Once Upon a Time in China response
Please read the Tsui Hark interview and profile under Course Content Week Seven on Blackboard before writing your response to Once Upon a Time in China. Use specific evidence with page numbers from the readings to support your response to the film. Film response due Monday October 7 by 8 pm, you do not have to comment on other responses this week. Use the Sample Essays reading from A Short Guide to Writing about Film to help you brainstorming for your midterm paper update (due under "Midterm Paper Updates" on this blog by Monday October 7 by 10 pm).
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ReplyDeleteThe Film called ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ was directed in 1991. This film’s name is Wong Feihung in China. This is also the name of lead role in the film. The film’s background is set in late 19th century in Guangdong. It depicts the nation hero Wong Feihong how to against foreign forces’ plundering of China. Wong Feihong was highly skilled in martial. He organized the vigilante groups to defend the homeland by retired navy sailors. However, his vigilante groups were involved in fierce battles with foreign and local government. Foreigners advocated that America is a golden mountain. They wanted to traffic large quantities of labor and women. Wong Feihong’s lover Aunt Yee was also captured. And she was almost raped by criminals. But Hong Feihong saved her and defeated some invaders in the end.
ReplyDeleteThis is a classic martial arts film. It was directed by Tsui Hark. Tsui Hark was a famous Kong Fu Film director. Tsui Hark is a first-mover in Hong Kong film. He always injects new elements for Hong Kong film. He likes to introduce new things from western films. He makes extensive use of movie stunt in martial arts film. He uses movie stunt and clip to make difficult action. So the film is highly ornamental. He put classical culture and modern culture together. His film is full of passion. Scene of bloodshed makes people feel excited. Of course, He also likes to add romantic elements in the film. He said ‘I believe that romance is the key to the success of all action films’. This sentence shows the importance of romance. Tsui Hark’s films always have an impressive love story. Martial arts film shows the chivalrous spirit. Chivalrous spirit and love looks seem to be antithetical. But his film is a perfect blend of chivalrous spirit and love. He also uses comedy elements to make the film more interesting. Tsui Hark’s film is full of highly ornamental martial action, romance and comedy. So his films was highly appreciated by the western audience.
I very much agree with you, I looked for the introduction of Tsui Hark, Hark went to study in the U.S. at an early age, so that he will have a different idea for kung fu movies, compared with that during the local Hong Kong director Tsui Hark has a Hollywood-style kung fu thought.
DeleteThe introduction of the interview (page 34) states that Tusi Hark is “Vietnamese born, Hong Kong raised, and American trained”. For being American trained, I think he was able to use that to his advantage, incorporating his film-making skills and his diverse background to direct and write the screenplay for this movie. You can see that the scenes are always action-packed; the fighting is over-exaggerated, with people doing flips after being hit. Many stunts and free-running are also involved, and that makes the movie a bit more interesting and funny. With all the martial arts, stunts and a historical, famous and heroic Chinese figure, you got yourself a movie that Chinese people would love, especially back in the days.
ReplyDeleteThis movie, I don’t know how historically accurate it is, shows the corruption of the Hong Kong government before its return to China. If you pay attention to the movie, you can see that the plot is driven by the corruption of the governor, and also the collaboration of the gang leader and the British ambassador (or whatever his title is). At 44:30, the gang leader wanted to collect “protection money” from a restaurant owner. Even though the owner did not resist and wanted to offer him some money, he insisted to take all of it. Wong Fei-hung beats up the gang leader and his gang, and wanted the pedestrians who saw what happened to be witnesses and testify against the gang leader, but they all refused to do so. Even the restaurant owner who was being threaten started making a story up, saying that Wong Fei-hung and the gang leader were just practice Kung Fu and that he saw nothing. The restaurant owner probably knows that the gang leader is more powerful, not in terms of martial skills, but socially more influence than Wong Fei-hung, and will take revenge against him if he agreed to testify the gang leader.
On page 39, Tusi Hark said that “romance is the key to the success of all action films.” I disagree, from an audience’s standpoint, because I don’t think romance was the reason why this movie was successful. Obviously the whole climax of the movie was based on the fact that “13th Aunt” was taken, but I think that Wong Fei-hung would’ve tried to save his students or anyone else for that matter, with all of his effort if they were the ones that were taken. The only thing that would counter my argument is the character of Leung Foon and the fact that he likes the 13th Aunt (shown at the end of the movie), but as I’ve said before, just like Wong Fei-hung, he is too good of a guy not to try his best effort to save the innocents.
Random thought: the character of "Iron Vest" Yim Chun-Tung was just too unreasonable for my taste. He went from a hard-working street performer, who looked like a genuinely nice person and incredibly modest marital artist, to a cocky and arrogant maniac that uses his martial arts skills for the wrong purposes, blatantly ignoring the fact that he is working for the wrong guy (and how he treated Leung Foon was wrong). At the end of the movie, he became self-obsessed, trying to prove that he can beat Wong Fei-hung, and ignoring his integrity as a martial artist (something that’s really important for the people who practice martial art), and throw cheap shots like the tail blade at him. The transformation of his personality was just too much for me to like.
