CHAMBARA IN AMERICA

Action films hold a global popularity. No matter what country or language, action is an easily translated medium. It is a proven fact that moviegoers love fights, explosions, car chases, high falls and other stunt related feats; the more intense the action, the better the movie is deemed. To meet the needs of this audience, film makers have put every effort into intensifying the action in their films. In doing so, both Stunt and Special effects budgets have increased dramatically to produce more elaborate scenes that will stimulate the "Adrenaline Rush" that the audience has become accustomed to.

Although the Gun-Slinger films or Westerns were quite popular as action-adventure narratives,
until recently American cinema was severely lacking in the presentation of actual hand-to-hand combat. Camera tricks such as quick cuts, special edits, and stunt doubles, became a staple of early American action films. Directors used these techniques to make fight scenes more believable. Many actors became dependent of such gimmicks to appear as though they were capable fighters. Among others, David Caradine's "Kung Fu" and "Kung Fu: the Legend Continues" come to mind.

As most fans would agree, camera tricks and gimmicks cannot compare with the real physical skills depicted in Chambara and Hong Kong cinemas. The skill level of the performers displayed in these films is often astounding if not utterly unbelievable. Amazing feats of dexterity, unmatched prowess with exotic weapons, and the sheer genius of their unique unarmed fighting maneuvers make these films a pleasure to experience. Such skills allow wider angles to be used so the audience can actually see the fight from beginning to end with fewer edits. In this regard, Bruce Lee is regarded as the father of Americanized chambara-type film

Since the pioneering work of Bruce Lee, there have been quite a few changes in the film and television industries in relation to the Martial Arts. There has been a distinct rise in the number of action-related projects that have made use of extremely talented performers. Perhaps the greatest change occurred in serialized television programs. Various ongoing series have become far more innovative in their use of traditional fighting techniques and action "realism". The Most notable of the American chambara series is Highlander. To emphasize the connection to the chambara tradition, both Connor and Duncan MacLeod wield the infamous dragon-head katanas. Other shows such as Rising Sun, Mortal Kombat - Conquest, Walker Texas Ranger, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Martial Law, The Crow - Stairway to Heaven. Even shows like Xena and Hercules have managed to creatively (and effectively) integrate the Martial Arts into the show's overall scheme.

As evident by the Highlander movies, American film has changed a lot since the Western and War films of the Silver Screen. More and more large-scale projects are making use of extensive martial arts choreography. Films such as the Matrix, Blade I & II, and Lethal Weapon IV have brought "realistic" action directly to the mainstream audience. This is not to say that the Martial Arts have not been prevalent in the film industry before this point. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are a prime example of direct chambara influence on American action film. Who can also forget Joe Armstrong (Michael Dudikoff) of the American Ninja series of the early 80s?

The change in the quality of the American chambara film lies specifically in the way the technique of presenting and filming action sequences. By drawing upon outside influences, American action film has evolved. The most notable of the improvements are scenes involving more complex choreography. With the now-prevalent wire effects and stunts, wider camera angles, and computer aided special effects, it is obvious that this current trend in American chambara is highly influenced by the classic and contemporary Asian action cinema.