Enter the Dragon premiered in Los Angeles shortly after the death of Bruce Lee.

His movie was inspired by the dragon, a mythological creature that is known for its strength. In Asian mythology, Dragons have the ability to transform energy in its purest form. Bruce Lee delivers a stunning performance in the movie as a martial arts trainer living in Hong Kong. He is tasked with the mission of obtaining evidence to prove that one of his earlier students is involved in crimes like prostitution and drug trafficking.

Kung fu, karate, and mixed martial arts are portrayed in various fight scenes in Enter the Dragon. It was filmed with a budget of $850,000 and made over $400 million at the box office. The film was featured in media publications like Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Esquire magazine.

Video games like Double Dragon, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat, were inspired by Enter the Dragon. It became the foundation of beat ‘em up games in the 1980s. The musical score for the martial arts film was composed by Lalo Schifrin. He sampled sounds from Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures to create a mesmerizing soundtrack for Enter the Dragon.

The Matrix

The Matrix is a sci-fi film that was responsible for bringing martial arts into the mainstream. Written and directed by the Wachowskis, The Matrix is a movie about hackers breaking free from the constraints of their thoughts and actions.

In the movie, people living in society are being controlled by highly intelligent robots. Keanu Reeves plays a hacker called Neo in The Matrix. He must find a way out of The Matrix by looking for advanced hackers who have been freed in the past.

The iconic club scene at the start of The Matrix movie lures Neo into talking to a woman named Trinity. She advises Neo to follow the white rabbit to get the answers he seeks. According to mythological beliefs, the rabbit is a symbol of fertility. In Chinese traditions, the white rabbit is a sacred expression of longevity. Games like Fortune Rabbit make use of the furry animal in their design to attract players to win rewards. Rabbits are associated with the cycle of birth and death that leads to new beginnings.

After spotting the white rabbit, Neo decides to continue on his journey towards freedom. He meets characters like Morpheus who guide Neo to free his mind and take the leap. The Matrix has generated a cult following for its visuals, martial arts combat sequences, and dialogues, that stick with moviegoers for years into their future. It has spawned a number of sequels including The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions.   

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda is an animated film with several mythological beings and symbolism. The story of the martial arts movie takes the audience on an adventure to train Po in the traditional fighting style of kung fu. Po, the giant panda, voiced by Jack Black, lives in the Valley of Peace with his father. His village catches wind of the news that a snow leopard, Tai Lung, is about to escape from his prison to attack Po’s village.

Po must befriend mythical fighters in the Furious Five such as, the Tigress, Viper, Mantis, Crane, and the Monkey, in order to defeat Tai Lung. Shifu, the red panda, helps Po complete his training in martial arts. It is revealed that Tai Lung is also a former student of Shifu and is returning to the Valley of Peace to take his revenge.

Subtle concepts like the flow of energy and the need to fight are explained beautifully in Kung Fu Panda. The artwork of the movie depicts the inner conflict that haunts Po and convinces the audience that Po can become the Dragon Warrior of legend. There are several scenes in the movie that take place in the spirit realm to elaborate on eternal truths.

Released in 2008, Kung Fu Panda earned $631 million from box office sales. People who enjoyed watching Kung Fu Panda for its mythological retellings can view its 3 sequels to delve deeper into Chinese traditions and martial arts.