Once Upon a Time in China The first of a popular series (six in all) starring the charismatic and athletically adept Jet Li. Li plays legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hong, a late 19th century southern Chinese healer and kung fu master. The story begins with Western powers (American, British, and French) encroaching on the city of Canton. Wong is asked by the Black Flag army to safeguard the town by creating his own militia of kung fu experts. His assistants include the butcher "Porky" (Kent Cheng), a Chinese-American named Bucktooth So (Jacky Cheung), and his westernized "Auntie" Yee (Rosamund Kwan), a non-blood-related childhood friend for whom he holds a special affection. But the Westerners aren't the only problem in Canton. The Sha Ho gang terrorizes local businesses and has begun dealing with the Americans in exporting Chinese for slave labor and prostitution. A down-on-his-luck kung fu master named Iron Vest Yim (Yan Yee Kwan) has decided he needs to defeat Wong to open a school and Leung Fu (Jackie Chan contemporary Yuen Biao), a traveling opera troupe groupie, just keeps getting in the way. This epic martial-arts film showcases Li's amazing fighting and acrobatic skills and established Tsui Hark as a top-notch action film director. The final fight scene between Wong and Yim entails a dizzying orchestration of kicks and punches while teeter-tottering on ladders.
--Shannon Gee
Once Upon a Time in China 2
Actor and martial arts maestro Jet Li and iconoclastic director Tsui Hark revisit historical China and legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hung in the second installment to the wildly popular Once Upon a Time in China film series (or better yet, "serials"). The main players include Li as Wong Fei Hung, Rosamund Kwan as his beloved but Westernized Auntie 13, and their clumsy sidekick Foon (Max Mok). China is in a period of political unrest. Dr. Sun Yat Sen is beginning to gain momentum behind his Nationalist party. A Qing minister (played with intensity by skilled fighter Donnie Yen) firmly carries out his job as police enforcer and a crazed cult called the White Lotus Sect has decided to take matters into their own hands by bullying citizens and destroying everything foreign. Wong and his crew find themselves at odds with the minister and the Sect, who have more in common than they initially let on. It all leads to some high-octane action scenes, including an all-out table-stacking and airborne brawl with the Sect (in which Wong uncharacteristically goes a little berserk himself) and a one-on-one matchup between Li and Yen. Tsui juggles the multilayered plot while Li juggles his opponents in a perfectly serviceable epic that is perhaps not as significant as the first Once Upon a Time in China but is solid kung fu nourishment for fans. --Shannon Gee
Once Upon a Time in China 3
Set in the era when China was just beginning to establish relations with Europe, Once upon a Time in China 3 is a mixture of politics, intrigue, broad comedy, and kung fu action. Charismatic Jet Li stars once again as Wong Fei-hung, a legendary Chinese hero who is a doctor, a pacifist, and an amazingly skilled martial artist. Like many Hong Kong films, this movie has a woefully complicated plot: in summary, a kung fu competition not only sparks a bitter rivalry between different martial arts associations, it also becomes the linchpin in an assassination plot. But this leaves out Wong Fei-hung's increasingly romantic relationship with his aunt (played by Rosamund Kwan), the rehabilitation of one of the villain's henchmen, and the introduction of a steam engine to a Chinese factory, among other subplots! Once upon a Time in China 3 is not the strongest in the series--the subtitling is unusually clumsy, the editing is rough, the plot is confusing, and the melodrama is more crudely played than in the other films--but there's still a clear, raw authority to the storytelling that is a hallmark of director-producer Hark Tsui (Peking Opera Blues, Green Snake). Though it seems to have been made in a rush, Once upon a Time in China 3 will still reward devotees of Hong Kong films, and the frequent and wild fight scenes will appeal to action fans. --Bret Fetzer
Three action-packed Jet Li movies in one! Includes Once Upon a Time in China, Once Upon a Time in China 2, and Once Upon a Time in China 3. Starring martial arts superstar Jet Li (Cradle 2 Grave, Lethal Weapon 4). Directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark (Black Mask 2, Double Team, Knock Off).
1 Bad DVD transfer
Having seen the first two movies on digital cable, I can say that they are great movies, but the DVD transfer quality really suffers on the 3-pack. Scenes alternate from blurry to clear with visible digital artifacts. The only scenes which are crisp and clear seem to be when there is little or no movement. If you don't like the movies, the video quality is bad enough to be distracting, and if you enjoy the movies then you deserve to buy a different version. I hope that the discs offered individually have better video quality. 5 stars for the movies, 2 stars for the video quality of the transfer.
