Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Charles Herold (cherold) I really can't say much about the story of this film, because honestly I often was unclear on what was happening. There are a lot of people and organizations in conflict plus random fights, although the last part settles into a straightforward rescue movie. Perhaps, since there is some historical basis for this film, it is relying on the Chinese audience being able to fill in the gaps?While muddled as a whole, individual scenes are quite entertaining. The movie has a sprightly, light-hearted start, introducing some amusing characters.There's a lot of very entertaining fight choreography, including a terrific bit with an umbrella that would do Jackie Chan proud. Unfortunately the movie's fight gimmicks don't always work; there's a long fight involving ladders in which the ladders where you can't see why the fighters are so found of using them.Jet Li, the star of this, has been in some of my favorite martial arts films (Hero, Forbidden Kingdom, Unleashed) and I'm always hoping to find something else great with him, so I was excited to hear this was a "martial arts classic." But it's really just okay overall, with a solid start and end but a rather mushy middle.

leonblackwood Review: I quite enjoyed the first movie in this massive franchise. Its good to finally see a Jet Li film were there not flying in the air and fighting on strings. Anyway, the movie is basically about Americans trying to take over China. Some of the gangs buy into the Americans policies and attack the people that are trying to keep China the same. Its quite a simple storyline, but there are other aspects to the story, like the down and out fighter who wants to fight Jet Li so he can prove that he is the best and open his own fighting school. The fighting scenes were quite impressive and the different disciples who are working for Jet Li, we're quite funny. Aunt Yee, who was the lady character, did become annoying after a while but the showdown at the end was brilliant, mainly because it reminded me of the old Kung Fu movies and the ladder work was amazing. Anyway, the film does seem a bit long but it's an enjoyable movie which is worth a watch. Enjoyable!Round-Up: You can tell that this film had quite a big budget because of the epic scenes but it still looks unAmericanised. Personally, I think that there is a hidden message behind the movie, from a Chinese point of view, which is why this franchise was so big overseas. The added wit to the script made the movie original and interesting but it's the action that's second to none. I just hope that the rest of the movies in this franchise, are in the same calibre as this one. Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: HK$30millionI recommend this movie to people who are into their Jet Li movies about a doctor trying to stop China from becoming Americanised. 6/10

Jackson Booth-Millard I found this Chinese film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, the title did not suggest a particular plot to me, but critics rated this four out of five stars, so I hoped it would live up to that. Basically set in the late 19th Century in Canton, Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li) is a legendary martial arts hero forced to take a stance against foreign forces (English, French and American) stealing the resources of China. Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan) returns to the country from America, she seems to have become westernised, and Wong Fei Hung resumes his role as her protector, but a fierce battle is growing against foreign and local government, and this also affects his martial arts school and those enrolled in the military forces. The violence escalates and Wong Fei Hung is forced to fight more brutally against the oppressors, but it is a question as to whether he can fight without weapons like the other side seem to be using. Also starring Yuen Biao as Leung Fu and Jacky Cheung as Buck Teeth Soh. To be honest I could not follow everything political and complicated going on, including perhaps why violence was occurring, besides a battle between governments and military going on, but young Li proves to be an upcoming star, and the fight sequences and colourful locations and costumes more than make up for the confusion I had, five sequels and short lived television series followed this original, a watchable martial arts action drama. Good!

Chrysanthepop Jet Li's done some exceptional work in China. I have not been impressed by anything he did in America. Tsui Hark's 'Wong Fei Hung' has already been stretched into several sequels of which I have only seen the first. 'Wong Fei Hung' has all the ingredients to make it an enjoyable epic movie. There is a story with a heart, some very well crafted choreography, good acting, and enough action and culture. It's set on a historical backdrop of a pre-Communist China. The characters are very well written (with the exception of the non-Chinese who act like caricature villains). Jet Li, Biao Yuen, Rosamund Kwan, Jacky Cheung and Kent Cheng all act well. It also presents some taboo elements such as Wong's affection for his 'aunt' (it was taboo during the time) but this is all skillfully underused which prevents the film from appearing too preachy. The film has several layers but it tries to tackle too many things at once and becomes unnecessarily complicated at some point. The film slightly drags in the first half and the choreography of the action scenes without the main cast looked a little shoddy. Yet, the characters are very likable and the story also offers a lot to enjoy that I am looking forward to its sequels. In my humble opinion, it's certainly one of the better martial arts films and has a lot more substance than pretentious films like 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon'. the only other Tsui Hark film I've seen is the magnificent 'Chat gim' and I've liked what I've seen so far.