DeleteI'm not sure that ll of that was a transformation, as much as a revealing of his character. The introductory scene, where he is using martial arts as a street performer, almost begging for some money, so that he can eat, we see a look in his eyes as he kneels to pick money up off the ground that seems almost hopeless. His mastery of the martial arts wasn't really helping him eat, so he was driven, to prove his martial arts wasn't useless, to redeem his name, to escape the shame of performing for money. In my opinion, he had quite strong motivation for the things he did.
DeleteI also didn't feel that the love connection between the 13th aunt and Wong was the most important theme in the movie. However, I do feel that for an action film to be successful, there has to be an element of love involved, so that the main hero can appear to have some sort of emotional attachment to others. I felt that it made the movie more enjoyable, but that it wasn't entirely necessary to have.
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ReplyDeleteThis movie, directed by Tsui Hark, embodied some of the best Kong-fu fight sequences to be found anywhere in the entire genre. Not only were the fights choreographed with amazing skill and dexterity, there was also supreme creativity and use of forces at work here. The angle placement of the camera was always effective and the fight scenes between the hero and his enemies are set up with admirable presence and dignity. Furthermore, the editing was bold and crisp; for the most part everything flowed very well from one scene to the next. Jet Li was unparalleled in his martial arts glamour. His stern demeanor accentuated his role as a leader and a man of principle.
Jet Li played Wong Feihong, a doctor who also happened to be renowned for his skill in martial arts. Against his will, he became involved in combating the local gang, whose rivalry and antagonism was set up by a flimsy pretext. (Apparently gang violence usually are created over the most trifle of instances) On the one hand, Feihong, had to deal with the local thugs, on the other, he had to deal with government officials and foreign mercenaries.
Along for the ride were some touching characters playing Wong Feihong's students, the stuttering Western-educated nerd and the formidably huge pork merchant. The addition of Aunt 13 to the cast added shy romance, providing a nice contrast to all the fighting and constant strife and chaos.
The movie featured a convincing historical backdrop and captured the national Chinese character well, at least, the 19th century, pre-Communist era. The music score was very nicely done and complemented the film well. At times, the movie evoked as much emotion as the characters themselves.
The only problem with this film may be its overly ambitious goals of trying to tackle everything at once. There was the sentiment of saving China from "foreign devils" as well as the sentiment that China was rotting and corrupt at its core, with the Chinese betraying the Chinese. There was also the strong sense of there being too few good men like Wong Feihong, with a strong desire to do right by his country. Over all, the movie's message was multi-layered and complex and can be confusing to the unschooled audience.
Still, this movie, made in 1991, showed off Jet Li's lyrical martial arts grace in full glory and in its best moments, takes fighting to a transcendent level.
Jet Li's "lyrical martial arts grace" is the perfect way to describe his fighting style. Each movement has a purpose, and in this way his fighting is like watching a dance or indeed listening to a graceful melody.
DeleteI agree with “the movie featured a convincing historical backdrop and captured the national Chinese character well” but I don’t think ambitious goals is the film’s problem, I just can feel the strong patriotic feeling.
Deletethe movie Once Upon a Time in China is one of my favourite movies of all time, I have watched it for more than 20 times.And the song of this movie is very famous as well, the strength and the power in the song can always cheer people up, even it has been decades, but I am sure that most of the Chinese people know how to sing this song. The time of the movie is at the end of Qing Dynasty in China, after the Chinese Government signed the unequal treaties with other countries. Huang Feihong is one of the 10 martial masters at that time, and this movie tells us the story about him.
ReplyDeleteChina was very unstable at that time, and Europeans and Americans came to the China mainland, carved up different areas for themselves. Huang was a master who teaches people Kungfu, for toning up people's bodies and helping China to expel the invaders. However, Huang was set-up by a group of Chiese people who tried to work with the invaders and get benefits from them, some of these people are mafias, and some of these people are working for the government. These people told CHinese people that America is full of gold, and they force them to go to American and work. Huang Feihong stands out and fight with thses people and the invaders.
This movie shows the great personality of Huang, he always has the spirit which a person should have, he knows who he is, he knows what he is capable of, and he prevails the justice. At that time, China was unstable, but Huang did not pander to the foreign people, he always believed in his own country.
I also liked the film's theme song, the song performance of the Chinese people a spirit of self. Of course, the most important thing is, the performance of a martial artist's realm.
