 |
|
|
| Once Upon a Time in China #1 |
 enlarge
|
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $3.45
You Save: $6.50 (65%)
Buy New/Used from $3.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 72 reviews)
Sales Rank: 14019
Category: DVD
Actors: Jet Li, Biao Yuen, Rosamund Kwan, Jacky Cheung, Steve Tartalia, Kent Cheng, Jonathan Isgar, Yee Kwan Yan, Mark King, Kam-fai Yuen, Cheung-yan Yuen, Kien Shih, Ma Wu, Tsim Po Sham, Shun-yee Yuen, Chi Yeung Wong, Tony Yuen, Shun Lau, Simon Yam
Director: Hark Tsui
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Studio: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Label: Sony Pictures
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 134 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 0767857771
UPC: 043396056725
EAN: 0043396056725
ASIN: B000050B7J
Release Date: January 9, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
|
Similar Items:
| " |
Once Upon a Time in China Part 2 |
| " |
Once Upon a Time in China III |
| " |
New Legend of Shaolin |
| " |
Enter the Dragon |
| " |
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
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. The DVD features star bios, filmographies, trailers, and clips from early Wong Fei Hong films that starred veteran actor Kwan Tak Hing. --Shannon Gee
|
|
Customer Reviews: Read 67 more reviews...
 Among the most popular of the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema! July 4, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In 1972, Jet Li was a young lad, performing in a wushuu (acrobatics) troupe for then-President Richard Milhouse Nixon as some of the political barriers surrounding China began to dissolve. It was a proud moment for the Nixon administration, as they negotiated new avenues of trade between Communist China and the United States. Years later, Jet Li went on to do something really important: star in Hong Kong action flicks.
In Once Upon a Time in China, Jet Li gets the opportunity to show off his blistering martial-arts skills as he plays the legendary Wong Fei-Hong, who fought for China's rights against the Western colonial powers moving into China in the late 19th century. Although Wong was nominally a healer, he organized the local populace into a peace-keeping force that worked in tandem with the then-ruling Manchu invaders. If you're confused now, you might want to keep reading before you watch the film.
As the film starts, Wong runs a healing clinic in the town of Fa Shan (although other sources have called it Canton -- perhaps there are translation issues here). He is charged by the general of the Black Flag army to safeguard the town by training the local men in the art of kung fu. One might think that a healer would turn down the job, but Wong realizes that the Western forces are encroaching on the land of China and its people, and so he accepts the challenge to help in any way he can. With the Black Flag army pulling out of the area, it's also the only sensible thing to do.
Wong is joined by an eclectic cast of supporting characters. Buckteeth Sol (Jacky Cheung) is Chinese, but has lived much of his life in the U.S., and so his English is much better than his Chinese. "Porky" Lang (Kent Cheng) is a disciple of Wong's and also the local pork dealer. Wong's more faithful disciple, Lee, helps out at the clinic, and Wong's "Aunt" Yee (Rosamund Kwan) has just returned from a 2-year stay in "the West" to renew her relationship with Wong. The two aren't really related, but they grew up together. Love blooms.
Enter Fu (Yuen Biao), a young man in the employ of a traveling theater. He desperately wants to study under Master Wong, but a series of "mistaken identity" mishaps prevent this. Fu provides much of the comic relief for this film, as he gets mistaken for the bad guy more than once.
There are LOTS of bad guys in Once Upon a Time In China (hereafter OUATIC). First off, there's the Sha Ho gang, a group of ruffians from the next town who are extorting protection money from the citizens of Fa Shan. Wong spends the first half of the movie trying to find a way to bring them to justice, although his attempts are stymied by the reluctance of the townspeople to act as witnesses.
Then there are the Americans, Jackson, and his henchman, "Tiger." Jackson represents the Sino-Pacific company, which is in the business of bilking Chinamen out of their savings and shipping them to the U.S. to serve as cheap labor. The Sha Ho gang offers to supplement their operation by providing women to serve as prostitutes for the laborers. The British and the French get thrown in as background villains for good measure (and also because, historically, they were there).
Last but not least, there is "Iron Robe" Yim. Master Yim wants to be the top martial artist in Fa Shan. Before he can open his own school, however, he thinks he needs to make a name for himself by defeating the current master. That just happens to be Master Wong.
And just to make sure that all our villains show up in the same place at the same time, the Sha Ho gang throws their capital in behind Master Yim once his ambition to defeat Master Wong is revealed. They offer to help him start his school if he'll lead their gang. They all move in to the American fort and start kidnapping women to send to the States.
Because he thinks himself unworthy to study under Wong, Fu offers his services to Master Yim. Fu originally thinks Yim to be an honorable man, but once Yim joins the Sha Ho gang, Fu has little choice but to follow his master.
We realize that the above synopsis is starting to look like Terms of Endearment. Don't worry: this film has plenty of what Terms of Endearment lacked -- over-the-top martial-arts fighting! Bones are broken, bodies fly through the air with the greatest of ease, wood shatters, and just about anything on the screen can be used as a weapon. All this, and a plot too!
The fights in this movie are really top rate. Of particular note is the final blowout between Wong and Yim, which takes place in the American fort's storage loft. Wong and Yim bounce of the walls, fight atop teetering ladders, throw things at each other, and exchange dirty looks. At one point, Wong kicks Yim in the face six times in one jump. That's just the kind of movie this is. Somewhat more cartoonish than a Jackie Chan film, but a little more realistic than some others, such as the gloriously loopy Wing Chun.
