Kung Fu Theater
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During the 1970s and continuing into the mid 1980s, many martial arts movies appeared on North American syndicated television nationwide. A highly remembered Saturday afternoon ritual among children of the 70s and 80s, the popularity of these films convinced independent television stations to reserve a dedicated airslot for them much in the same tradition of Creature Double Feature. Many stations would promote this time slot with the interchangeable names Kung Fu Theater or Black Belt Theater. It is not known who coined these names or who began using them first, but they are universally associated with the low budget kung fu and ninja films produced by studios such as the Shaw Brothers. Other notable prolific producers include Godfrey Ho and Joseph Lai.
The term "chopsocky" emerged in reference to the many recurring cheesy or campy elements most often associated with these films. The often poor English dubbing and clumsy diction have become the subject of many a parody and many a fond nostalgic memory. The grunts and "hmmppphs" and "hm hm hmmm..." as well as the unusual pauses and voice patterns are almost trademark to kung fu movies. Commonly quoted examples of kung fu movie dialogue are variations of:
- "Hmpph...Hey you...I heard...your kung-fu...is pretty good."
- "You call that kung fu?"
- "Teacher!"
- "I'll teach you!"
- "You killed my master!"
- "You bastard!"
- "But still..." (Uttered dozens of times per film in most dubbed Shaw Brothers movies. Example: "His kung fu is pretty good, but still, he has a weakness.")
- "I thought you were dead!" (This is perhaps one of the most famous "Bad Movie" lines and has often appeared in other genres. It might actually predate the kung fu movie craze.)
The word ninja was frequently pronounced as "ninjer" due to the diction patterns of voice over actors, many of whom were from the UK or Australia. The term "ninjer" has since come to refer derogatorily to individuals who style themselves martial artists or ninjutsu enthusiatsts but mostly draw from movie and fictional images of ninja as the basis of their knowledge.
Other elements commonly associated with the chop-socky image are:
- Artificial-sounding "whacks," "whooshes," "clangs," and "swishes" that are often added into fight scenes to make them more dramatic. The sound effect will frequently continue for a few seconds after the actor has ceased movement.
- The echoing "whack" and the slow motion that often accompany a final blow.
- Obvious-looking wigs and fake beards.
For all their shortcomings in filmmaking, kung fu movies are generally fondly remembered as a source of fun escapist entertainment.
