Once Upon A Time In China I

Story: This is the introduction of the 6 part series Once Upon A Time In China (OUATIC). Super folk hero Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li) confronts the challenges of a chaotic China.

The story starts with the return of Wong Fei Hung's beloved Aunt Thirteen (Rosamund Kwan), and an accident between the foreigner and the local people. The conflict becomes bigger and more serious when Leung Fu (Yuen Bao), a young boy, accidentally triggers a fight between Fi Hung's students and the local triad. The fight spreads to a foreign restaurant where master Wong, the Chinese government and the Western commanders are trying to resolve the conflict. The fight causes his students' capture and bad impression on Wong Fei Hung himself.

Later, Wong Fei Hung needs to deal with triad, defense himself against another Kung fu master, Iron Robe Yim, investigates about Chinese people being sold to America as slaves, and rescue his beloved Aunt Thirteen from the triad kidnappers' hand. With the help of his students, Porky (Ken Cheng), Buckteeth( Jacky Cheung), Lee and Leung Fu, and with his superb kung fu skill, master Wong magically solves all the problems.

Besides the main plot, audiences can also observe the increasing tension between Aunt Thirteen and Wong Fei Hung, especially in the shadow play scene. They do care much about each other; and their relationship will develop in the subsequent parts.

Comments: This part is an great introduction. The acting is first rate with Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Bao Kent Cheng and Jacky Cheung. They did an excellent job. There are a lot of fighting and humors around.

Jacky Cheung is very cute as Buckteeth So. He is so far my most favorite actor as Buckteeth considering his innocent look which Chan Kwok Bang lacks. Unfortunately, Tsui Hark cannot invite him in the later installments. Sigh!!! Yuen Bao is good with his Kung Fu talent but a bit more mature than Max Mok in later part. I like both of them.

Jet Li and Rosamund are so great. I fall in love with them after this movie. This is also the first Jet's movie I see and it makes me become his fan forever. Rosamund is so sweet as Aunt Thirteen. I always wish that Jet and Rosamund make more movies together.

Rating: 9.5/10