Once Upon A Time In China: Collection (1993)

Once upon a time review

This is a classic starring Jet Li at the early part of his career. It was a bonus to add all three volumes at once. October 30, 2008

One of the all time great Chinese films

This is a bit of a renaissance-man-film, if one can say that. It does a lot of things simultaneously. Firstly, it is a great kung fu flick, with some of the best names in the buisness including of course Jet Li, the inimitable Yuen Biao as well as Yuen Wo Ping of later Matrix fame. Secondly, it is a big, well told drama about doctor Wong Fei Hong, a real life character and something of a Chinese folk hero, and the modernisation/changing of Imperial China some hundred and a bit years ago. If you took away the fighting, it would still be a good film, a very rare thing with martial arts films. Thirdly, it is a great opportunity to see how the Chinese themselves (if "only" the Hong Kong Chinese) look upon their own history and their own heroes. That particular time in Chinese history, in which "Once Upon a Time in China" plays out, is not only tumultuous and chaotic, but the actual transitional period between imperial and repulican China.

It is well acted, wonderfully directed, beautifully scored, and a blast to watch. Definitely one of the best films ever to come out of Hong Kong. August 18, 2008

Basically an encyclopedia of the greatest kung fu scenes ever filmed. . .

First off, buy the "Once Upon a Time in China" Trilogy, not Collection. Collection has far more technical issues than the Trilogy. Unfortunately, since Amazon groups all of its reviews, there's confusion as to which version is being referred to.

Second, there are 6 movies in this series. The first 3 are the ones to focus on (and the ones sold in this package). 4 and 5 don't star Jet Li. Number 6 (Once Upon a Time in China and America) stars Jet Li, but has a different director (Sammo Hung) than 1-3 did (Tsui Hark, HK's Spielberg-some would argue) and is, at best, mediocre.

The OUATIC series is about the adventures of Wong Fei Hung, a Chinese folk hero. This character pops up a lot (as a child in Iron Monkey, Jackie Chan's character in the Drunken Master series). Each portrayal is very different and most aren't based but on the slightest detail to the actual historical character. But that aside, here's what the movies are really about:

Yes, Jet Li's character struggles with a HK overrun with British Imperialists and the woman who loves him and all the drama that follows and. . .honestly, no one really cares. The story is an odd mix. When there aren't action sequences, much of the story plays out like a routine period piece. The story is decent and worth a look, but subsequent viewings will have you simply skipping ahead to the action sequences because. . .

. . .these are simply the best collection of HK/Kung Fu/Wire Fu fight sequences you will ever find. You have an actor at the top of his kung fu game with choreographers who are given a lot of freedom and creativity to use the actors talents, all captured by a director at the peak of his powers. These fight sequences are the stuff of legend, the yardstick that all kung fu fights are measured against. Not to take anything away from other flicks of Jet's like Fist of Legend or Fong Sai Yuk, but these are the best. And to get them all in one package for such a cheap price is nothing short of criminal. I paid a small fortune to get these three films from HK before this version was released.

You'll see some of the most innovative and intense wirework, skill, and choreography you've ever witnessed, stuff that makes the Matrix look tame by comparison, despite coming out years before the Wachowski's ever put word 1 to paper. Every scenario you can imagine is captured, Jet vs. 1, Jet vs. some, Jet vs many, Jet with weapons, Jet with bare hands, Jet with props=like an ubrella, Jet vs. flaming arrows, Jet vs. boss characters in the most insane environments you can imagine. I can't stress it enough, this is as good as it gets. Even skipping over the story, the fight scenes will entertain you and your next several generations long after you're gone. Simple as that. If you're into Kung Fu flicks and somehow have slept on this one, just buy it. July 21, 2008

excellant condition of dvd set!

The items I purchased were in excellant condition. Recommend buying from this seller in the future. May 30, 2008

Worse Video Quality transfer than VHS...

Be warned that this transfer is so blurry and bad that I couldn't imagine anything being worse. It looks like a bootleg and it was so bad I couldn't even finish watching the first movie... February 28, 2008

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