5 Star

A Hero of China and Martial Arts.

Eureka Classics brings us the martial arts extravaganza that is the Once Upon a Time in China trilogy, plus the 1997 Once Upon a Time in China and America, for the first time on a limited edition (4000) Blu-ray. Tracking events of Chinese hero Wong Fei-hung (Jet Li, The One, The Expendables, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Kiss of the Dragon) at the end of the 19th century during the Qing dynasty when Chinese sovereignty is being eroded by foreign imperialism.

Wong Fei-hung (Li) is a prominent man in Foshan, China, he trains the local militia in martial arts and he is also the owner of Po-chi-lam clinic where he practices traditional Chinese medicine. He watches a lion dance with Liu Yongfu, the commander of the Black Flag Army. During the performance they use firecrackers which causes the French army to open fire on the actors, showing the tension in the docks and the local area. Also dividing up China are the Americans and the English and Liu has a fan with a list of the ‘unequal treaties’ signed between China and other countries as China is the loser in all the treaties.

Wong has three apprentices: “Porky Wing” (Kent Cheng, Ip Man 2, Bloody Brothers), “Bucktooth” So (Jacky Cheung, Bullet in the Head, The Swordsman), and Kai (Kam-Fai Yuen, Royal Tramp II) and they meet the English educated 13th Aunt of Wong (his love interest) Aunt Yee ( Rosamund Kwan, Millionaires Express, Vengeance Is Mine).

Wong and his cohorts and Aunt Yee must endure treachery, bandits, slavery, human trafficking and those that want to defeat him in one on one battles, as well as the influence of a xenophobic cult, as some of the Chinese population embrace the Western influence.

“No matter how good our kung-fu is, it will never defeat guns.”

Once Upon a Time in China is a martial arts banquet with thrills and spills.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

Special Limited Edition Box Set
1080p presentations of all three films, sourced from brand new 4K restorations and making their UK debuts on Blu-ray
Original Cantonese audio tracks
Optional English audio tracks
Optional English subtitles
Once Upon a Time in China and America [100 mins, HD] the final chapter in the Once Upon a Time in China series presented from a new 2K restoration, with Jet Li making a triumphant return to his most iconic role
New audio commentaries on Once Upon a Time in China I-III by martial-arts cinema authority Mike Leeder and filmmaker Arne Venema
Exclusive new video interview with actor Mike Miller [49 mins]
Exclusive new video interview with actor John Wakefield [29 mins]
The Legend of Wong Fei-Hung [48 mins] a featurette on the legendary folk hero
Archival interview with actor and Shaw Brothers veteran, Yen Shi-kwan [10 mins]
Archival interview with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with Donnie Yen | Archival Q&A with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with director Tsui Hark [23 mins]
Archival interview with actor John Wakefield [11 mins]
Making of Once Upon a Time in China and America [25 mins]
Trailers
Box set exclusive Collector s booklets featuring new essays on all films by James Oliver.