DeleteOnce Upon A Time In China is the English title for film Wong Fei Hung in Hong Kong. Wong Fei Hung is a famous hero in China and there is a list of films featuring this Chinese folk hero, and one of the Guang Dong ten tigers. Until now, there are more than one hundred films or TV shows described Wong Fei Hung, and in these films, Once Upon A Time In China is the most famous and popular one. Wong Fei Hung was good at Kongfu, especiallu, his Fau San Shadow-less Kick is redoubtable. When director Taui Hark described the visualization for Wong Fei Hung, not just want audiences to watch how heretical he was, but also let people know, Wong is a patriotic, honorable and worshipful person. Taui Hark is one of most famous and prolific of Hong Kong filmmakers and had deep impact for new wave generation of Hong Kong. (Page 34 Interview with Tsui Hark) At the end of Qing Dynasty, most of regular citizens were only trying to avoid problems and protect themselves. Like the film was shot a screen that when Wong caught the rogue from Shahe, Wong wanted the a crowd of onlookers as witnesses to testify the rogue, but people around were running away and no one want to testify the bad people. No body really cared about their mother country – China, like Wong Fei Hung is less part of people.
ReplyDeleteHong Kong belonged to the U.K until 1997, but from 1940s to 1950s, there were several patriotism films like Once Upon A Time In China, talking about a famous folk hero who protected China homeland from outside of China – the U.K or the U.S. People in Hong Kong were still Englishmen when Once Upon A Time In China is screened in Hong Kong in 1991, however, they were always treating themselves as a Chinese forever. When they watched this film, they had full hearted and enthusiastic love of their mother country. Director Taui Hark was living in Hong Kong only three years before he studied film in the U.S, but he love his mother country China so much that he is familiar with Chinese old story and famous folk hero. (Tsui Hark Profile) I think director also wants to use this movie to express China is getting big and powerful, and it is not easy to bully by western powers.
This film was a regular action film like other Hong Kong films in that age, but it did not just focus on the action and funny stories. Xu Ke paid most of attention on depicting the hero Wong and the characteristic of age for fending off the global change, which was brought by the U.K. and the U.S. people.
I had full hearted and enthusiastic love of their mother country like u said and also I believe Taui Hark showed us this film and told us that China is getting big and powerful, and it is not easy to bully by western powers。
DeleteThis movie began somewhat randomly, with a lion skit that I have actually seen on a few occasions. I say it’s “random” due to the fact that this was never referred to again, nor did it lead to anything at all. I felt that I did not understand the meaning of this opening at all. Nothing else about the opening caught my attention really and didn’t really get me thinking, it only made me confused. I also found that the movie did not hold a real plot line that it followed and that the movie moved really quickly from scene to scene without a lot of clarity as to what was going on. In this sense, I found it difficult to keep up with the main characters and what they were exactly trying to accomplish. This was an action, Kung Fu, movie which was the only somewhat interesting aspect to the movie to me.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that really stood out to me was the ample amount of elements going on in this movie at one time. “Pirate” ships in the background, while an opera sets ups, love in introduced, music is playing, and marital arts are going on not to mention to comedic aspect that this film also had, as well as action. After reading Reid’s essay, this quote somewhat proves why the director made the movie this way: “my professor told me not just to look in front of the camera but also behind the camera for something interesting” (pg. 37). I think that most of his movies probably involve this sense of busyness and chaos, in a good, action kind of way just due to what his professor taught him so many years ago.
Yes it is hard to keep up what happened. And the character Foon, seems overshadowed Master Wong.
DeleteIn Once Upon a Time In China, Jet Li plays a character who, for all intents and purposes, is Hong Kong at the time of the story's setting, as well as the time in which the film was made. Seeking justice against those who threaten the cultural integrity of China (and also Hong Kong), he looks for a "witness" to the wrongs done to his fellow men, whoever that may ultimately prove to be. As a historical drama and an action film, this movie is full of rich colors, vibrant music, and visual spectacles from start to finish. As a commentary on the historical events before and after the First Anglo-Chinese War and the imminent Handover of Hong Kong in 1997 - six years after this film was made - the movie excels in its presentation of characters as metaphors for different facets of 19th century history as it pertains to China.
ReplyDelete"13th Aunt," for example, is an interesting case. She is seen in multiple instances with a camera - a tool for recording and representing visual information. In the midst of a fire (~48:00-50:00) she quite literally risks life and limb to get a picture of Po Chi Lam as it continues to burn. And yet, she is also a visual proponent for Westernization and the West itself, given that she initially wears Western-style clothing and tries to get Master Wong to do the same (~38:00-40:00). Which is she: protector of history and documentarian of the China of fabled past or the vision of a new future for a country whose identity is in such chaos? In the end, we are witness to the image of a woman taking a photograph, which freezes into a still reminiscent of a photograph itself, but certainly not her photo. We view the woman viewing the scene, but never see the scene itself through her eyes. If she is indeed documenting the fate of the nation, why do we, the audience, feel as though we are looking at her from a universe outside that of the outsider? Between the viewer and the characters, Tsui Hark seems to have created a further degree of separation. This is interesting because of the emphasis on Hark's preoccupation with "saving" Chinese culture (Senses of Cinema profile). It seems prudent to ask ourselves whose eyes and whose gaze are most important to the director in this film (and any film, really), particularly given what we know about "13th Aunt" and especially given what happens in the scene following this one.
