Once Upon a Time in China IV - 黃飛鴻之四王者之風

Once Upon a Time in China IV (黃飛鴻之四王者之風) is an 1993 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Vincent Zhao as Wong Fei-hung. The supporting case include Jean Wang, Max Mok, Hung Yan-yan, Lau Shun, and Wang Jing Hua. This is the 4th installment of Tsui Hark's Wong Fei-hung movie series. And the first of two without Jet Li.

Wong Fei-hung Beijing for a tournment after the third film. Before they can go, they are convinced by a General to particpate in another tournament. They pass by a parade of Red Lantern Sect who end up attacking foreigners. Wong Fei-hung steps in to stop them and is captured and accused of being in cahots with the Red Lantern Sect. While waiting for his excustion, they make an escape but are too late to the tournament where the General dies. They are given another chance and go one to win, but the nation is lost. They set out to head back to Foshan.

I caught this in Cantonese on Amazon Prime Video. Took me a couple of weeks to finish this on and off. I was inspired after seeing it pop up on my recommendations and Vincent Zhao showing up as a GeGe in Call Me By Fire. Although the movie series has the same feel, the story in this one was all over the place. If you are a fan of these series, you can't miss it.

Once Upon a Time in China III - 黃飛鴻之三獅王爭霸

Once Upon a Time in China III (黃飛鴻之三獅王爭霸) is a 1993 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, and Max Mok. Hung Yan Yan and Lau Shun round out the supporting cast.

In this installment, Wong and company head to Beijing. Wong's father, Wong Kei Ying, is part of the Cantonese Association of Beijing. Once there, they are faced with the many martial arts schools engaged in public fights and lion dance competitions. Wong tries to play the middle man and to settle their scores. The head general of the imperial forces calls for a lion competition to strengthen Chinese morale. But this just leads to back stabbing among those that want to join. Also in this installment, Wong expresses his desire to marry 13 Aunt, breaking generational rules considered taboo. Wong's father eventually comes around and notes that old things should be thrown out.



This one is in the middle of the pack for me. No major fights with someone of similar caliber fighting skill. And I am not a fan of lion dances. I flat out get bored. The antagonist seemed to come from 3 or 4 different areas and it wasn't easy to follow. The quirky HK cheesiness didn't work well either. I would watch 1,2 and 4 before this one.

Once Upon a Time in China II - 黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強

Once Upon a Time in China II (黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強) is 1992 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan. Supporting cast include Donnie Yen, Max Mok, David Chiang, and Zhang Tielin.

The movie starts with the White Lotus sect demonstrating their religion. The movie than shifts to Wong Fei Hung, 13 Aunt, and Leung Koon on a train. Wong has been invited to give a demonstration on Chinese Medicine at a "Western" medical school in Guangzhou. While in Guangzhou, they have run ins with the White Lotus Sect on a few occuasions. Along the way, they meet Sun Yat Sen at the school.

This is my favorite Once Upon a Time in China of the six. The reason is because there are 3 major fights in the movie. The first time Donnie Yen and Jet Li meet, they have an exchange. Wong than has a fight with the White Lotus Sect. The final final fight with Donnie Yen is quite awesome.

The movie improved on story telling, technique and style from the first one.

Journey of the Doomed - 水兒武士

Journey of the Doom (水兒武士) is a 1985 Shaw Bros movie. And one of the last ones. The movie stars Stephen Tung and Max Mok.

The movie is about Lin who rescues a young maiden. But this maiden has royal blood and people are out to get her. Lin protects her as best he can.

The movie was pretty hard to watch. The fighting was pretty lame. Being as this was 1985, the action wasn't even up to par with the TVB series of that era.

The bright spot was Candice Yu. Candice is one of my favorite actresses from the late 70s and early 80s early. Even Candice wasn't enough to save this movie.

I picked this up while I was in Singapore a couple of years back. All the Shaw Bros. films are available throughout Asia.