Once Upon a Time in China and America

Rating:
Summary: Cowboys, Indians, and pigtails...oh my!
Review: A Wu Shu western, a la the old TV series "Kung Fu." Seeing Jet Li, after being taken in by American Indians, wearing pig tails on either side of his head and running up the front of his shirt is something everyone should see. The problem with this film is that the best fight scenes involve Clubfoot, now known as "Seven." Sammo Hung's directorial style has never been a favorite of mine (see "Mr. Nice Guy" and all the slo-mo action there), and this just reinforces that perception....

Rating:
Summary: An interesting, but flawed attempt
Review: Although they managed to drag Jet Li back to the series for this installment, I personally wish they'd left the saga on the more respectable note that was the fourth sequel. Though the production values are high, with the American locations and actors being considerably better than in most HK films, the movie's plot is the weakest of the lot.
While Sammo Hung's direction makes the best visual use of the settings, it's suprisingly the action sequences that are the biggest let-down. The number of them is fairly frequent and the choreography is reasonable, but they are just too short to hold the attention. The failure to have a strong villian for Wong Fei-Hung to battle is also a major minus point.
There is also no attempt made to develop the characters and their relationships, as it seems the filmmakers think that dumping WFH and the gang in the middle of a Western is enough to justify making the film. It isn't.
It's a shame such a great series of movies signs off with such a weak parting shot. One for OUATIC completists only.

Rating:
Summary: Silly fun with friends
Review: Certain movies are better watched with friends. This is one of them. If you are big on silly humor (ie. Jackie Chen, Samo Hung, or even the Evil Dead movies) then You will Love this one.

Rating:
Summary: Try to rent if possible
Review: For real Jet Li fans this movie is ok, but was not really his style, of course Jet has to do some awesome fighting and was well worth watching. The movie overall was a little too long and really was one that you'll be happy that you saw him fight. Like I said rent if possible.

Rating:
Summary: Grasshopper, 30 years later
Review: Great fight scenes, although I think the villian was tailor made for Cantonese audiences (meaning he looks silly as hell) and whoever was holding the camera was a little too close to the action. The plot (or what passes for a plot in Hong Kong Cinema) is Wong Fei-Hung, Aunt Yee (played by uber-babe Rosamund Qwan), and Clubfoot are traveling through the old west to visit a former student of Wong's. On the way, they are attacked by hostile Indians, and in the ensuing fight, all three end up the rapids of a river, where Wong (Li)contracts amnesia after hitting his head on a rock, and is then seperated from the rest of his group. Things get a little muddled after this, but let it be enough to say that this film has what most Hong Kong Cinema fans are looking for, i.e., great fight scenes. Jet Li is, as always, impressives with his usual combination of aerodynamic grace and power, mowing down outlaws and unfriendly Indians with typically overwhelming skill. Clubfoot, who inexplicably goes by the name of Seven in this installment of the OUATIC series is awesome again, especially when he casually kicks the stuff out of a saloon full of gunslingers without even breaking a sweat. (If anyone can tell me Clubfoot/Seven's real name, I'd really appreciate it-my e-mail is at the top of this review) In one of the better fights in the movie, with Wong still suffering from amnesia, Clubfoot tries to jar Wong's memory by starting a fight with predictable results (meaning Clubfoot takes a serious pounding). Needless to say, by the end of the movie, things are sorted out and the bad guys are dead and burried. Not the best in the OUATIC series, but still a lot of fun. Of course, some people might find the plot silly or inane, but if you want classically high-brow theatre, you shouldn't be watching Hong Kong Cinema in the first place; it's a purely visual experience, and it's also the most viually imaginative genre in the world. Just as a closing note, some people said Sammo Hung borrowed (to put it politely) the idea of a Chinese martial artist wandering the Wild West from Jackie Chan, which is like saying Van Gogh borrowed the idea of painting from Monet. I suppose whoever said that never saw David Carridine in Kung Fu which was made 30 years ago or Toshiro Mifune as a Samurai in the wild west opposite Charles Bronson in Red Sun made in the late 60s. The point being, kung fu vs. cowboys and Indians was around before Jackie Chan got into movies working as a stunt double for Bruce Lee, The Once and Future Sifu. Some might not like this movie, and admittedly, I am biased because there's very little that Sammo Hung or Jet Li could do that I wouldn't like, but while not setting any records, this flick is definately worth the 3.50 rental price.

Rating:
Summary: JET LI RULES!
Review: I believe that this is the BEST Jet Li Movie ever! I have seen it hundreds of times and I never get tired. If you want to see a good kung fu movie, you have to see this. You won't be dissapointed! BELIEVE ME!

Rating:
Summary: A Failure on all levels
Review: I had a lot of hope for this film. As a huge fan of the first two films in this series, I was excited to see the return of Jet Li to the role that made him famous. Also, I had hopes that Sammo Hung behind the camera could only improve things...I was wrong. The story is uninspired, a mix between that Star Trek episode where Kirk loses his memory and ends up living with Native Americans and...well, bad westerns. The fight scenes, which are supposed to be the hallmark of any HK actioner, were weak and shot poorly, missing whatever art may have been there. If you are interested in the genre, avoid this picture and rent/buy the first two. You want Cowboys and Indians with martial arts...well, watch old "Kung Fu" episodes, if you must.

Rating:
Summary: Techinical difficulties
Review: I reviewed both this and Hitman months ago. Where are they?

Rating:
Summary: uh, not all that.
Review: I'd been told how great this movie was, and once I saw it, I didn't much like it. There are a few hair-raising moments and a few laughs, but the American actors are SO bad and the plot is SO lame. I love fight scenes, but a movie's got to have more to get the thumbs up in my book! Jet looks cute as always, but this isn't his best film by a LONG LONG shot.

Rating:
Summary: Some bad acting, but still up to par
Review: Ignore the bad acting and analyze the action. Even in America Jet is unstoppable in this final film in the OUTIC series. I recommend this to all to Jet fans.