If your previous exposure to kung-fu films has been the local syndicated channel's Kung-Fu Gold Theater equivalent, then you might expect poor acting and poorer cinematography. Not so. The actors in this film, while somewhat difficult to distinguish at first, are all top-notch and a pleasure to watch. The tension between Wong and Yee is obvious, even though few words are actually spoken about the nature of their relationship and where it might go. We should also mention that Jet Li has more talent in his feet than most people have in their entire bodies. Not only is he a competent actor, but his athletic ability is stunning.
The character acting should not go unnoticed, either. Sol's attempts to return to his Chinese roots and his eventual acceptance of his hybrid nature are a poignant sub-plot. Porky's desire (and continual failure) to please his master provide some comic relief, and the initial leader (pre-Master Yim) of the Sha Ho gang is just evil enough to make you cheerful when he meets his demise.
OUATIC's director, Tsui Hark, brings style and symbolism to Wong's life. Watch the shadow play between Yee and Wong as she measures him for a Western suit, or Fu's mysterious initial encounter with Yim in the rain, and you'll see what we mean. The story is beautifully photographed, and there are powerful moments that you shouldn't miss. Hark also knows when to make us laugh, and although most of the jokes are somewhat primitive (stuttering, pratfalls), there are some moments of graceful, subtle humor as well.
One of the things we like best about OUATIC is the historical perspective it offers. Although most people tend to think of "kung fu masters" as noble, indestructible practitioners of an ancient art, this film graphically demonstrates that many of them were neither noble nor indestructible. "We cannot fight against guns with kung fu," gasps Yim at the end of the movie. Wong nods. China is changing, and there is an unsettling realization that the balance of power is changing, too.
OUATIC was popular enough to spawn many imitators and five sequels (yes, five sequels), most of which were directed by Hark and starred Jet Li. The films were apparently good enough to gain Hark some attention state side. Coming to a theater near you is Double Team, starring Jean Claude VanDamme, Dennis Rodman, and Mickey Rourke, directed by none other than Tsui Hark!
Thusly, Tsui Hark joins the ever growing legion of fine Hong Kong directors who have gone on to direct mediocre films starring Jean Claude Van Damme. The debate rages as to whether this is a good thing. Some fans of Hong Kong cinema argue that Van Damme helps HK directors get their start in the U.S., while others maintain that this damns them (pun intended) to direct low-budget action films for their entire career, when they are capable of more.
My opinion? It's too soon to say. Hopefully, the Van Damme films are a way for these talented directors to get their feet in Hollywood's door, and people like Hark will be able to move on to higher-budget and more meaningful projects. I hope that Double Team will be Hark's way of paying his dues in Hollywood, rather than establishing a trend. As Once Upon a Time in China shows, he deserves better than an action buddy-movie with a bad accent and green hair.
 A silly mess July 3, 2006
Alright, I'll confess to a slight infatuation with Jet Li, but even that did not make this movie more than passable. The plot is all over the place. It barely made sense - characters would suddenly arrive, locations would develop and then nothing would come of them. The bad guys were just silly - I like real malice and evil in my badies, I like to hate them and enjoy their come uppance. Well the silly twisted bad boy was just pathetic, and Jet Li, ever serene, was so far above the whole mess, so detached and lovely, just going through a very routine job of being Jet Li. The evil imperialist Yankees plotting to capture unsuspecting Chinese immigrants and enslave them were cartoon cuts outs.
Like every other enthusiast of this genre I enjoy the carefully choreographed fights and they were good, but not good enough to redeem this film. Give me Kung Fu Hustle any time - now there is quality!
Jet Li At His Best June 18, 2006
The movie really is a feast for the eyes, out of all of the movies dealing this historical character, I think these movies are the best. Jet Li really does come through and does an excellent job in this stunning film. The action and story is excellent and very entertaining to watch. All of the costars are as equally incredible. The characters are those you really do care for and the locations in the film really are beautiful, it really does feel like you are watching 19th century China. The westerners aren't shown in a extremely negative light, it could have been worse. The battles scenes really do stand out. Great stuff that just got better with the sequel!!
Pretty Stinking Awesome April 20, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I mean, come on...It has amazing fight scenes, a decent plot, and some of the comedy isn't painfully stupid. It's 2 hours and 15 minutes that just flys by. What else do you want? If you want character development, heart rending drama, and witty comedy, then Hong Kong kung-fu flicks probably aren't your bag anyway. For the rest of us, this movie is the pinnacle of awesomeness. Plus I think Cousin Yi / Auntie 13 is a cutie.
CLASSIC March 27, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
the first two films of the series are some of the greatest martial arts films ever made.Probably jet lis best film , this one however had more hand to hand action than the second , which had just as / or even better action than the first.
Best performances
-jet li[obvious]
-yuen biao the second to jet
-yen shi kwan
-ros kwan
storyline
foreigners close in on china , as china is in desperate times
end of ching dynasty and civil war. This film is political and strong in that sense. Chinese hero wong fei hung in centre of trouble.
10/10
action/cheography
the last fight scene between jet and yen shi kwanb is great
. But also the aspect of kung fu vs guns.
9/10
music
wong fei hung music
9.5/10
i reccomend this film and the second.
|
|
|
Copyright Runningonkarma.com 2006
|
|
|
