Criterion US Blu-ray Synopsis: One of the pinnacles of Hong Kong cinema's golden age, the Once Upon A Time In China series set a new standard for martial-arts spectacle and launched action star Jet Li to international fame. It brings to vivid life the colourful world of China in the late nineteenth century, an era of immense cultural and technological change, as Western imperialism clashed with tradition and public order was upended by the threats of foreign espionage and rising nationalism. Against this turbulent backdrop, one man – the real-life martial-arts master, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei Hung – emerges as a noble protector of Chinese values as the country hurtles toward modernity. Conceived by Hong Kong New Wave leader Tsui Hark, this epic cycle is not only a dazzling showcase for some of the most astonishing action set pieces ever committed to film but also a rousing celebration of Chinese identity, history, and culture. Writer-producer-director Tsui Hark's sprawling vision of a changing nineteenth-century China begins with this riotously entertaining epic, a blockbuster hit that cemented Jet Li's status as the greatest martial-arts superstar of his generation. Li displays his stunning, fast-and-fluid fighting style as the legendary martial-arts teacher and doctor Wong Fei Hung, who, with a band of disciples, battles a host of nefarious forces – foreign and local – who are threatening Chinese sovereignty as British and American imperialists encroach upon the Mainland. Once Upon A Time In China's breathtaking blend of kung-fu, comedy, romance, and melodrama climaxes in a whirlwind guns-vs-fists finale that is also a thrilling affirmation of Chinese cultural identity. (134 Mins)

 

Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Tsui Hark's phenomenal Once Upon A Time In China trilogy finally arrives on Blu-ray in the UK from brand new 4K restorations! Starring Jet Lias the real life Cantonese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung,a physical embodiment of traditional Chinese values and moral incorruptibility, this martial-arts epic charts China's transition into the modern-world as it gradually abandons its old traditions and begins to accept the inevitable encroach of Western cultures. In 19th Century Canton, Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li) battles ruthless imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country and enslave his people, leading to a climactic fight sequence still regarded as one of the best ever filmed. (134 Mins)

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Cineasia UK DVD Synopsis: “Romeo Must Die” star Jet Li heads up an all-star cast, including physical virtuoso Yuen Biao (Dragons Forever) and 'China Rose' Rosamund Kwan (Armour Of God),in this epic big-budget action adventure, heralded by fans and critics alike as one of the finest martial arts movies ever made. Filled with vibrant emotion, poignant historical context and showcasing some of the most incredible fight sequences ever devised for film, “Once Upon A Time In China” recounts the adventures of legendary martial arts master, Wong Fei Hung, as he battles imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country with a terrifying new weapon – the gun! Inspired by Sergio Leone's “Once Upon A Time In The West”, this matchless work by veteran director Tsui Hark combines powerful characterisations,breath-taking cinematography and fluid,high-energy fight sequences to deliver one of the most memorable and groundbreaking martial arts action-adventures of the last decade. Now digitally re-mastered and restored for it's UK DVD debut, “Once Upon A Time In China” is the perfect showcase for the devastating physical talents of action-superstar Jet Li. Featuring one incredible fight sequence after another, this is one movie you will want to watch again and again and again! (128 Mins)

 

Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Synopsis: “Romeo Must Die” star Jet Li heads up an all-star cast, including physical virtuoso Yuen Biao (Dragons Forever) and 'China Rose' Rosamund Kwan (Armour Of God),in this epic big-budget action adventure, heralded by fans and critics alike as one of the finest martial arts movies ever made. Filled with vibrant emotion, poignant historical context and showcasing some of the most incredible fight sequences ever devised for film, “Once Upon A Time In China” recounts the adventures of legendary martial arts master, Wong Fei Hung, as he battles imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country with a terrifying new weapon – the gun! Inspired by Sergio Leone's “Once Upon A Time In The West”, this matchless work by veteran director Tsui Hark combines powerful characterisations,breath-taking cinematography and fluid,high-energy fight sequences to deliver one of the most memorable and groundbreaking martial arts action-adventures of the last decade. Now digitally re-mastered and restored for it's UK DVD debut, “Once Upon A Time In China” is the perfect showcase for the devastating physical talents of action-superstar Jet Li. Featuring one incredible fight sequence after another, this is one movie you will want to watch again and again and again! (128 Mins)

 

