The brilliance of western actors in Hong Kong martial arts films

[DevilRedeemed]

I was just watching a rundown of films inspired by Indiana Jones and they went through a few Hong Kong movies, including Magic Crystal and hence Cynthia Rothrock.
I grew up on these films as did most of us and we all know how great they are - and there's something very charming about watching a western actor in a chinese film, made exclusively for eastern consumption, going through the motions. It was brilkiant then and still is now. It's the quirk of it, white hegemony taking a breather.
Part of it is the acting within the scope of Hong Kong cinema, but also western martial artists being choreographed in the tradition of eastern martial arts way.
Anyway Rothrock is a proper legend, as is Tony Randel amongst a few others. They contributed to an epoch and genre which already was rich for what it was.
No nostalgia necesesary, these films still speak loudly to anyone who wants to give them a go today (I think this is true with most bits of art and media but anyway)

 

[HornheaDD]

I remember watching one, Ill have to look up the name but it featured a younger Paul Rudd with blonde hair and the resident "badass" of the film. I wanna say it was one of the Gen Cops movies.

looked it up - yeah - Gen Y Cops.

 

[Ralfakick]

 

[zaneiken]

Richard Norton was excellent in all of his Hong Kong roles too.

 

[terry.330]

Rothrock probably got to do the most actual acting out most of the westerners working in HK at the time. It's unfortunate that she could never really catch much of a break in the the US considering her experience and talent.

Here's a two for one:

 

[Takumaji]

 

[wataru330]

o

 

[zaneiken]

I didn't know this was a thing: