Once Upon A Time In China (Wide Screen)

Advantages: Brilliant action scenes/over the top comedy/romance!
Disadvantages: Jet Li's overuse of wire works!

...kong martial arts movie genre. Once upon a time in China shows why Jet Li can be compared to the likes of Jackie Chan. In this movie Jet Li (or should i say Wong Fei Hung) portrays a martial arts master who is the best at fighting, funny and for the first time in a chinese martial arts movie a love story blooms from begining to end! Plot summary: Plot: China is in turmoil, with Western influence having an upsetting effect on China's long cultural ...
...on smudging China with their gweilo presence. Said bastard foreigners are in cahoots with a local band of Chinese who frame Wong's local militia for a series of terrorist acts. Meanwhile, Leung Fu (Yuen Biao), a member of said evil band of Chinese, gets attracted to Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan). Fu hooks up with Master Yim (Yen Shi-Kwan), who wants to supplant Wong's status as the number one kung-fu guy. To accomplish his goal, Master Yim hooks up with ... Read review

Advantages: Great atomsphere to the film
Disadvantages: If you don't like wires, you won't like this film

Plot: the film is based on chinese hero wong fei hung, no doubt if you are fimilar with hong kong cinema you will already be fimilar with wong fei hung. Countless films have been based on his life. Jackie chans drukern master is another popular film based him as well. The setting of the plot is very good, a clash between old traditions and the need for trade. The plot allows for some deep emotions shown by actors. A true fight against greed and ...
...the atomsphere of the fight scenes, the most memorable fight scene is where jet lee is fighting in the pouring rain and starts kicking around a log.... it goes really slow and you see the movements of the log and jet lee as the rain pours down. Artistic very artistic. I think that one scene makes this film better than hidden dragon, it must have taken ages to make that scene work properly. Performances: Jet lees best performance by quite some distance, ... Read review

Advantages: Cantonese audio, no unmatching lip action. great martial arts shadow kick
Disadvantages: none

Once upon a time in china is about one of china's fame heros of the ching dynasty era, Wong Fei Hong, the son of the fame doctor wong Kei Yin owner of the famed Po Chi Lam. the storyline to this story is about corrupt imperial official becoming a traitor to the country for foreigners trying to kill of other ambassidors in china to try to start a war, Wong fei hong who becomes aware of this from certain contacts takes action to stop the official. ...
...with Donnie yen with some superb pole action, and some hand to hand leg to leg combat, with his famed shadow kick, and shaolin fist style fighting, a interesting story line and some good acting from jet li as a disicipline master and first class doctor. Dvd features, original cantonese audio along with english dub, with a series of european subtitle plus english, dvd trailer of the movie and other movie trailers featuring jet li films. along with ... Read review

Advantages: Great fight scenes
Disadvantages: Not in English

...Once Upon A Time In China tells the story of young renegade 'Wong Fei Hungs' (Jet Li) attempts to stop Western invaders corrupting China. The character of Wong Fei Hung is ancient Chinese myths of a Martial arts master who had the heart of a true warrior. A gentle and likeable character. The film uses wire to propel the fighters metres into the air to capture the spectacular fight scenes. The film is directed by Tsui Hark, a heavyweight of Hong Kong directors, compared to his latest historical movie (Legend of Zu 2001) it shows that his films are moving with the times, that being more character driven and with more special effects. However this film from 1990 just captivates the viewer with its seemingly perfect flow, a must for action fans.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great Action, Romance and Jet Li and Yuen Bao in the same movie.
Disadvantages: NONE!

...'Once Upon A Time In China' is an epic action adventure set in late 19th century China around the time of British/American occupation and it tells the story of the legendary 'Wong Fei Hung' a martial arts master (Brilliantly played by Jet Li) - The story involves some of the most mind blowing action sequences ever conceived on screen (Forget The Matrix.). 'Wong Fei Hung' is a famous character who has been played before by other well known actors such as 'Jackie Chan' - This version boasts a fine cast which includes 'Rosamund Kwon' and 'Yuen Bao'. There is lots of comedy (Watch out for Yuen Bao getting plastered and trying to impress who he thinks is Wong Fei Hung.) and there is romance (Aunt Yee falling for Hung's charms). The film is brilliantly directed by Tsui Hark and when I say epic and large scale - I'm talking huge ie. check... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: going to be a good film with all these famous stunt people
Disadvantages: none at all really

...This film made by Tsui Hark who wanted to resurrect the legend of Wong Fei Hung one of China's most famous hero. In this film the foreigners are now coming into China and taking land to which they call it theirs and is even off limits to the native people. There is this hero called Won Fei Hung(Jet Li)who does not want to see his homeland get corrupted by the influence of these foreign people. So he takes on one of the most challenging task ever. To free China of this corruption. This film shows the betrayal of chinese people in power helping the foreigners saying everything they do is right when they know that the chinese people are being abused. Then the local gang team up with the foreigners and hires a very powerful martial artist to fight Wong Fei Hung. The local gang then kidnap hundreds of woman to be taken to other countries... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful