Shaolin Soccer And 5 Other Completely Bonkers Martial Art Movies

3. Arahan

Arahan This 2004 South Korean film gives us a world where literally everyone can "do" Kung Fu. A product of the Ryu brothers; director Seung-wang and actor Seong-beom, Arahan tells us that everyone has the essence of the martial art. Called Qi, or chi, in the film, it is the basis of Kung Fu and something that everyone uses daily. Bumbling probationary policeman Sang-hawn (Ryu Seong-beom) gets run over by a car while chasing a purse snatcher. He is saved by Eui Jin (Yoon So-ji) who also catches the thief by using a palm blast. She takes the injured Sang-hawn to her fathers martial arts temple where the Six Masters heal him and reveal that he has enough Qi to become a master. Sang-hawn wants to learn the palm blast above anything else and he agrees to train to become a 'Master." While this film doesn't mix martial arts with another sport, what it does is mix it with everyday life and adds a certain mysticism to the art. With a secondary plot dealing with world domination by a Master who's gone bad, this action comedy is entertaining on a different level. Not nearly as popular as the Shaolin Soccer or Kung Fu Hustle, Arahan was a commercial success despite critic's lukewarm reception.
Contributor
Contributor

Actor, writer, sporadic YouTube vlogger, obsessional Blogger, 54 year old "big kid." I like writing about films, books and things in general and the odd interview. Survivor of a near-death experience in 2013...I didn't see a light. Writer for Rogue Cinema.com; Contributor to What Culture.com; Host for Tomorrow Comes Media (TCM) run by Seventh Star Publishing; Owner/operator of MikesFilmTalk.com "a WordPress site"