#1103d: YUEN, Bun: Once Upon A Time In China IV (1993)
YUEN, Bun (Hong Kong)
Once Upon A Time In China IV [1992]
Screenplay by Tsui Hark and Elsa Tang Bik-yin.
Yuen Bun was 29 when he directed Once Upon a Time in China IV.
Once Upon A Time In China IV [1992]
Spine #1103d
Blu-ray
Though it picks up the narrative thread where the previous installment left off, Once Upon a Time in China IV introduces a new director, action choreographer Yuen Bun, and star, Vincent Zhao, who takes over the role of Wong Fei-hung from Jet Li. Once again, foreign skulduggery and a violent nationalist group—in the form of the fierce women warriors known as the Red Lantern Sect—swirl around a magnificent lion-dance competition, with Wong caught in the fray. Toning down the comedic and romantic elements of the first three films in favor of almost wall-to-wall kung-fu action, the fourth entry is the leanest and meanest of the series, highlighted by a gravity-defying fight atop a field of collapsing, domino-like planks.
101 minutes
Color
Color
Monaural
in Cantonese
in Cantonese
2:39:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2021
Director/Writers
Screenplay by Tsui Hark and Elsa Tang Bik-yin.
Yuen Bun was 29 when he directed Once Upon a Time in China IV.
The Film
Film Rating (0-60):
By Spine #
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.
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.
Behind-the-scenes footage
For Once Upon a Time in China and Once Upon a Time in China and America.
For Once Upon a Time in China and Once Upon a Time in China and America.
Trailers
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