Though she may be a protector of history, capturing an image of something before it is forever gone, she also hastens the passing of history, if you look at the scene where her camera malfunctions, killing a bird.
Delete"I believe that romance is the key to the success of all action films. Love is very difficult to express in Chinese culture, so in my films I like to have a romantic touch where the nonhuman looks for love. The simple, single-minded people avoiding love survive. It's the intellectuals who have the most complicated attitudes that won't survive" (39).
ReplyDeleteSuch a deep phrase coming from a brilliant man. I didn't too much enjoy Once Upon A Time In China, but I did appreciate what Tsui Hark was getting at and the way he did it. After reading his interview, clearly the man is near genius. And even though the plot was at times slightly confusing, Tsui's allegorical use of characters was fantastic. Wong Fei Hung depicts Hong Kong, while the other major characters represent various countries, all vying for Hong Kong. It is Wong Fei Hung's constant struggle and fight to free himself and his friends from the rule of China, Britain and America.
This movie offers a new perspective on the fight over Hong Kong and only a man with such original thinking could have pulled it off. The quote I chose at the beginning only further demonstrates his originality as a director/producer.
To be honest, this is the first one of the Wong Fei-hung series, but not the best one. I do not think he told a pretty good story, but it's just a beginning, the following ones are good.
DeleteThe film " Wong Fei-Hung" mainly told a story about a Kongfu Master in late Qing Dynasty. The story happened in Canton, the western wave just came here and got the conflict between Chinese traditional culture and citizens. The foreigners are basically the villain in the film. They shoot normal people as they want and accompanied with the corruption government. They want wo sell Chinese women as slaves to America, ao sa Aunt 13, Wong's lover. She got abused but was save by Liang Foon. When Huang fei-Hung knew about this, he came to save Aunt 13 with the help of Liang Foon.
ReplyDeleteIt's a spirit about self defence and wake up to fight. When I was a child, I was always heard this name in the movie, on TV show and stories from books. He is the hero in Chinese culture, he loves the nation with all he heart and always fight for the unfair things. During that time, Chinese was regarded as the "weaken yellow" by foreigners. But Wong Fei-Hung was not. He is a Kung Fu master and would like to teach others. The other point is the conflicts between western and Chines traditions. Yes the Kung Fu is amazing, but it cannot win the guns; the paintings are fascinating, but it cannot record as a camera. Finally Huang Fei-hung knew that "fists cannot beat guns," he accepted it. It's kind of a symbolic of that time. People do not want to change but finally realized that it is needed to change. The topic song is also popular in China, the melody and lyrics are inspiring.
Sorry, I don't know what happened, but here is my response!
ReplyDeleteI must say that I was surprised when I found out that Tsui Hark was not educated in China, but after digesting this information and going through my notes from the film, I became less and less surprised. Tsui Hark was born in Vietnam and raised in China. He received his education at the film school at the University of Texas. With the multitude of cultures that Hark experienced, it only makes sense that some of these influences spill out into his films. Once Upon a Time in China is no exception.
The first aspect of the film that was surprising to me was the costumes worn on the women in the film, who were clothed in European style dress with a corset. In comparison with all of the other films that we watched, this dress seemed strange to me. In the other films, the women were wearing brightly colored traditional Chinese dresses, particularly when performing on stage in operas. In this film, the women showed a lot more skin and wore less bright colors. I am assuming this change in dress is a result of a combination of the English influence from the British in China at the time and Hark's education in the U.S.
One aspect of the interview that I found intriguing can be found on page 36, when Tsui Hark says, "...the film clearly takes a poke at the audience, say- ing that Chinese people do not know what democracy is. The first democratic revolution collapsed because of a power struggle ... the film also takes a sly poke at the current Government." The interviewer then goes on to state Hark's films have a small group of people that work together to defeat the "bad Chinese." This is a bold way to address a personal viewpoint on such a controversial issue, but I think it is a very effective way of trying to stimulate feedback from the public.
This is a movie starring Jet Li, whose name was once Upon a Time in China. This is a 1991 release of the film, which is a Hong Kong action film. The film's hero name is Wong Fei-hung. Tells the story of Wong Fei-hung is head coach of the militia, in a chance, who came under strong apprentice Liang Kuan. Hong Kong at that time, a time when the Qing government corruption, a large number of foreigners come to Hong Kong. Foreigners using gold as an enticement cheated a large number of our labor. Wong Fei-hung for justice with foreigners and the Qing government in a fierce contest.
ReplyDeleteThis is Wong Fei-hung series of films first work as an action movie, this movie is a success. But Once Upon a Time in China is not my favorite one Wong Fei-hung series of films. Because, I, as a Wuxia Mi, in this movie and did not find much Feiyanzoubi scene, but Wong Fei-hung's second film, there is more I'm attracted to my martial arts scenes. Of course, in "Interview with Tsui Hark" this article, the author mentions the early Tsui Hark has a strong interest in the comic, which he directed as Wong Fei-hung like a good action movie has an important role.