Made In Hong Kong UK VHS Synopsis:The deathless legend of hero Wong Fei Hung is explosively resurrected in maverick auteur Tsui Hark's masterpiece “Once Upon A Time In China”. Martial arts superstar and breathtaking acrobat Jet Lee heads a truly stellar cast (including Yuen Biao, Jacky Cheung and the devastating Rosamund Kwan) as the embodiment of honourable Chinese manhood, taking on the invading forces of evil and corruption against all odds. Mind-boggling hyperkinetic action choreography courtesy of veteran Liu Chia Yung is seamlessly interwoven into a classic story of honour and vengeance, danger and triumph. (132 Mins)

 

Views: What can I say about Tsui Hark's New Wave classic that hasn't already been said? It's a film that launched a string of sequels and connected television show, as well as a host of copycats and homages, going on to inspire just about every film-maker in Hong Kong to get back into the kung-fu genre after a decade of modern action. This included many modern hits such as Yuen Woo Ping's Iron Monkey and Wing Chun, Ringo Lam's Burning Paradise, Sammo Hung's Moon Warriors and Blade Of Fury, forgotten gems like Fist Of Shaolin and Sam The Iron Bridge, and even saw Jackie Chan step-up to the mark with the awesome Drunken Master 2, as well as many others. Of course, and with the exception of the latter, most of these films utilised the majority of their action with some highly skilled wire-work; something that the Once Upon A Time In China series does extremely well. It was also the film that made the fantastic Jet Li a major star in the role of Wong Fei Hung – a role he would go on to play numerously in the films sequels and other stand-alone titles. This first chapter of the series plays as a lengthy introduction to Wong and his students, set among the backdrop of invading countries, imperialism, challenging kung-fu masters, and foreign influence. When Fei Hung's Aunt Yee returns back from America, the 'besotted' martial-arts hero takes up the role of her protector, among all his other duties as previously mentioned. This leads to an epic mix of stylish kung-fu action, plenty of calamity's that deliver some genuine laughs, and just the right amount of historical drama. Of course, we can't forget about the social commentary addressed throughout courtesy of writer and director Tsui Hark...

 

The first time I had ever seen Once Upon A Time In China was via a bootleg copy that I had borrowed from a friend. I was probably in the later half of my teens, and already had a bit of a reputation for having an extensive collection of Hong Kong movies on VHS. This particular guy had a similar set-up, only I noticed a lot more of his were bootleg editions. These were obtained from private collectors who would advertise in the back of (the now defunct) Impact Movie Magazine – something I very quickly took advantage of myself soon after. I remember him drooling over Jet Li and forcing Once Upon A Time In China into my hands, along with a few other titles, and I was sent on my way. Of course, the quality of such a video wasn't amazing at all, but it was still good enough to get me hooked and fall in love with this epic film. Not long after that, UK based VHS label 'Made In Hong Kong' released the film, along with parts 2 and 3 eventually, and I was then able to have a legit copy of Once Upon A Time In China as part of my ever-growing collection. Now, with a more mature mind and having made 7 feature films myself, I see these films in a whole new light. I see the technical side of every shot. I see the edits. I see the flaws. God, I wish I was 14 again and in the same mind-set when these movies were totally and utterly leaving my mouth on the floor! Truth be told, on a technical level, Once Upon A Time In China isn't perfect. There are certainly moments throughout that had me asking what direction Tsui was going, or why certain scenes were left in – saying that, he did initially want Sammo Hung to direct (a job he would complete for the 6th entry to the series). And it almost seems as if the whole thing was quite possibly two films put together, with an obvious change in direction/style/tone just after the halfway point. Of course, that would probably explain its lengthy running time, but all of that can most certainly be ignored due to the amount of greatness and overall joy the film brings its fans as a whole!

 

