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The Kung Fu genre is very male-orientated. Go into any HMV or MVC store and you will not find Kung Fu films next to the Chick Flicks. So here I am, a woman, very interested in Martial Art cinema with a particular interest (okay, okay obsession)in Hwang Jang Lee. It seems to be mostly men who have sung his praises so I am here to redress the balance. It started with an innocent purchase of Drunkenmaster in 2001. My best friend was a keen Jackie Chan fan and her interest rubbed off on me. But I was not destined to be smitten by the young, cheeky and well-toned star of the film. It took awhile but it was the bad guy of Drunkenmaster who eventually preoccupied my heart and mind. |
Hwang Jang Lee was born in Japan in 1944 (some sources say on December 13th and others say December 21st). This was during Japan's annexation of Korea. His parents were Korean by birth and when he was 14 years old, the family moved back. Korea had experienced much repression of its unique culture during Japanese occupation. The young Jang Lee came to Korea at a time when the country was able to rekindle interest in its own very long history, culture and traditions.
| The young Hwang became interested in the ancient Korean Martial Art of Taekwon-Do. He also took up boxing. Both disciplines were done so against his parents' wishes. But his parents' disdain was our (i.e. Kung Fu film buffs') greatest pleasure. Sometimes a bad guy's gotta do what a bad guy's gotta do. What I do find very ironic is that most of my Korean friends do not know anything about him! After serving as a Taekwon-Do instructor in the Korean Army during the Vietnam War (and, incidentally, killing a few people in self-defense), he became involved in Korean cinema in the mid-1970's. This was when a young Hong Kong producer by the name of Ng See Yuen spotted the talented and extremely able martial art actor. |
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For me, Hwang Jang Lee as a martial artist turned actor is always satisfying. He can make an average film shine with his presence and fighting skills. He can make a great film an immortal classic. Even if he is not in a film for very long you can be assured of a few memorable moments for the time he is on screen. His ability to marry the two disciplines of Taekwon-Do and Kung Fu for the camera has been the delight of Martial Art film makers. His work is an inspiration. I am not a sweet young thing but I recently started taking Taekwon-Do lessons. My interest in him has blossomed into a pervasive interest in all things Korean.
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As an actor, I find most of the bad guys he portrays carry themselves with pride, beauty and grace. They have a sense of honour. His sense of humour is never far away. But being born in the Year of the Monkey, Master Hwang is always full of surprises. He has also portrayed good guys, questionable good guys and bad men who are really quite seedy. To be honest, I do not have a preference! He has also worked behind the camera as a producer, director, action director and writer. He is a multi-talented and multi-faceted individual and I love him for it. In celebration of this fact, I now present my own guide to Hwang Jang Lee films. I have not seen all of them yet and I probably never will, however, the ones I have seen so far are discussed. I hope that Master Hwang will be proud of my efforts. |
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Go to My Review of Hwang Jang Lee Films...or else! |