I remember when I was young I watched the series of action films “Once Upon a Time in China”. I was impressed by some people from this movie such as WongFei-hung, thirteen aunt Siu-kwan and Leung Foon. This film is unforgettable memories in my life, and even to some extent affected my outlook.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, this film has a strong historical background. It describes WongFei-hung (Jet Li) against U.S foreign forces’ plundering of China. I think WongFei-hung being a martial arts hero, with extraordinary gongfu skill and broard mind, he also has a strong sense of national pride. But the film did not portray him as a stereotypical image of a hero.
Secondly, I am very interesting about some taboo elements such as some relationship between thirteen aunt and him, or Leung Foon and him. The director Hark Tsui uses some humorous technique which prevents the movie from appearing too boring and preachy. Additionally, the film has several layers but it tries to tackle too many things at once and becomes unnecessarily complicated at some point. The story of WongFei-Hung offers a lot of fun that I enjoy watching it again.
The movie “one upon a time in China” was directed in 1991, the film is about the story of the time in the end of Qing dynasty of China, and provides a brief picture of Chinese society in the late 19th century, in that time the Western power was forced China into equal economical and political treaties. The Qing government was corrupt and incompetent, foreign power had their way with China and the live of Chinese people were different. The leading actor is “Woo Fei hung” in this movie; he has excellent fighting skills, and he is commander of local militia. He opens the “Po Chi lam”, teaching martial arts and gives the medical treatment for people. But the thing weren’t going so well, the gangs torched “Po chi Lam”, meanwhile the leader of gangs went over to Americans for the self preservation, and make agreement between the trafficking of women going abroad for prostitute. Which is contains Woo fei hung’s relative, the guy is Aunt13. Finally Woo fei hung rescued the Aunt 13 from gangs.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I’m concerned, the director Tsui Hark makes the movie to highest than a film, the Woo Fei hung is a microcosm of the era, we have to admit director Tsui Hark’s innovation and thinking, it’s amazing. The film “one upon a time in China” is the masterpiece of Tusi Hark’s martial arts film. A turbulent era, the broken pieces, and harassment powers, within the fatuous government, and ignorant people; a stunt, the fate of the generation of martial arts master, mind the world, make efforts; a romantic legend of love. Some people say that really understand director Tsui Hark’s movie people will know Tsui Hark film has two subjects the one is love, the other one is the feeling of the nation, the film covering the two subject, I think this movie’s English name “Once upon a time in China” can represent to the concept of the movie better. After that I think Woo fei hung was not a traditional knight, because he is not in the underworld but he is in the folk. In the past the martial arts works, the “underworld” is a far away from the eminent. Master Huang has unilaterally tried to maintain a friendly and cooperative relationship with the government, after the final defeat of the Americans rescued the women by traffickers arrested, also take the credit for all attributed to the viceroy. He knows when to fight, when should give face to the authorities, he is a human warrior. On the other hand, he did not resist when the local authorities coming to arrest him, but asked disciple revolt, delay time, give Aunts 13 time to escaped from the traffickers and give the workers chance to escape, he is not a niggle Confucians. He knows the rule of conduct, general knowledge, has the Chinese traditional virtue, although hated aggressors, but inclusive and trying to understand the western cultures. The film have an interesting scene worth to note, that is Woo fei hung with the viceroy side by side in the gun boat and watched the sunset afterglow and said: “From ancient to modern times, only the benevolent, can be invincible” this is speak right to Chinese traditional virtues, that is the "benevolence”. At last, film makes the Woo fei hung this figures under the background of the political conflict and cultural conflict between Chinese and Western, the traditional and the modern conflict. Change the theme of the conflict of chivalry and evil; make the character of Woo fei hung has new aesthetic significance.
ReplyDeleteThe modern Wong Fei-Hung series contains elements of humor without being just broad slapstick but are mostly films about a troubled China where traditional values are being overwhelmed by Western style and influence. Iron-Robe Yim's line "you can't fight bullets with kung fu" resonates achingly with the failed boxer rebellion, during which chi-gung practitioners mistakenly believed they were protected from foreign guns.
Wong Fei-Hung's struggle to find an honourable, peaceful path through the collision between cultures should strike a chord with anyone who has moved on from chop-sock and realizes that a kung Fu movie can feature a great story as well as great cinematography.
Wuxia culture is like another dimension that provides us with strong emotion, strong passion. I have always been a fan of Hark Tsui movies. He gives us a refreshed view of what we had before, of the values and of the way we looked at life.
A commercial film must be entertaining. Film is a mass medium, so director attempt to become one with the audience. Otherwise, sooner or later the audience will confront director. EverytimeHark I watched Tsui films, I always feel it really happened and like a part of my real life. His imagine is so broad, and he is so good at express emotion. I think emotion in his film is the most important part, we can see he take, many shots from different angles, so he can bring out the emotions of a scene. I love his film so much.
