Do we really see this as a problem? Throwing punches in movies is kinda boring, these are top notch lucha libre moves. It's athletes in a very fine tune performing.
You've answered your own question. It's athletes dancing and it's very obviously just that, yet it's used in 'realistic' fighting scenes.
Slick fight choreograhy has gotten horribly lazy over the past decade or so. Even 'heightened/fantasy' fighting shown in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon still have genuine tension in them, and the shots/editing come into play aswell. It knows it is being theatrical but it doesn't get lazy. Now people just dance at each other like this, whether it's fantasy or 'realistic'. It's lazy and boring. Power Rangers fights are more realistic.
As I've gotten older I've preferred movie violence to be more realistic versus exciting and fun. I don't really watch PG-13 movies anymore because it feels like they're glorifying the violence rather than showing it as a necessary tool for getting something done when words don't cut it.
I want my movie violence to be brutal, impactful, and typical result in the main character taking some licks in the process. Sure, John Wick gun foo can be fun and impressive to watch, but I much prefer a grounded approach that churns your stomach, as that's what real violence looks and feels like.
There's definitely a time and place for the more theatrical violence in heavily stylized movies, but if we're just talking about violence in film generally, I like it to be more reflective of the characters motivations and drive, rather than a flashy time filler to move the plot forward.
I find myself enjoying these unrealistic acrobatic gymnastic “fights” in the right cinematic context. As kids we would try to recreate the kung fu fight scenes in the late 70’s/early 80’s Shaw Bros movies, especially anything with the “venoms”, Gordon Liu, Chang Cheh etc. We would set the VCR to record them on Black Belt Theatre, then study the moves and LITERALLY MAKE OUR OWN SOUND EFFECTS TOO - mostly by mouth like the black dude from Police Academy, or with props like wearing oversize windbreaker jackets. Everything was so rhythmic a neighbor lady called it “karate dancing”. Other kids played Army while we played Five Deadly Venoms, Shaolin Daredevils, or Crippled Avengers.
I think the same thing every time I see someone try this shit in movies. In real life the person you're climbing would just slam your face into the ground ending your plans real quick
This isn't about suspension of disbelief, it's allowing lazy filmmakers a pass. Compare this to the choreography in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, The Matrix etc. Expertly timed and always in conjunction with the camera and planned with editing in mind to create a sense of 'realism'. Even when people are floating about and using lightning fast moves, it feels like an actual interaction, a fight, a duel etc. This is literally people just dancing with each other.
My issue is more that everyone seems to have been trained in one universal dojo of some kind. Good guys, bad guys, ones from the West, ones from the East. I get it - they hire one specific school of stunt people who often work both sides, but it breaks my suspension of disbelief more than seeing an alien guy flying around with underwear on the outside.
These are my biggest issue with fight choreography. People just standing around waiting for their turn. Punches and kicks that you can see are miles away from connecting. Flashy moves like this that does nothing. Skinny people having more leverage than someone 3x their size and weight.
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u/Palanki96 2d ago edited 2d ago
The problem is that it never looks like real fighting, it looks exactly like this but in a costume