I would like to write a film script for a martial arts movie that would present a realistic portrayal of the marital arts. Except for "Never Back Down," every marital arts movie I have seen has exaggerated what one can do with martial arts techniques. In addition, most did not show the main character training. This reinforces the illusion that the martial arts are something one learns and then "knows." The reality is that a martial art is a physical skill that must be practiced in order to be effective. Do you think a realistic martial arts movie could be successful at the box office?
I enjoyed "The Karate Kid." Movie critics gave it four star ratings. It won an Academy Award. Several sequels were produced. Nevertheless, it illustrates my complaints about martial arts movies. Without any indication of training, a man in late middle age, Mr. Miyagi, reveals himself as a karate expert. He is not only able to train Daniel to win a karate tournament, he simultaneously defeats several teenage bullies who have several years of karate training themselves. In real life a middle aged man who has trained most of his life in karate might be able to defeat several untrained fighters. He might be able to defeat one trained teenager. Showing him defeat several trained teen aged fighters at the same time is nearly as unrealistic as having Angelo Dundee defeat the boxers he trained Muhammed Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and George Foreman to defeat. Also, the techniques Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel would not work. Two months is not long enough to prepare Daniel to win the tournament. The tournament is full contact with no protective equipment. Actual karate tournaments either use protective equipment, or punches and kicks are pulled short of contact. "The Karate Kid" works because of the emotional chemistry between Daniel and his instructor. It also uses the motif of learning karate in order to defend oneself against high school bullies. Nevertheless it lacks the realism I would like to put in a screen play I would write.
I trained in karate and Tae Kwon Do, reaching no more than yellow belt in each. That was some years ago. My feeling is that watching training is not good box office. The audience for these things is interested in the finished product. Whether it be martial arts, jazz dancing, ballet, football or war, people want to see the finished product in action, not the student in training. There are probably several good films out there right now that have a story line in which the subject progresses from trainee to Olympic star. I can't think of titles and actors right now. Exception: the runner, Prefontaine. Some of the 'Rocky' series, which were good box office, also worked.
