Action Director:
Yuen Woo Ping:
(not counted in rating)
Released: 1991 [Hong Kong]
Box Office:
HK$30,399,676
Hollywood
Gossips Review:
This first sequel to the
acclaimed Once Upon a Time in China continues the adventures of Legendary
Martial Artist Wong Fei Hung, played once again by Jet Li. With its ability to
maintain a balance between a high standard of intense action and
thought-provoking storytelling, Once Upon a Time in China II accomplishes
something very few sequels achieve: it outshines the original. This sequel has
some of the most astounding action you've ever seen, proving that when Tsui is
compared to Steven Spielberg it's no exaggeration. It is a great-looking film
with top-notch martial arts sequences and high production values. Once
Upon a Time in China 2 is a more controlled, skillfully woven film overflowing
with a talented cast and crew. With the casting of Donnie Yen, it allows one
of the most accomplished martial arts legends to be matched - Jet Li and
Donnie Yen. The two master is wood to wood and kicks to kicks and punches to
punches when fighting and combining with legendary action director - Yuen Woo
Ping is just amazing and too good to be true. Many will compare this fight
with the almost perfect fight between Yen and Li in the latest epic from Zhang
Yimou's Hero, but this is just as good if not better. The showdown is just the
best. The series' famed political overtones prove surprisingly effective in
this film, giving the plot an affecting resonance. The history and fiction
combine more seamlessly in this film, though historically the film is far from
accurate. Still, the story is relatively easy to follow for a Once Upon a Time
in China film, and Jet Li shows great presence as Wong Fei-Hong. Max Mok
replaces Yuen Biao as comedy-relief sidekick Leung Fu, and proves more fitting
for the role. Rosamund Kwan reprises her role as Aunt Yee. The film is better
balanced than the original, too. Director Tsui Hark handles all the disparate
elements well. History, comedy, pathos and action are blended together to make
Once Upon a Time in China 2 the best in the series. Yuen Woo-Ping's excellent
choreography won a Hong Kong Film award, and the knock-down battle between Jet
Li and Donnie Yen ranks as one of Hong Kong Cinema's absolute best. Those
curious of wanting to know what Hong Kong Cinema was really made of, then Once
Upon a Time in China 2 will leaves the viewers stunned, happy and an epical
and magical feeling.
96.88%
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