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Once Upon a Time in China
Starring Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan and Yuen Biao
Directed by Tsui Hark, released 1990
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 minutes
When maverick Hong Kong director Tsui Hark chose former
martial arts child prodigy Jet Li to play Cantonese
folk hero Huang Feihong, critics carped Li was too young
and unworthy of the role. Now if his predecessor, they
said, the legendary Bruce Lee, were alive that would
be another story. Tsui didn't listen and the finished
product, Once Upon a Time in China, went on to become
one of the most successful Hong Kong kung fu movies
of all time. Benefiting largely from Tsui Hark's inventive
flair for special effects as well as Li's subtle performance
and gravity-defying martial arts moves, it reintroduced
the genre to modern Asian box offices and became the
first of its kind to gain serious critical attention.
Once Upon a Time in China was a remake of a hugely
successful Hong Kong film series that aired from 1949
to 1970. The series immortalized the tale of real-life
Cantonese doctor and martial arts hero Huang Feihong.
Set during the turn of the century, the film takes place
in southern China where an uneasy standoff between East
and West is unfolding. Meanwhile, government corruption,
triad activity and illegal smuggling rings for coolie
labor and prostitution run rampant. The influx of firearms
to the region has undermined the importance of martial
arts. Unwilling to watch silently the erosion of his
own culture, Huang uses his martial arts training to
actively defend the Chinese tradition, going head-to-head
(or more accurately, foot-to-head) against foreign aggressors.
As if that weren't enough, he also finds himself faced
with the tasks of disciplining his three insolent students,
battling a rival kung fu school and rescuing his lover
Shisan Mei.
Although Once Upon a Time in China is set more than
100 years ago, it is very much a flick for the 21st
century. Both this film and its sequel explore the issues
of Chinese national identity and the relationship between
colonial powers and Hong Kong. And Li's sheer screen
presence shines through in a role that he was clearly
born to play.
Any Given Sunday
Starring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis
Quaid
Directed by Oliver Stone, released 1999
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 minutes
Any Given Sunday tackles one of America's greatest
obsessions, professional football. Although neither
the National Football League nor its trademarks appear,
there are no illusions about the movie's target. The
story is about a team named the Miami Sharks (read Dolphins)
and its aging 38-year-old quarterback (read Dan Marino).
Most American sports fans, even casual ones will get
the point. However, that might be part of the movie's
problem as the only audience that can probably understand
it on the first viewing is an American one. You can
miss a lot if you aren't paying attention as football
references and chaotic in-game shots flash by. Also,
if you didn't understand the mechanics of the game before,
don't expect try to use this movie as a primer. But
having said that, the movie has a lot going for it.
Yes, sometimes it resorts to cliches, and no, it won't
change the sports movie genre, but it does take an unscathing
look behind the scenes of professional sports. Crooked
doctors, egos, racial politics and discussions about
money versus loyalty are all part of the mix. And, in
his usual, no-holds barred style, Oliver Stone doesn't
put on the kid gloves when handling controversial themes.
You'll be happy to know that Al Pacino, as the slightly
long-in-the-tooth football coach, doesn't rely on his
trademark explosive outbursts. Instead, he plays a quieter
role, more like a man who vaguely knows that he's over-the-hill
instead of one who's furiously fighting it. Jamie Foxx,
whose previous claim to fame was in the short-lived
black-comedy television show In Living Color, also gives
a notable performance as a young quarterback who gets
his first chance at the big time after veteran player
Dennis Quaid is injured.
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