Once upon a Time in China was a confusing morass of plots elements, tangled together and though it seemed like it was leading somewhere, it simply led back into itself, leaving the viewer feeling as though there was little resolution. Tsui Hark may have directed films in many many categories, but I wonder if he has trouble separating out those elements when he films a different work. It feels as though in this film, he tried to tackle a bit too much, which as he mentioned, helps create a sensation, and helps the world feel real to the viewer, but leaves the viewer lost in that same world, looking for direction. In the interview with Tsui Hark, Craig D. Reid asserts that in "Once Upon a Time in China" Tsui shares with his audience an unabashed pleasure in straightforward storytelling." (pg. 35) I heartily disagree with this statement. The film pulls in and throws out characters like a child with too many toys, unable to decide on any one other than Wong Fei-hong as a central theme, and even he isn't exclusively the focus.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I loved this film. The departure from a solid, clear-cut narrative appealed to me, and I felt like I could get involved in each of the characters small sub-plots and desires. There weren't any real alternatives, other than appreciating the spectacle of martial arts. The most interesting characters in my mind were Bucktooth So and Auntie 13. They represented such an odd blend between western and Chinese cultures, So, unsure of his place in China, and Auntie 13 with her unrequited love, show a sense of dislocation, something I feel wasn't uncommon at the time of publication (1991).
The film “Once Upon a Time in China” was shown in 1991s in Hong Kong. It was directed by Tsui hark and acted by Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan. This is the first one In "Once Upon a knight" as the theme of the film series. It told us the story during Qing Dynasty, China was ongoing Westernization Movement. I think this movie is a great inspirational movie. The generation of master fights for justice in order to let the Chinese government wake up.
ReplyDeleteI watched this film before in China and when I first watched this film here, I thought the translate name of this film cannot support the Chinese meaning really well. However, after I watched this, I found the translation is really good. It much better represents the concept of the movie. This film has two different main topics, one is the love, and another is the nation. “Once Upon a Time” is a martial arts people. He has not only remarkable skill and broad-minded but also has a strong sense of national pride and responsibility. However, I cannot see that from the whole film intuitively. It is foiled by the background of the characters and events. The film describes the justice of “Once Upon a Time” and his friends and also foils the late Qing Dynasty Chinese people is self-care and the lack of justice.
In, “Once Upon a Time in China,” a theme of change can be seen. Set in the late 19th century, we can see changes of language and even the way they fight. For the first time, countries started interacting with one another more often. And because of this, more people began to learn another language. In this film, we see Americans speak Chinese, and we see some Chinese talking. In the interview with Tsui Hark, he says, “. . . The language coming out of China changed . . .” (39). Tsui continues, saying that “diplomatic relationships” caused a language of “subversion.” The film does a great job portraying how the Chinese people saw an outside language corrupting the Chinese culture. When a Chinese man speaks in English, he is called an infidel.
ReplyDeleteWe also see a change in fighting. Kung fu is clearly the dominant way to fight earlier in the film. But toward the end during the last fight, the Americans take out their guns and use them. A transformation from fighting with hands to fighting with weapons is another change that is seen as corruption as the English speakers are told they’re cheating by the Chinese.
"Huang Feihong" ,starring by Jet Li, is the first director in Huang Feihong series of Tsui Hark, the story from Huang Feihong over Liu Yongfu's black flag set to begin, interspersed with Liang Kuan apprentice, Yan Zhendong, and Shahe, so the contest help prevent foreigners trafficked labour circumstances, through a series of events by the Huang Feihong , This is the story of thought transformation of national hero Huang Feihong.
ReplyDeleteIt is Hong Kong classic movie, also known as the representative of cinema in Hong Kong golden age, is the outbreak of the martial arts movie of Tsui Hark after year of silence, also is for the mountains of Martial arts film of Tsui Hark. A turbulent era, the broken pieces, and harassment by imperialists powers, within the government is incompetent, and ignorant people; a stunt, the fate of the generation of martial arts master, mind the world, make efforts; a romantic legend of love. Some people say that people who really understand Tsui Hark movie will know Tsui Hark film has two major theme is love, the other one is the feeling of the nation, the film covering the two subject, I think this movie English name “Once upon a time in China”, which more represent the concept of the movie. As for the film, the script, director, actor, action design, photography, editing ,every part is no chink , I think this is the best film of Tsui Hark.
