Once Upon a Time in China II

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Steven T I think OUATIC is a poor example of its genre; the film has garnered many positive reviews, but I can't why. There are a host of better martial arts films before this. I found the film disjointed, dull, with a poor score and bad acting. The fight choreography reminded me of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, so with an air of fantasy if you will - with the actors easily scaling heights and using sticks etc. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/22/23 Full Review Matthew B Best of Movies/TV Series Collection Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/19/22 Full Review matthew d Classic Hong Kong martial arts from young Jet Li and Donnie Yen! Director Tsui Hark's Hong Kong martial arts epic Once Upon a Time in China II (1992) is every bit as exemplary as the first feature in this kung fu franchise. Hark's early 90's direction is fascinating as he is Vietnamese and finds a similar style to the Hong Kong directors of the 1970's and 1980's with a flawless slick uniqueness all his own. He blends exciting and never before seen kung fu action with ponderous drama and ridiculous comedy for a very pleasant viewing experience. You are always entertained by something from pole staff fights of Jet Li against dozens of men at once to a flurry of flaming arrows bursting into a room. Once Upon a Time in China II is absolutely comparable to Tsui Hark's iconic Once Upon a Time in China. Jet Li is outrageously skilled as a heartfelt doctor, master martial artist of Hung Ga, and Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung. He defends Chinese townsfolk against a fearsome cult of false idol worshippers called White Lotus. This story from writers Tsui Hark, Cheung Tan, and Chan Tin-Suen shows how China can remain traditionally valued and nationally proud without trying to murder all foreigners and Western concepts. It's a nice balance to the more xenophobic original as Wong Fei-hung simply wants to save lives and avoid violence. I adored seeing Rosamund Kwan return as Aunt 13 with her flawless beauty, sweet shy love for Jet Li's Master Wong, and her hilarious physical comedy sequences. I appreciate how she wasn't constantly getting captured like in the first and actually gets to fight back a bit. She just is a pleasure to watch with her natural chemistry with Jet Li and poignant emotional drama. She's the real heart of Hark's trilogy. Max Mok Siu-Chung is very funny as Leung Foon with his goofy mannerisms and fawning over Rosamund Kwan's Aunt 13. Donnie Yen is fierce and compelling as Chinese Commander Lan, but it's his outstanding kung and two duels with Jet Li that are so amazing. It's very cool to see a young Jet Li and Donnie Yen in their prime battling with their fast and skillful kung fu styles here. Xiong Xin-Xin is incredible as the vicious Priest Gao Kung as he fights Jet Li's Master Wong up in the rafters of White Lotus' temple. Lastly, David Chiang Da-Wei is excellent as the mysterious Luke Ho-Dung. Angie Lam's editing is super quick for 113 minutes that never is allowed to drag. Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai's cinematography captures all the battles in real time ultra wide shots as well as slow motion close-ups for hard emphasis. It's very effective how he shoots fights and drama alike. Eddie Ma's production design looks like ancient Canton with a beautiful score too from composers Johnny Njo, Richard Yuen, and Chow Gam-Wing. Their music swells with a triumphant blow with a nostalgic sound. In all, I loved Once Upon a Time in China II as much as the phenomenal first film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic follow-up. Soo many great fight sequences, even more than the first. Adding Donnie Yen will do that. A lot darker of a story too. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/19 Full Review dustin d Jet Li and Donnie Yen go mano a mano in the second Once Upon a Time in China movie, plopping Wong Fei Hung into the middle of the Boxer Rebellion. Characters aren't as developed as the first one, and neither are the fight scenes, but it is still a quality and entertaining wire-fu movie. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Jet Li plays Huang Fei Hung. He goes to a medical session seminar. Some clan attacks the foreigners, later leads to a military group led by Nap-lan played by Donnie Yen which goes to a good build up to a duel to the death kung fu at the end. The kung fu of Jet Li is as superb as his other classic Hong Kong films with a well written script for the non-fictional character. It definitely has the edge over the first film's fight scenes. Need some martial arts action? This is one I recommend. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Once Upon a Time in China II

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