2 Don't buy this compilation......
These 3 movies are indeed landmark movies in Chinese Cinema and definetly for Jet li and Movie Kung fu.
However, I watched 10 minutes of te first movie on this compilation which DOESN'T have english Subs ( I don't mind, but every other DVD I have ever seen has this )
Also, in the first ten minutes, there have been 2 incredibly bad awkward translations. For some reason, Cousin Yi is now Aunt 13 and Chu's bird is now Chu's Beard. This is Crap. Do NOT buy this, buy the movies seperately, you can probably find them each for 9 bucks, and they would be more satisfying that way.
3 IF YOU LIKE YOUR KUNG FU ON THE ROCKS, THIS IS GRAND CANYON
Expect a liberal dose of everything you generally do from a martial arts flick -- slapstick comedy, overly melodramatic subplotting, and, on occasion, even a hint of a story.
All that aside (which is how I am sure the director saw it) the balletic, intricate and often incredible stunt work during the action scenes is an absolute treat. Jet Li's utter disregard for human limits is evident as he turns in a surprisingly measured yet kinetic performance, nothing like his forgettable Hollywood yawns.
The subtitles for this Mandarin-language effort are a bit difficult to read, since the English is in small print below the more prominent Chinese subtitles. But when the action kicks into gear, forget them and just watch the graceful choreography of the fight scenes.
Notably notable in the three installments:
PART-I:
A mind-blowing hook-and-ladder battle, plus a terrific umbrella sequence.
PART-II:
The climactic fight with Donnie Yen. The speed and technique shown during the double-pole fight is staggering; Yen's moves with his cloth staff left me gob-smacked.
PART-III:
This one clearly suffers and is even borderline skippable. The final fight scene at the lion-dance competition is a colorful pageant, but lacks the impact of the one-on-one fights in the first two films, mainly because the participants are all wearing giant lion head masks.
All in all, can't go Wong with this purchase.
4 Definitely a classic! A great collection to have!
This is almost like Indiana Jones, but the Chinese version. Lots of adventures, with funny bits thrown in as well.
The first 2 is the best (my favourite is the 2nd one with Donnie Yen) but I bought all 3 to keep, as it is hard to find them in local stores anymore. The only thing I liked about part 3 is the introduction of ClubFoot - one of the newest student of Wong Fei Hong. His style of fighting, with his 'demon feet' as his strength, is really captivating.
The triology have audio in Mandarin and Cantonese, which is hard to fine. The English subtitles are pretty good - so I can watch with all my non-Chinese buddies. Picture quality is quite good, sound quality is ok (minus 1 star) - on some parts it looks as if the words are coming out before the mouth moves, but this is not a big glitch. Overall, I am very satsified having bought this trilogy collection.
Buy this if you want a Chinese classic kung fu collection to enjoy for many many times.
5 over-rated
the first movie is very good but the second and third put me to sleep. Everyone said these movies were so great. I just can't see why. Unless you need to collect every Jet Li movie I would pass on this set. I think the first movie is worth buying singly though. It is very complex and unique. It will put you in a different dimension while watching it. But the 2nd and 3rd are so boring that I couldn't stay awake no matter how hard I tried. If you don't buy this set you will be missing nothing. However, try to pick up the first movie, it is very decent.
6 Jet at his best
I don't need to review this, this is a classic. You must watch parts 1-3, and then get Once Upon a Time in China and America. For some strange reason, he abruptly left the series after part 3, and made The Last Hero in China, a spoof of his previous work.
7 Typically Terrible
Jet Li is a fine martial arts stylist and an adequate actor but this film is typical of the slap-dash, juvenile style of film making practised by the Asian film industry.
Everyone character in it is based on some firmly held, narrow-minded perception of the world. Noble peasants, corrupt officials, Pure-hearted heros. The evil white guys are especially grotesque: Big Noses! Facial Hair!
Bad table manners!
Sure, Western films have been guilty of awful anti-oriental bias but there's no way a movie about the "Yellow Peril" could be released today without riots breaking out. As long as the bad guys are white, racism is OK.
The praise for this racist, silly, poorly made film is mystifying. It comes from people who are evidently easily mezmerized by frenetic visual activity being passed before their eyes. They can sit still for this far longer than the rest of us who can find more important things to do with our time like fold socks, do our homework or almost ANYTHING other than watching this film!