After watching this movie is the greatest feeling: in the process of growing up, each people are always subconsciously to set an example or idol. Especially in the juvenile period, heroism wind in our midst diffuse, everyone on the dabaobuping, curb the violent and assist the weak, prostrate oneself in worship, national justice to those dedicated to the hero sit up and take notice. Emergence of action movies, especially the "Huang Feihong" appear, let us these full of passion and vitality of the children had a spiritual resonance. It is no exaggeration to say, these are the chivalrous hero, in our view of life is formed, into the nutrition and blood to our culture, our sense of justice, whether it is much less, influence character by environment, everyone enjoy her moist. So the film has a deep influence on our mind
Tsui Hark, in his interview, proclaimed that he was the man tasked with "saving Chinese culture" (34). I'm not sure that "Once Upon a Time in China" is the movie to do that, but it's clear after watching the film that Tsui Hark certainly cherishes Chinese culture (despite having been born in another country). The foreigners are (deservedly) portrayed as evil, and the Chinese are merely trying to keep their identity among the foreign invasion.
ReplyDeleteOne quote from the biography summed up the movie fairly well: "- Tsui shares with his audience an unabashed pleasure in straightforward storytelling. His plots are anchored in his characters, weaving in the guiltless pleasure of stunts, slapstick, wild chases (no cars), and soaring virtuoso displays of gunfire" (35).
The story is straight-forward, the protagonists are clearly identified, and the action is what keeps you engrossed in the film. Hong Kong, again, is the central location of the movie, and continues to be the most controversial and fascinating of all the cities in China. It had a little bit of humor, a forbidden love story, and exciting action throughout. Definitely a winning combination if you want box-office success. The music was classically Chinese throughout the entire movie, another attempt by the director to highlight the importance of Chinese culture.
One of the things that stuck out to me the most in the Tsui Hark interview was when he talks about the things that occur “not in-front of the camera,” (page 37) specifically his “most prominent lesson in film.” (pg. 36) As Hark put it “My professor told me not just to look in front of the camera but also behind the camera for something interesting. When I turned around, I saw shadows of the dancers. He taught me to always look for things that most people weren’t looking at.” (pg. 37)
ReplyDeleteThis lesson that he learned a long time ago made a very big presence in his film, “Once Upon a Time in China”. The most prominent instance of this film technique was when the foreign-speaking Chinese girl was measuring Master Fei Hong for a suit. She was standing a few feet behind him and moving her hands, but when you looked at the shadows it appeared that she was stroking his hair; allowing the viewer to see the romantic aspect of the film. Another instance of shadow use was when the man went into the changing room and saw the shadow of the girl in the room beside his. One last prominent “focus on what is not in front of the camera” scene was when the man outside was banging his instrument and shouting “Beware of thieves, beware of fire”. The first time he does this, the viewer merely notices him, and then the film moves on. However, in Hark’s interview, the interviewer mentioned that in Hark’s films, “each scene really moves the film forward.” (pg. 40) So obviously there was a purpose to filming the man warning the citizens; which we later find out that after he walked by with his gong, the thieves really did attack, with fire. I believe that these two things mentioned in Hark’s interview really contributed to the success of the film “Once upon a time in China”.
I like the idea that every scene has a meaning, but I feel like at times it can be cliche. I'm personally a fan of 'red-herring' scenes that seem important but really have no greater meaning. I think that way reflects life as it happens (as opposed to memories which are two different things!).
Delete“Once Upon a Time in China” is a considered as a signature martial arts action movie filmed by Tsui Hark. The film made Tsui Hark earned 11h Hong Kong best director Award. In the movie, Jet Li portraits as a Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung who’s training the militia to assist Black Flag Army in defending the town Foshan from western invaders. His beloved “13th Aunt” got abducted by Shaho Gang who flee to American for protection. And finally, Wong rescued “13 Aunt” and other kidnapped women and killed American leader Jackson by hurling a bullet into his latter’s forehead with Wong’s fingers.
ReplyDeleteThis movie can be easily related to director Tsui Hark’s life. Tsui Hark was borned in a Chinese family in Viet Nam and then moved to Hong Kong when he was 14. He went to University of Texas for film major. Before his graduation, he had filmed a 45 minutes documentary of lives of Asian Americans. In 1975, he moved to New York after graduation, and co-produced the movie “From Spikes to Spindles”; in 1977 he moved back to Hong Kong. Like Wong Fei-hung, Tsui Hark has never forgotten his identity of being a Chinese or Asian.
One scene I would like to analyze is the scene that how Wong Fei Hung killed the American leader Jackson by hurling a bullet into his head. There were many ways that Jackson could have been killed. By using a bullet, it symbolizes that’s even the feudal China was under western new technology and gunfire, Chinese people could still fight back by give them a taste of their own medicine. Wong Fei Hung serves as the epitome of the era in Tsui Hark’s “Once upon time in China”.
