Once Upon a Time in China
1991 [CN]
Action / Adventure / Biography / Drama / History

Plot summary
Set in late 19th century Canton, this martial arts film depicts the stance taken by the legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung against foreign forces' plundering of China.
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
A Chinese classic
Pretty good, but not great.
Although the fu is powerful in this Jet Li vehicle, the plotline is slow as molasses and easier to read than your average elevated-train map. "Oh, I cannot break the law, I must remain in my cell and be judged. Wait, you say my cousin is in danger? Wong Fei-hung to the rescue!" Predictable and unimpressive. Additionally, the acting was shallow even for a kung fu movie. I've seen porn films that emoted more effectively than the actors found here.
Anyone who claims "this is the best kung fu movie ever!" is culturally deprived, and needs to be exposed to better works like Enter the Dragon, Fist of Legend (the 1995 version with Jet Li), and The Legend of Drunken Master. All three are vastly superior to this, even though the kung fu was quite solid. Only 6/10, for having decent fight scenes but not straying an iota from the age-old wuxia cliches.