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!

Dave from Ottawa Legendary Chinese patriot Wong Fei-hung, often played in the movies by Jackie Chan (Drunken Master and sequels) joins a secret group dedicated to stopping China's slave trade with America. Once Upon a time is a quite ambitious, historically accurate and very good looking production. There have been complaints by Western viewers about the slow pace, yet I found that the pace matched the pace of life and action in the period and thus seemed appropriate. The political content of the movie seems one-sided verging on xenophobia in its portrait of exploitation-bent white colonials, not that a Hong Kong producer ever lost money by appealing to his audience's dislike of the British. Still this gives everything much more resonance and story interest than is typical for martial arts movies, which usually have just enough plot to barely hold themselves together between punch-ups. It is nice for once to have a REASON for all of the fighting. The movie sprawls all over historic China and the period look is quite convincing, with excellent exterior cinematography.The script is lively, mixing adventure and intrigue with a little comedy and romance, and is well played by principals Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan as Wong Fei-Hung and his Aunt Yee(!) - actually the ninth and quite young wife of Wong's uncle - who is European educated and initially a defender of the very Western influences against which Wong is fighting.Martial arts fans looking strictly for a fight film might be disappointed. The stunt sequences are watchable, but I saw few new wrinkles in the fight choreography here. The Legend I and II are more impressive in this regard. But those looking for something beyond a straight punch up should be intrigued by the film's mix.

lastliberal Two of my favorite films are "One Upon a Time in America" and Once Upon a Time in the West." So naturally, I would be attracted to this film just to see if it matches the others. It does.Jet Li stars as the legendary Chinese hero Wong Fei-Hong. He is fighting against intruders from the West. Yep, invading armies like us. The people of China are not going to give in. He is asked to train the locals in kung fu. Things get complicated with the arrival of Wong's "Aunt" Yee (Rosamund Kwan), just back from a two-year stay in the West. She is not really his Aunt, so romance simmers between the two.There are plenty of evildoers in this film. Gangs looking for protection money, corrupt government officials (no surprise there!), and those nasty foreigners. You will want to watch this film more than once. Jet Li's performance, coupled with his kung fu wizardry, carries the viewer through any shaky patches. The fight scenes are the main attraction, of course, and the film delivers the goods again and again.