GamerTab
That was an excellent one.
SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
Limerculer
A waste of 90 minutes of my life
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Leofwine_draca
The sequel to the Hong Kong classic features a returning Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan, as well as returning director Tsui Hark, but the same team can't quite match the dynamism or magic of the original movie. ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II is a sometimes leaden movie, that deals with a fun but seen-it-all-before plot involving lots of East-meets-West culture clashing, except this time from the Chinese point of view.The movie isn't totally bad, indeed there are some splendid action sequences which help to redeem it, but as a whole it feels slightly spoiled by a leaden pacing and a plot which, as is the case with a number of Hong Kong movies saves all the major action for the last half an hour. Things begin with a virtual repeat of the opening of the first movie, as we witness some impressive strongmen who are impervious to bullets, fire and blades. Of course Li must fight these guys in a stunning battle which is expertly choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping, but nevertheless seems shoe-horned onto the rest of the political plot.Production values are fine as is Tsui Hark's assured direction, and there's no faulting the performances or the martial arts moves on show. Particularly good is the returning Rosamund Kwan, who has a more romantic and funny character this time around. Li is an able centrepiece for the action, although some moments are stolen by the brilliant Donnie Yen, whose martial skills are unbeaten. His skill here is with a piece of deadly cloth, and there's plenty of high-spirited pole-fighting too to enjoy. The final neck-slashing climax is wicked, but this still doesn't take away the feeling that this is a virtual reprise of the original movie, lacking its integrity if not the action.
BA_Harrison
This sequel to the 1991 martial arts epic Once Upon A Time In China starts promisingly enough, with the introduction of the xenophobic White Lotus Cult, a group of over-zealous Chinese nationalists who are out to destroy anyone or anything foreign.Spurred on by their seemingly indestructible leader (he is impervious to fire and swords and can take a swift kick to the knackers without breaking a sweat), these loonies even attack children, just for learning another language! Fortunately, martial arts expert Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li), along with companions Foon (Siu Chung Mok) and Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan), are there to protect the innocent.After being rather disappointed with the first movie, I was hoping that Part 2 would deliver the goods—particularly as it also stars one of my favourite martial arts actors, Donnie Yen. However, despite the talented cast and promising set-up, director Tsui Hark once again delivers an overlong film which disappoints due to a lack of decent action and far too much chit-chat.In two hours, there are only a couple of decent fight scenes, both of them between Yen and Li; the remainder of the action is largely forgettable, including some pretty poor use of wire-work courtesy of industry legend Yuen Woo Ping.This is generally considered to be one of the best in the series. If this is the case, I'm not sure how many more I want to see. I give OUATIC2 5.5/10, rounded up to 6/10 for IMDb.
Cristi_Ciopron
There are some snobs who commiserate a few Asian directors (such as Yimou Zhang and Ang Lee) for making lively fun movies (like Ying Xiong ;Wo Hu Cang long)and not boring , tedious,insipid,"serious",monotonous ones.These critics suppose,I don't know why,that the Asian directors are forced by "the system" to make such "commercial" movies,instead of doing the banal and academic ones.(The same critics,having no sense of real fun,were those who,in another age,reprimanded Balzac, Dumas, Hugo, Scott, Dickens, Stevenson,AC Doyle,HG Wells,for writing lively novels and for not being Flaubert,Zola,etc.).Among the funniest scenes in Wong Fei Hung Ji Yi: Naam Yi Dong Ji Keung are:(1)the neuroanatomy/medicine/acupuncture lesson,interrupted by a ferocious attack;(2)the dog meat dinner;(3)the great beginning,with the train travel;(4)the exposure of the nationalist sect's leader.I liked the comments of Jellygoose;Fox in Socks from Staffordshire;Cheahcw from Arlington;Callanvass from Victoria b.c Canada;MikeA from Isle of Man;squelcho;miguelsanchez69 from NYC.
premiumcream
I am a fan of the original OATIC. The fantastic martial arts scenes and the interwoven storylines contained in the original really impressed me. Having liked the first so much I rushed out and bought my copy of part 2. Being a huge fan of Yuen Wo Ping and Donnie Yen, I figured I couldn't be dissapointed. I was wrong. The direction is poor. No, scratch that. The direction is AWFUL. The character's motivations are left a mystery. What does Fei Hong join the revolutionaries? Is it because Sun Yan Set translated english for him? That's the only reason I can think of. In the first film, Foon is kind of a tragic figure that alot of the dramatic elements were based around. Why is he reduced to being comic relief in this one? Lastly, I'm very dissapointed in the fight scenes. This is probably the worst choreographed Hong Kong film Yuen Woo Ping has ever been a part of. The fight between Wong and Kung is dare I say it, BAD. Also the fights between Donnie Yen and Jet Li (two of my favorite martial arts film stars) leave ALOT to be desired. Overall, it's a bad movie. It won't even satisfy a late-night kung-fu craving. If you need some kung-fu stick with "Iron Monkey", "Fist of Legend" or "Tai Chi Master". All of those show off the tru talents of Yuen Woo Ping and star either Jet Li or Donnie Yen.