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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  Once Upon a Time in China 2
Posted by: Old Time Wesley, October 14th, 2005, 5:52pm
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 2 presents the continuing late-19th-century adventures of Chinese folk hero and doctor Wong Fei-Hong (Jet Li), who arrives in Canton with for a medical conference. Unfortunately, the city is about to start a revolution as the fighting between the anarchist White Lotus Clan and the pro-democracy rebels heats up and threatens the livelihood of the city. This Tsui Hark film, which features fight choreography by Yuen Woo-Ping, is widely considered to be one of the high points of Hong Kong cinema.

WOW! I thought from the reviews that this would be worse than the first one and it wasn't. Sure the dialogue and acting is a little stiff as it is in all of these kinds of films but hey they improved over the first and it was a little clearer... Bad choice of words, possibly it's a little less bland and on the nose. (Remember that to them it might be good dialogue but reading it the dialogue is way too on the nose)

Basically they take Jet Li to a new setting set us (The White Man) up as the devil or bad guy. I don't think they liked us at this time in history (1991)

Good action, good story, bad dialogue, mediokre acting all this makes for an entertaining experience.

The only disappointing thing is the DVD has nothing but an English Dubbed version of the film which again is a seperate film in itself.

I would have liked Ric Meyers to do another commentary because that guy knows his Hong Kong films, I guess that's why he's billed as Honk Kong film expert ha-ha

6.5 out of 10 (A well deserved score, only reason it's not higher is because like most Hong Kong films I've seen it before and it's not special)
Posted by: Heretic, October 14th, 2005, 7:20pm; Reply: 1
As I said, my favorite of the trilogy and a great movie.

I say trilogy, but there are more films..they're just..well, they're not as good.  
Posted by: Old Time Wesley, October 14th, 2005, 9:35pm; Reply: 2
After watching the first, this one and Kung Fu Hustle I think I'm ready to watch the 3rd film (I finally got to watch Red Trousers and will have a review up for the DVD someday soon, highly recommended if you'd like to see how badly they are treated and what's expected of them)

I hope the third film can live up to the first two.
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