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Specifications: - Region 1 - Run time: approx. 134 min. - Subtitle: English, French, Spanish -
Menus: Static - Package: Keep case
Video Features: - Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 widescreen
Audio Features: - English: Dolby Digital 5.1 - Mandarin: Mono - Cantonese: Mono
Bonus Materials: -
Audio commentary by Hong Kong - Talent files - Bonus trailers
Theatrical Release: 1992 DVD Release: 01/09/01 Review Date: 02/07/01
List price: $ 24.95 On-line price: $ 19.99 Pre-order price was: $ 17.99
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| Once
Upon A Time In China
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Starring: Jet Li, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan
MPAA Rating:
R Studio: Media Asia (Columbia TriStar Home Video) |
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Movie: B+ Video: B- Audio: C+ Extras: B-
Summary:
"Once Upon A
Time In China" is an action film about Master Wong
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The Story
During a time when the Chinese are lured to the gold mines in America, and the people are infected with greed and the western ways, Wong Fei-Hung (Jet Li) tries to maintain peace, tradition, and protection to his people -- all at the same time. As a healer and martial arts expert, Wong is constantly bombarded with gun-shot victims and threats of being arrested from the young Chinese Magistrate (Ne Chi Yeung). Master Wong leads his militia to stop the western invasion and also Tong (Qiu Jian Guo) and his gangsters from harassing small businesses.
To further complicate his responsibility, he now oversees his favorite (non-blood relative) aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan) who returns from the west because she has taken on a new interest in Wong. Unfortunately, Wong and his militia are accused of sabotaging the town, and no witness dare to come forth to testify to the contrary. Meanwhile, Tong seeks protection from Jackson who trades slaves. For revenge, Tong kidnaps Yee for Jackson to use as a prostitute. Now Wong must take the kindness of loyal guards who help him escape to rescue Yee and bring freedom to his people.
For authenticity and
to see the film as the director
intended, I prefer and recommend the original soundtrack version without
the editing. With the English dubbed version, the movie is edited
to flow smoother with the translation, but this cuts out on some of the
original Chinese humor. Tsui Hark is the first director to use
special effect (opening ship scene), and he covers many political issues
besides wealth versus righteousness in "Once Upon A Time In
China".
Video & Audio
The image quality of this anamorphic widescreen DVD can be significantly improved. There are numerous dust specks throughout the film, and the image lacks clarity and color saturation in some scenes. The cinematography of Master Wong and his students practicing at the beach is breathtaking and beautiful, but this is one of the scenes marred by the dust specks. The Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound for the English dubbed version is well balanced. The Cantonese and Mandarin soundtracks are only in mono audio.
Buy
the "Once Upon A Time In China" DVD at:
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Rent
it at NetFlix.com
(Sign up for
NetFlix.com "Unlimited" DVD Rental Service Visit the Columbia TriStar Home Video web site.
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