#1103b: TSUI, Hark: Once Upon A Time In China II (1992)

TSUI, Hark (Hong Kong)
Once Upon A Time In China II [1992]
Spine #1103b
Blu-ray


Having chronicled the social upheaval wrought by Western influence in the opening chapter of the Once Upon a Time in China series, Tsui Hark turned his attention to the perils of unchecked nationalism in his sensational follow-up, the rare sequel to equal the dizzying highs of the original. Jet Li returns to the role of Wong Fei-hung, who here takes on the diabolical White Lotus Sect, a virulently xenophobic cult whose anti-foreigner sentiments unleash a wave of destructive violence. Fellow martial-arts icon Donnie Yen dazzles in a star-making turn as Wong’s nemesis, who faces off with the hero in a battle royal that showcases the kinetic brilliance of revered Hong Kong action choreographer Yuen Wo-ping.

112 minutes
Color
Monaural
in Cantonese
2:39:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2021


Director/Writers

Screenplay by Tsui Hark, Hanson Chan Tin-suen and Charcoal Tan.
Tsui was 42 when he directed Once Upon a Time in China II.

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Forty-eight page booklet featuring essays by film critics Maggie Lee and novelist Grady Hendrix.

Commentary

None.

Interviews

With director Hark, Film Workshop cofounder Nansun Shi, editor Marco Mark Chi-sin, and critic Tony Rayns.

Excerpts 1

From audio interviews with Jet Li conducted in 2004 and 2005.

Deleted scenes

From Once Upon a Time in China III.

Documentary

From 2004 about the real-life martial-arts hero Wong Fei-hung.

From Spikes to Spindles

A 1976 documentary about New York City’s Chinatown featuring uncredited work by Tsui.

Excerpts 2

From a 2019 master class given by martial-arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping.

Archival interviews

Featuring Tsui and actors Wakefield, Yen, and Yen Shi-kwan.

Behind-the-scenes footage

For Once Upon a Time in China and Once Upon a Time in China and America.

Trailers

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

By Spine #

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