Once Upon a Time in China (1991) is the first in a film series of the same name by Tsui Hark. It is worth noting that this is one of my favorite film series of all time, so expect a very bias response. The film is based on the exploits of Wong Fei-Hung, the legendary folk hero who happens to be both a martial artist and physician. This film, as the first part in the series, follows Wong's initial encounter with foreign imperialism; particularly, human trafficking perpetrated by the local Shaho gang. The gang is backed by American captain Jackson, who ships Chinese laborers to America on a three year contract with promise of gold, only to exploit them for personal gains. The gang is also aided by Wong's rival Yim, an equally adept martial artist who seeks to open his own school in the region. Obviously, it goes without saying that Wong and his disciples ultimately defeat the gang and their allies. This film also follows the secondary protagonist Foon, an opera performer desperate to learn kung fu and make a name for himself. He initially follows Yim, but retaliates against his master by the end of the film on grounds of morality. In the end, he joins Wong. In fact, he goes on to become one of Wong's most renown desciples, along with Porky Wing and Bucktooth So.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this film, from the music to the action scenes. The music is incredibly invigorating, first of all. The song played during the intro scene, "A man of determination", along with the militia training in perfect sync and harmony on the beach, with the sunset in the background, is a powerful testament to Chinese culture and tradition. This is especially true in light of the fact that, during this time, firearms are quickly becoming the dominant weapon of destruction. Notice this same song is played again (instrumentally) in each subsequent fight scene involving Wong Fei-Hung -- this good use of repetition establishes this song as a sort of theme for our protagonist. One important excerpt from Tsui Hark's profile, which I think highlights his success is that his plots "feature good guys on one side, bad guys on the other, and the protagonists caught in the middle, just trying to keep their heads down and attached to their necks." This explains the success of his films so well. Wong doesn't want to get involved in any conflicts and he doesn't want to westernize -- at least not initially. He is pro-tradition and prefers to keep the status quo. His polar opposites are his disciples, who seek conflict, and his 13th aunt, who embrace modernization. Character development is strong in this regard, as we see not only Wong, but other characters such as Foon and Yim change their respective outlook throughout the film.
After reading “Peking Opera Rules,” I learned that Tsui Hark was born in Vietnam, Hong King raised, and American trained. These different and diverse backgrounds are certainly expressed within the film “Once Upon a Time in China.” Notions of cultural identity become a prominent element of the film and the director employs Siu-Kwan’s character to exemplify this concept. For instance, she was born in China, but spent a considerable time studying abroad in the West and has an affinity towards Western culture. As the movie progresses, Siu Kwan gradually begins to question these ideas of Western superiority. In the beginning of the film, Siu Kwan dons Western clothing and endorses Western technology such as cameras. However, a pivotal scene occurs which makes Siu Kwan question Western ideology. At the opera performance, violence erupts. As a result, the Westerners line up their guns and shoot the Chinese, even as Sui Kwan yells for them not to shoot. An up close facial shot of Sui Kwan’s face as the Westerners shoot portray her shock and dismay at the Westerners’ conduct. Ultimately, this movie touches on ethnic and cultural identity largely through Siu Kwan’s character.
ReplyDeleteOnce Upon a Time in China was a story about the the coming western nations and what it is doing in China. Jet li's character is a skilled martial artist and doctor who helps heal the injured and the sick. As someone who is proud of his roots and chinese traditions, he looks at the coming wave of westernization with disgust. In part of the movie, Aunt 13 comes to get his size for his suit but he says that he will only wear a suit when everyone else is wearing one. In the end of the film, one of his opponents who is immune to traditional weapons in killed by bullets, he soon realizes that China needs to change or it will be left behind, wearing a suit before anyone else is and taking a picture.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the film was ok. It did a good job trying to show what it was like during that period. I also thought that it had lots of humorous parts in the movie. Tsui says in his article that "there must be content, everything must have a point to it, even the Kung-Fu fights; and film must appeal to the masses, but" (p.40). I didnt really see the "point" to all the humor. i think a little bit is ok but i thought it was a little distracting to the more important theme of the movie.
If I may pick apart your point about the humor and apply it to my own experiences I'd say that it could be a way to 'disqualify' the film from being taken too seriously. For those who might disagree with or not be totally on-board with the theme of the film, humor provides an outlet by which people can consider the themes which may be initially rather averse to them.
DeleteIn his interview, Tsui Hark says (in my opinion questionably) that "It's the intellectuals that have the most complicated attitudes that won't survive." (39) I think it's fair to assume that Jet Li's character in "Once Upon a Time" is supposed to represent the character that is the opposite of this. He is a fighter and a physician. He can use his powers to harm others, and in this case harm the bad guys, and his other powers to heal, and in this case heal the good guys.
ReplyDeleteI'm rather torn when I see a director stating this and while sticking to his word still manages to produce a film as great as Once Upon a Time. I personally would've liked to have seen the character have a bit of ideology. Why can't he come out and state in broader terms what he's about in the film? As I ask myself that question I come to the inevitable conclusion that it's in fact essential to the film that Jet Li's character is not an intellectual. In this case, actions are stronger than emotions. I assume Hark wants us to come to our own conclusions (and hopefully agree with his views if he has any) rather than be forced into agreement or disagreement with the protagonist. At the end of the day, we can always just sit back and enjoy the ride, fighting scenes and all.