Wuxia Movies

Wuxia is sub-genre of the martial arts film and is defined by specific features. The word translates literally as “martial chivalry” or “martial hero”; and the main elements that make up the wuxia film are the warrior, xia, whose actions (and swordsmanship) are governed by specific codes and the world which they inhabit, known as jianghu (‘rivers and lakes’). Xia warriors often embody what is known as the wen-wu dyad. Wu represents physical strength and martial power, while wen represents mental, civic and literary accomplishment. Similar in form to the yin-yang, the two opposing masculinities work in harmony to create the masculine ideal. Although the martial arts of wuxia film share some ground with the more recognized subgenre of the kung fu film, there are significant differences that separate the two. The wuxia film features fantastic elements and has a basis in mythology, with the films often described as ‘epics’. This is particularly evident when considering the xia warrior, whose abilities and skill range far beyond the human boundaries that limit the kung fu protagonist; the xia warrior is often able to fly or run on water, for example. As Stephen Teo argues “the essential marker of difference distinguishing the kung fu film from the wuxia film was the emphasis on ‘real fighting’." 

Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, and Ziyi Zhang in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Chinese 3D movies unreleased on Blu-ray 3D and 3D home media

Missing from IMDB: 
* China Idol Boys (2009)


Chinese genres: 
* Kung Fu - Martial arts with young hero who must train and overcome challenges to seek revenge and attain enlightenment, realistic or exaggerated fight choreography, martial artist actors, more unarmed combat, modern setting
* Wuxia - Martial arts with lower-class wandering chivalrous hero fighting injustice in a jianghu setting of feuding underworld martial clans, grounded in reality with only mortal human heroes and villains, exaggerated or supernatural fighting abilities from special effects, more armed combat, ancient setting
* Xianxia - Martial arts with supernatural nonhuman heroes and/or villains of mythic Chinese tradition, fighting to control the world, only mortals grounded in reality, often set in multiple realms
* Qihuan - Fantasy elements affect only the main characters, not the entire world
* Xuanhuan - Set entirely in a fantastical world with fantastical beings where any magic can happen


Chinese sub-genres: 
* Gong'an - Government-employed martial artists solving crimes, loyal to an official rather than a jianghu code
* Shenmo xiaoshuo - Main characters are gods, demons, deities, immortals, and monsters of Chinese mythology
* Chuanyue - Main characters transmigrate or time travel to another space or time
* Daomu - Tomb-hunting grave robbers encountering supernatural resistance
* Jiangshi - Chinese hopping vampire zombie, screwball horror action comedy
* Hesuipian - Lunar New Year release, variable genre, relaxed and humorous, focused on family and New Year themes


The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero (2025)

Condor Heroes movies and series adapted from Louis Cha Leung-yung's (Jin Yong's) trilogy of novels: 1. The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1957-59) 2. The Return of the Condor Heroes (1959-61) 3. The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (1961-63)

Missing from IMDB: Films: 
* The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Dragon Tamer (2021) iQIYI
* The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Cadaverous Claw (2021) iQIYI
* The Great Heroes (1960)


TV Series: 
* The Condor Heroes Return (1994)
* The Legend of the Golden Lion (1994)
* The Mystery of the Condor Hero (1993)
* Rage and Passion (1992)
* The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1988)
* The Return of the Condor Heroes (1984)
* The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (1984)
* The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1976)
* The Return of the Condor Heroes (1976)


Video Games: 
* Condor Heroes (2024) PC, iOS/Android (CHN)
* Street Fighter Online: Mouse Generation (2008) PC (JPN)
* Shachou Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes (2000) PS1 (JPN)


Comics 
* The Legend of the Condor Heroes [The Eagle Shooting Heroes] (2005) (HK), Tony Wong Yuk-long
* The Legendary Couple [Return of the Condor Heroes] (Vol. 1-7) (2002-05), Tony Wong Yuk-long
* Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre (Vol. 1-11) (2002-04), Ma Wing-shing
* Return of the Condor Heroes (Vol. 1-18) (1998-2001), Wee Tian Beng
* Legend of the Condor Heroes (1998) (HK), Lee Chi Ching


Best Mainland Chinese Movies Best Mandarin Movies

Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, and Luca Pasqualino in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

List of the TV Shows i'm planning to watch. *********************************************************** Lista de las Series de Television que planeo ver.

Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie in Sleepy Hollow (2013)

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Story is scored by "Numerical Rating 0-100 (Confidence Rating 1-6)" from averaged critic scores.

3D: "Rating"/5 is my subjective rating based on 3D depth strength, Object roundness, and creative use of 3D story-telling.

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