Rent Once Upon a Time in China on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Tsui Hark & Yeun Kai-Chi & Leung Yiu-Ming & Elsa Tang (screenplay)
Directed by: Tsui Hark
Starring: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Biao Yuen, Jacky Cheung, Shi-Kwan Yen
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces' plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector.
Verdict
What this movie did for the sub-genre is undeniable, but what this movie does has been topped by movies that follow. There's a lot in this movie, but we don't spend enough time with anything, making this movie feel like a jumble. This really is a simple action movie, but it includes so many sub-plots it's overly complicated. The fights can be fun, but later movies have done it better. For many of the fights, Jet Li isn't fighting anyone near as skilled as he is.
Skip it.
Review
Wong Fei-hung was a real person, a martial artist and doctor regarded as a folk hero. There have been many movies based on him. This movie was very successful, credited with starting the period martial arts movie craze in Japan. I'd guess that's part of my issue, this movie started the sub-genre, but didn't perfect it.
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| Jet Li plays Wong Fei-hung |
Master Wong (Jet Li) deals with the local gang, American officials, and his students. It feels like the Maybe the movie is full of sub-plots just so Wong has an excuse to fight. For this bascially benig an action movie, it's a bit complicated. The biggest problem with this movie is that it hasn't aged well. It is thirty years old. I think part of it, is that you needed to be there. This movie was groundbreaking at the time, just not now.
Jet Li's abilities are clearly above everyone else. The fights are lacking. I really wanted to see a longer fight that's fully choreographed. What we get are quick cuts of someone pulling back to punch and then a cut to the impact. There's a lot of splicing of the fights that rob them of impact. Every kick or punch as the same sound effect. Reactions are exaggerated. That applies to the fighting and acting.
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| Jet Li plays Jet Li plays Wong Fei-hung |
The production design is impressive, but this relies on repetitive sound effects and quick cuts. Some of the swords used are clearly props.
The fights with Wong and Yim (Shi-Kwan Yen) are clearly a step above all other fight scenes. That's likely a result of these two actors being skilled martial artists. The last fight between the two is certainly a highlight.
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