Vietnamese-born director Tsui Hark had been stunning audiences for well over a decade by the time he had made Once Upon A Time In China. From his fun directorial debut with The Butterfly Murders to the ground-breaking Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain and so much more, Hark had already been creating a stir with his style of 'New Wave' wuxia action for a few years before. Whether it was as the writer, producer, or director, films such as A Chinese Ghost Story 1–3, Swordsman, and A Terracotta Warrior were all great tasters of what was to come from this amazing film-maker. Taking on the roles of all three duties for Once Upon A Time In China, Tsui joined forces with Golden Harvest to bring the first chapter of his Wong Fei Hung stories to life. But this wouldn't be their first project together that year, with Tsui and Jet teaming up for the so-so US based martial-arts comedy, The Master – a film that was deemed so bad it was shelved until Once Upon A Time In China made a superstar out of Li, and soon, The Master got its release; along with a retitling of Wong Fei Hung '92 in some places. Of course, this particular movie itself was known as Wong Fei Hung in its home territory. Much like Jackie Chan, Jet Li did an amazing job in playing the legendary folk hero and delivered a very different take on Wong than those before him. Launching into the film world in the highly regarded and very enjoyable Shaolin Temple, Jet fast became a firm favourite with his good looks and fast moves, going on to star in sequels such as Kids From Shaolin and Martial Arts From Shaolin – with the latter being directed by the great Lau Kar Leung. In 1988, Jet set out to make his directorial debut with Born To Defence – an interesting war-based action film that definitely had some good moments to offer but, ultimately, was a bit of a flop and Jet would never direct again. A role alongside Chow Sing Chi in Billy Tang's underrated US-based fight flick Dragon Fight would follow with Jet sticking around in the West for Tsui Hark's The Master before his life would soon take a whole new direction with Once Upon A Time In China. Since then, Jet became one of Hong Kong's most bankable stars with many great roles to follow in films such as Once Upon A Time In China 2 & 3 as well as Once Upon A Time In China & America, Swordsman 2, Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2, Tai Chi Master, Fist Of Legend, Black Mask, and so much more – leading to a healthy Hollywood career that would help make him a household name. If I had one complaint about his first appearance as Wong Fei Hung, it would be down to the fact that Jet was doubled so much during the action sequences. Granted, the guy did break both legs after jumping down from a balcony after attempting to do one of his own stunts, but even before that particular scene I could recognise some other people delivering the moves. These stunt-doubles would come in the shape of the brilliant Hung Yan Yan – who would go on to play the White Lotus Cult leader in part 2, before playing his infamous role of Clubfoot in part 3 and other sequels – along with popular fight choreographer Dee Dee Ku, Tony Ling, and possibly others including Ridley Tsui.

 

A wonderful cast joins Jet Li in Once Upon A Time In China in the shape of the amazing Yuen Biao, who was initially led to believe that he was going to be the star of the show (with Wong Fei Hung only being a bit-part character of the story). Having already proved his worth in many Golden Harvest hits from The Prodigal Son to Project A, Wheels On Meals to Millionaires Express, Righting Wrongs to Eastern Condors, and so much more, I have to admit it was a shame to see the talents of this incredible star wasted. That's not to say that Biao didn't get to show his worth! The kick-ass fighter still got to show off some great moves and acrobatics, often stealing the show and still having enough of a meaningful storyline that saw him through to the end. While the character of Leung Foon would see Biao replaced by Max Mok for all other chapters that followed, the underrated star would go on to produce and star in the Wu Ma directed Kickboxer – a fight-filled kung-fu adventure that saw his (similarly themed) character as the leading man. Known in many territories as an unofficial chapter of the Once Upon A Time In China saga, the film would also be known as Once Upon A Time In China 6: Kickboxer, Once Upon A Chinese Hero, Once Upon A Time In China: The Next Chapters, and Wong Fei Hung Ji Gwai Geuk Chat in Cantonese; and is well worth checking out. The fantastic Kent Cheng stars as heavy-hitter Butcher Wing, one of Wong's students who finds himself in more trouble than enough. I love Kent Cheng, and I honestly loved him in this role, but I can't help but feel that if Tsui Hark (and Raymond Chow) had put Sammo Hung in the role of Butcher Wing – reprising the very same character from his role in The Magnificent Butcher – that it may just have given the film even more star-power and secured Biao in the role of Leung Foon for the following films. Regardless, I can't deny Cheng's performance and its just a shame that his character didn't appear in any of the sequels until part 5. The delightful Rosamund Kwan stars as Wong's 13th Aunt, going on to join Jet Li in the next 2 sequels, as well as starring alongside him in Hark's Swordsman 2 and Doctor Wai & The Scripture With No Words, as well as returning to star as Aunt Yee for Once Upon A Time In China 5. Kwan does a wonderful job as Yee, getting herself in trouble due to her Western influences and love for photography, as well as becoming the love interest of the young kung-fu master. The hugely enjoyable Jacky Cheung stars as Bucktooth So, one of the calmer members of Wong's entourage who is big on medicine and loves to practise his bone-setting. Unfortunately, much like that of Yuen Biao, Cheung's appearance in the role of Bucktooth So only lasted for one movie – which was a pity. The always enjoyable Yuen Cheung Yan cameos as a kung-fu master, doubling-up on duties as one of the action-choreographers, as well as his brother Yuen Shun Yi who also joins him behind the scenes. And the brilliant Yen Shi Kwan, the prolific actor who is most noticeable for his roles in Jackie Chan's Fearless Hyena 1 & 2, 36 Crazy Fists, Dragon Fist, Dance Of The Drunk Mantis, Swordsman 2, New Dragon Inn, and Iron Monkey, stars as the misunderstood and fierce kung-fu master Iron Robe – Wong's final challenger. Lau Shun, Wu Ma, Karel Wong, Hung Yan Yan, Yau Gin Gwok, also appear throughout along with popular Westerners of the time, Jonathan Isgar, Mark King, and the brilliant Steve Tartalia...

