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Once Upon A Time In China Reviews

1993

70
from 3138 members

Though generally unknown to Western audiences, Tsui Hark is considered a giant among Asian filmmakers and this exceptional epic, combining hard-hitting martial-arts action with romance, comedy, history, genuine poignance, and sharp insight into the effects of the century-long encroachment of Western civilization in Asia more .. Read more

Starring	Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Biao, Jacky Cheung
Director	Tsui Hark
Genres	Action/Adventure

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Critic's review of Once Upon A Time In China
View all critics' reviews (3)
- Tsui Hark has been trawling his childhood memories of Hong Kong for years, looking for stories to remake and heroes to... read more on Time Out
- 58319
- - Time Out
  - 18 Aug 2009 at 00:56
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Once Upon A Time In China
View all members' reviews (25)
- - 43
  - 18
  Complete Rubbish
  
  Overhyped and simply doesn't deliver. Ignore that fawning review titled 'Perfection' - this movie pretends at grandeur but is a real stinker. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 53729
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Lord Q
  - Winchester, UK
  - 17 Nov 2004 at 10:00
Most recent members' reviews of Once Upon A Time In China
View all members' reviews (25)
- - 0
  - 0
  A title that hasn't aged well
  
  I remember seeing this 15 years ago, back then it was amazing to see the special effects on the martial arts, now, it's ated and really lacking a worthwhile... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1063886
- - Attentif
  - 8 reviews
  - London
  - 17 Nov 2011 at 18:40
- - 0
  - 0
  Martial Arts
  
  As much as I love martial arts films and subtitles I could not get into this film at all. It wasnt one that I enjoyed or even perservered with, in fact I ended ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1039097
- - sammyrush
  - 11 reviews
  - 10 Sep 2011 at 16:07
- - 2
  - 0
  ONCE UPON A TIME...
  
  A fine showcase for Jet LI's impressive martial skills but rather a feeble, elliptical and impressionistic drama that fails to engage the emotions as it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 956394
- - a customer
  - TUNBRIDGE WELLS, ENGLAND
  - 23 Jan 2011 at 14:41
- - 0
  - 0
  Makes Bruce-Lee look plausible
  
  I am trying to not enter a star but I expect it to return to me.
  
  However - this is comedy. Nothing more.
  
  I managed to hang on for about 30... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 955880
- - a customer
  - Does it matter?
  - 21 Jan 2011 at 20:19
- - 0
  - 3
  Jet from gladiators
  
  Great violence and sweetness all over, watching this film is like pouring melted sugar on your eyes. Shame its all fake i offered Jet Li out once but he bottled... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 839741
- - BarryNormski
  - 44 reviews
  - Derby
  - 14 Dec 2009 at 14:51
- - 0
  - 0
  Great Movies
  
  this movie is a great movie and was the exciting beginning of Chinese cinema to the west. The choreographed fight scenes are second to none and are ripped off ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 835323
- - ChefKing
  - 2 reviews
  - Leatherhead
  - 28 Nov 2009 at 20:20
- - 1
  - 0
  Jet Li's Best
  
  This was the movie that shot Jet Li to fame in the HK movie scene. It was a big hit in HK and most of Asia. Unfortunately, based on the reviews here I think ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 828872
- - a customer
  - Aberdeen
  - 07 Nov 2009 at 19:29
- - 1
  - 0
  Half way house
  
  This is a bit of a half way house between the wonderful historical epics of Kaige Chen and Zhang Yimou and bad 70s Kung Fu movies. Not bad but slightly over ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 670705
- - a customer
  - Sheffield
  - 09 Dec 2008 at 15:59
- - 1
  - 1
  Action film with comedy bits
  
  A film full of kung fu action and little bits of comedy ,with jet li in it
  
  Report this review
- 602459
- - a customer
  - Leeds
  - 23 Jul 2008 at 17:56
- - 1
  - 0
  Martial arts
  
  There seemed to be a lot of martial arts action but very little story in this film.
  
  Report this review
- 570816
- - Mal
  - 98 reviews
  - Gloucester
  - 31 May 2008 at 07:34
View all members' reviews (25)

- - 43
  - 18
  Complete Rubbish
  
  Overhyped and simply doesn't deliver. Ignore that fawning review titled 'Perfection' - this movie pretends at grandeur but is a real stinker. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 53729
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Lord Q
  - Winchester, UK
  - 17 Nov 2004 at 10:00
- - 16
  - 1
  One of the best martial arts films of all time.
  
  Let me start by pointing out to those who are incapable of working their DVD Players (& from the reviews on here there seem to be a few) that this movie ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 92248
- - a customer
  - Peterborough, England
  - 14 Apr 2005 at 00:12
- - 13
  - 3
  Completely spoiled.....
  
  by the absolutely dreadful dubbing into English!! I even tried watching with the sound down and subtitles on - but it didn't really help. Therefore my ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 9890
- - Hurdlemagurdle
  - 77 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 09 Jul 2004 at 11:03
- - 12
  - 5
  I don't understand...
  
  I don't understand how this could eve have been termed a "classic" by some... After 20 minutes I switched it off, it was that bad: dialogue / ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 45050
- - Rory#17
  - TOTNES
  - 25 Aug 2004 at 11:52
- - 6
  - 2
  A fantastic tale of ...
  
  A fantastic tale of China begining to feel the influence of westernisation. Jet Li plays the legendary hero Wong Fei Hung, a noted physician, philospher and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 27046
- - Pauley#1
  - BRYNFORD
  - 22 Jan 2004 at 19:40
- - 4
  - 1
  Not his best!
  
  I am a great Jet Li fan but have to admit this was not one of his best. To start with the dubbing was poor, it would have been better to have been subtitled. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 66577
- - a customer
  - Kent
  - 24 Jan 2005 at 12:08
- - 4
  - 2
  CLASSIC. I loved this ...
  
  CLASSIC. I loved this film. From the very start, Jet Li displays his physical power and martial arts skill. The action sequences (which are long and many) are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 32592
- - Steve#40
  - PETERBOROUGH
  - 07 Apr 2004 at 17:32
- - 2
  - 0
  ONCE UPON A TIME...
  
  A fine showcase for Jet LI's impressive martial skills but rather a feeble, elliptical and impressionistic drama that fails to engage the emotions as it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 956394
- - a customer
  - TUNBRIDGE WELLS, ENGLAND
  - 23 Jan 2011 at 14:41
- - 1
  - 0
  Basically an excellent...
  
  Basically an excellent 2 hour fight - but you'd be disappointed if it wasn't. Confusing, daft plot and some weird, unamusing humour - one of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 29852
- - Sam#4
  - LONDON
  - 08 Mar 2004 at 09:30
- - 1
  - 0
  Martial arts
  
  There seemed to be a lot of martial arts action but very little story in this film.
  
  Report this review
- 570816
- - Mal
  - 98 reviews
  - Gloucester
  - 31 May 2008 at 07:34

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Once Upon A Time In China
  
  Though generally unknown to Western audiences, Tsui Hark is considered a giant among Asian filmmakers and this exceptional epic, combining hard-hitting martial-arts action with romance, comedy, history, genuine poignance, and sharp insight into the effects of the century-long encroachment of ...