Why Kung Fu Movies Are Cool

OK, I think there are a lot of reasons, but I was just going to mention one that occurred to me after watching “Shaolin Soccer” recently. What’s cool is how men and women in those movies are seen as different but equal, but in a way that is so understated that it’s not even really stated. Most Hollywood action movies have a heroic man who does all the physical stuff and women that scream a lot and can’t seem to run more than five steps without falling down, at least when chased. However, when that’s not the case, the female character is made into an almost masculine hero instead – that is, in an overstated way. Not so for kung fu movies, and I think that’s great.