Synopsis: Environmental researcher Louis Roth and his family are lost at a mountain in China. His son is lost too, and he finds bunch of kids who are also lost in the forest. (100 Mins)

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Views: It took me some time to see Little Heroes Lost In China, and even at that, it still wasn't with English subtitles. Thankfully, the story isn't overly difficult to follow and it all still made for a pretty entertaining film. Most of that, of course, would be down to the fantastic kung-fu on offer and Home Alone-type antics that are on offer. The film starts of with Louis Roth (in his last ever role before his death the same year), as an environmental researcher who has arrived in China with his wife and son. After getting stranded due to a mistake that was lost in translation, they hire a car to travel alone and reach their destination. A break-down leaves them stranded, and a further accident separates them from their son who ends up lost in the forest below a cliff. The boy is (kind of) rescued by a gang of cute kids who are lost themselves. But these kids certainly don't have a problem when it comes to taking on problematic adults who often get in their way, and with some incredible wushu moves. As if that wasn't enough, the kids also have to deal with some nasty wood cutters and a pair of greedy Westerners that are out to steal some ancient Chinese treasures!

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While it may have some minimal violence here and there, this 1995 film is ultimately a kung-fu adventure comedy for kids. It's the directorial debut of Allen Lan – the same man behind the so-so Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger with Sammo Hung who was also the action-director (or assistant action-director) on films such as Death Games, Ip Man 2, Swordsman 2, The Medallion, and the first Detective Dee film. Little Heroes Lost In China will never go down as one of the greatest martial arts adventure films ever, but it definitely has its moments and, aside from the fact that it reminded me of the 80's Taiwanese Kung-Fu Kids series – as well as one of my childhood favourites, Lucky Seven – any film that has Moon Lee kicking-ass is more than enough for me. This would be her last film before going on to star in the popular Fist Of Hero television series, before (unfortunately) retiring from the film world for a least a good decade or more. And even though it is sold as a Moon Lee movie, she actually only flits in-and-out with an impressive introductory fight scene at the beginning, a couple of brief scuffles in the middle, and a fantastic closing fight at the end when she saves the day (of course). Sometimes, these scenes are backed by the borrowed score of Brave Young Girls – an action packed 'girls-with guns' classic that stars her long-time on-screen sister and nemesis, Yukari Oshima. The fact of the matter is, Little Heroes Lost In China is all about the kids – a bunch of cute young wushu performers who highly impress, and bring on plenty of laughs with some of their moves over-cranked for comedy-effect, complete with booby-traps in that aforementioned Home Alone way. If I'm to be honest, I was actually expecting the worst - constantly waiting for lots of cheesy moments and really bad action, but there really wasn't any to complain about. Even the little blonde western kid, Metken Brenton Trevor (in what seems to be his only ever film role), was genuinely fun to watch. One scene had him being trained in kung-fu by the kids, which seems to be going well until he breaks in to air-guitar mode and starts dancing about with the others joining in soon after. It reminded me of that god-awful moment in American Shaolin (King Of The Kickboxers 2) when Drew Carson starts singing the Shaolin Temple Blues to get the monks in a good mood, although it was nowhere near as cringe-worthy...

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As the director and fight choreographer (along with his stunt team) Allen Lan Hai Han certainly didn't hold back on the choreography – both for the kids and the adults – with Moon Lee getting to show some fantastic moves throughout before closing with a lengthy fight against a neighbouring girl and two tomb raiders. My only niggle would be that the end battle had some silly wire enhanced moments, but it hardly detracted from what was going on and I was pretty impressed overall, and saw Lan show-up here and there. Interestingly enough, Lan's first starring role was in a child-led martial-arts war film called The Flying Tigers & The Kung Fu Kids before he went onto work with Alexander Lou Rei on films such as Devil Killer, Five Fighters From Shaolin, and Mafia Vs Ninja. Allen would also star in films like Exciting Dragon, Magnificent Warriors, China Heat, Swordsman 2, and Hero Of Swallow, while choreographing and directing in-between. The film itself is nicely shot, and while mostly taking place in the forest, still proved to be pleasing to the eye thanks to Tommy Tong Yue Tai – a cinematographer who lensed classics such as Ninja The Final Duel, Shaolin Chastity Kung Fu, Ninja Hunter, Super Ninja, Mafia Vs Ninja, Ninja USA, Ninja Condors, Mr. Vampire (the one directed by James Wu), Whore & Policeman, and more.

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Fans of Shaw Brothers legend Ku Feng will enjoy his cameo that sees him pop-up for about 5 minutes, and the final scene at the airport is an emotional good-bye to little Metken that shows all the Chinese kids dressed just like him as they fight back the tears. It reminded me of the closing scene at the end of Lucky Seven, and was a nice little touch to finish things!

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Overall: A fun film, Little Heroes Lost In China has plenty of neat fight scenes and lots of laughs to keep all ages entertained!