 

The action-choreography in Once Upon A Time In China allows for many of its stars to display their genuine talent of martial arts and acrobatics. Mixing the beauty and speed of wushu with some gravity defying wire-work, the collective team of Yuen Cheung Yan, Yuen Shun Yi (and an uncredited Yuen Woo Ping) along with the great Lau Kar Leung – whose style would be more noticeable around the Peking Opera scene – and the helping hands of Hung Yan Yan, Ridley Tsui, and Dee Dee Ku; the action team did an amazing job in bringing some memorable fight scenes to the screen. From the exciting opening street-fight, of which Roy Chow would pay homage to in his Wong Fei Hung reboot Rise Of A Legend (starring Eddie Peng as the young hero), to the phenomenally designed and choreographed grand finale between Wong and Iron Robe, there's no denying that there is a grand selection of exciting fight scenes on offer for fans of Hong Kong martial-arts films! Of course, such great action should always be complimented with great music and Once Upon A Time In China has plenty with its main theme – called 'A Man Of Determination' – based on the Ming Dynasty folk song, 'Under The General's Orders', with the one-and-only Jackie Chan singing the Mandarin version and George Lam handling the Cantonese release. It's a highly recognisable tune that has been used in countless movies over the years, including Jackie Chan's awesome Drunken Master, and never fails to get the blood pumping backed by an original score from James Wong and Herman Chow. Complimenting both of these is the wonderful cinematography on offer which is captured by the popular Arthur Wong – the director behind In The Line Of Duty 3, and DOP on classics such as Operation Condor, Moon Warriors, Eastern Condors, The Warlords, Bodyguards & Assassins, League Of Gods, and many more. Wong is supported by the likes of Bill Wong – who went on to shoot the aforementioned Kickboxer for Yuen Biao, and had already shot some of Tsui Hark's previous titles including All The Wrong Clues, Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain, and Aces Go Places 3: Our Man From Bond Street. They are joined behind the lens by actor and cinematographer Andy Lam, Wilson Chan, David Chung, and Wingo Chan, respectively.

 

Whether you know the history of Wong Fei Hung or not, Once Upon A Time In China is absolutely worth checking out. Kwan Tak Hing, the original and longest serving actor of the folk hero, would be proud of Tsui Hark's adaptation. The film was a huge box-office smash, raking in almost 30 million in its initial (HK) cinematic run, so it would inevitable that Tsui would follow up with a sequel or five. Highly regarded as one of Jet Li's finest films, and rightly so, offering a slightly complex plot made easy with a solid script from Tsui and his writing team. It's an immensely and visually entertaining treat, with an interesting view of the the Chinese psyche of the time on Imperialism and Western influences – a trait that would continue into further chapters of the series. If you haven't already had the chance to see it, do what you can to grab a copy of Once Upon A Time In China and relish one of Hong Kong cinemas finest moments!

 

Overall: A true classic of Hong Kong cinema, Tsui Hark's Once Upon A Time In China is a lot of fun and beautifully made!

 

Criterion Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration: 4K Restoration, Trailer

 

Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Mike Leeder & Arne Venema, The Legend Of Wong Fei Hung (Part 1) Featurette, Archival Interviews with Jet Li & Yen Shi Kwan, Trailers

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Cineasia DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan & Mark King, Interview Gallery, Biography Showcase, Photo Gallery, Trailers

Made In Hong Kong VHS Extras:

 

Hong Kong Legends DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan & Mark King, Interview Gallery, Biography Showcase, Photo Gallery, Trailers

Made In Hong Kong VHS Extras:

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Watch my unboxing video of the Criterion release HERE