8 crazy kungfu lover
Where I loved the first film in the trilogy, i thought the second two lacked. Im giving it five stars simply becuase of the great price for all three, and would probably buy it over just the first one alone due to the small difference in price, but i still think the second two movies in the trilogy lack in cinemetography, and coreography(my spelling sucks, sorry).
I prefer more realistic fight scenes and minimal use of wirework, and while the first one does have some of this it is overused the second film and then even more in the third.
still exelent movie though, dont get me wrong, but the only one i care to watch on a regular basis is the first of the three.
9 Nice package!
Got a great deal with this one, used a discount code from amazon... :) got $30 off of it... nice!!! :)
10 Awesome Pre-America Jet Li Flicks
If you thought Jet Li products like "The One," "Black Mask" or "Cradle 2 The Grave" were great films--you don't know what you've been missing. The "Once Upon A Time In China" plays like like an underground version of mainstreamed US releases, including "Crouching, Tiger." It's hardcore kung fu, with little fantasy, a good dose of history, and grimy, all-out, no-holds barred fighting.
The 6-part series (of which Li only appears in the first three, and the sixth) follows Wong Fei Hong, a doctor long renowned in Chinese legend. The setting is in late 19th century China as issues of colonialism, and suspicion toward foreigners runs ramapant. Fei Hong is usually neutral, with stronger leanings toward anti-westernization. Villains often play the part of the complete anti-westerners, doing any and everything to kick the French or British out. In the pro-west corner is Aunt Yee (aunt via a distant relation it seems, which lessens the weirdness of the romantic tension between her and Fei Hong) who dresses "modern," takes pictures with a camera, and believes the future lies in assimilating more of the western form into the culture.
Fei Hong is caught in the middle. He is extremely proud of his country and its people, but knows there is some merit to Yee's belief. For one, as a doctor, he has seen and understands some of the more efficient medical methods of the West, and knows that they surpass some, but not all Chinese methods. He fights both overly zealous Chinese and foreigners who don't mind making murder and brutality part of the process.
The Yuen Wo Ping choreographed scenes could make up a manual for shooting the kung fu fight scene. The cuts are long, extended takes, from numerous angles, with only splashes of slow motion. Wire work takes precedence over CG EFX (there aren't really any), and the fights are fast and furious, with few dramatic pauses where the fighters glare at each other, etc. You will see some of the most clever and awe-inspiring fight scenes ever caught on film.
One fight in the first volume takes place in a multi-story barn where Fei Hong battles Iron Vest Yim atop ladders and hay bales, using the ladders as if they were his feet. In the second, more historical volume, there are amazing sequences against Donnie Yen, it top "Iron Monkey" form, and a fight against the White Lotus sect where winning the battle is only half the fight: both fighters are at the same time trying to stay atop tables, ledges or people, as long as they don't touch the ground.
It's a definite must-have for your collection, and if its the start of your collection, you'll be drawn to his other pre-mainstream films as well. Note that his assistant Fu changes from volume to volume (Yuen Biao sets and is the standard as Fu in Vol. 1) but this is a minor, although slightly irritating side issue. The fights are mind-blowing--"Crouching, Tiger" without the intimations of love, fantasy, magic or slow motion. Just drawn-out street fights in the true fight-to-survive mindset.
11 Good martial arts movies
All 3 movies are very nice, with good stories and actions. My only complaint is that in #3 I pity those cute lion heads that get destroyed since they are very artistic and not easy to make.
12 anonymous
An excellent piece of martial arts mastery. If you have ever liked a Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee movie you'll love this. It manages to blur the fine line between realistic martial arts and absolute ariel kung fu insanity perfectly, besting the standard set by The Matrix. Unlike most action films however these also have plots, characters, scenery and dialoque that live up to the incredible fight scenes. There is even some decent humor mixed in the keep everything varied. The only thing I could complain about is that the english subtitles make it hard to follow the plot at times and are impossible to pay attention to when a massive fight breaks out on screen. But this problem is minor and it does not prevent me from recommeding these movies as masterpeices of the kung fu genre.
13 AWESOME!!!
If you love martial arts films this is the movie set for you. These movies are up there with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and The Legend 1&2 (you should check out these movies as well). This is a great deal. It saves you about $30. These all have very good plots and the fights are well coreographed.These take place in a China long gone, where foreigners are almost taking over China and taking advantage of the Chinese people.
