International martial arts film star Jet Li (Black Mask, Romeo Must Die) is probably most famous for his portrayal of Chinese patriot Wong Fei-hong in Tsui Hark’s first three installments of the Once Upon a Time in China series. However, Li’s also played another famous figure from China’s past (and a character who’s quite similar to Wong Fei-hong as well), the lesser known, but equally interesting Fong Sai Yuk.
Wong and Fong were essentially the same side of the coin—both were fiercely loyal to the Han race, both were masters of various forms of Kung Fu, both opposed the corrupt Manchu dynasty, and now both have been romanticized on the big screen and brought to life by Jet Li.
Wong is probably the more recognizable character of the two (and the one that’s had more films made about his exploits), but that doesn’t diminish the fact that Fong Sai Yuk is a great film with lots of to offer to Jet Li fans new and old alike.
Narratively speaking, the film has a slightly schizophrenic feel to it—often trying to pull off a difficult juggling act between the film’s elaborately crafted action set-pieces and the slightly out of place sitcom-styled comedy bits. While I found the inclusion of much of the comedy surreal (and unnecessary), director Corey Yuen does a nice job balancing the two disparate elements.
The story itself focuses on Li’s Fong Sai Yuk. Fong lives at home with his parents—a stern and honest father played by Chu Kong (The Killer) and a laid back mother played by comedienne Josephine Siao.
Fong wiles away the days working on his studies, practicing his kung fu, and hanging out with his buddies—at least until retired bandit Tiger Lu arrives. Dedicated to becoming part of the community, Tiger Lu offers his lovely daughter Ting Ting’s (Michelle Reis) hand in marriage to anyone who can defeat his wife in battle. Fong Sai Yuk takes the challenge, and the two combatants duke it out on a wooden scaffold—whoever touches the ground loses. Fong and Tiger Lu’s wife battle back and forth, going as far as to fight while standing on the heads and shoulders of the audience in one of the film’s more amazing (and amusing) action sequences.
However, Ting Ting’s run off, and Tiger Lu’s replaced his daughter with a dowdy maid in a veil while the fight rages on. When Fong gets a glimpse of the plain looking servant, he immediately loses the fight. Word of Fong’s defeat reaches his mother, who then dresses up like a man and sets out to defend the family’s name. She does defeat Tiger Lu’s wife, but not before Tiger’s bride falls in love with her (thinking she’s a man).
The rest of that plotline plays out like a standard American sitcom—lots of mistaken identity and improbable situations abound before everything works out in the end (although, the ending isn’t quite as happy as you’d probably expect).
The other part of the plot deals with a secret society known as the Red Lotus. A local governor is dedicated to eradicating the Red Lotus, but he needs a membership list that Fong’s father has in his possession. When the governor captures Fong’s father and prepares to have him executed, Fong Sai Yuk must spring into action, battling the oppressive and corrupt members of the Manchu dynasty.
The performances here are all quite good. Jet Li once again demonstrates that he does a better job starring in these costume period pieces than he does in films with a modern setting. His comic timing is surprisingly good (although not as good as Jackie Chan’s) and his martial arts scenes are amazing (despite the very heavy reliance on extensive wire-work).
However, Josephine Siao is the real scene stealer here as Fong’s mother. Siao upstages everyone in each and every scene she has in the film. She spouts off one-liners, acquits herself quite well in the fighting scenes, and even handles the few dramatic moments with a great deal of grace. The role is very reminiscent of the Anita Mui character in Chan’s Drunken Master 2, yet this film actually predates Chan’s movie.
As one would expect, the fighting scenes take center stage here. Corey Yuen and Tak Yuen do a fantastic job creating the elaborate kung fu fights that dominate the film. There’s a lot of wire work here (which allows actors to jump high into the air and pull off other physically impossible maneuvers), but I’ve never minded wire work—particularly in period films.
Perhaps the only problem with the fight scenes (and the film overall) is the pacing and placement of them. Each action sequence is a spectacle, but the early ones are just as impressive as the later ones—meaning that there’s never any real buildup throughout the movie (a prime example of this problem becomes apparent when I tell you that I remember more about the early fight between Fong and Tiger Lu’s wife than I do about the final showdown—the last fight sequence should always be the most memorable). In some ways, Fong Sai Yuk becomes a draining experience, because it sets its pitch high right from the start and never really deviates. Of course, a full out balls to the wall pace is always preferable to a film that crawls along, but neither is as effective as film that is well paced with peaks and valleys throughout it’s narrative.
Fong Sai Yuk has recently been released here in the States (under the title Legend) and shouldn’t be difficult to find. I viewed an original Hong Kong laserdisc version for this review, which I think is always the best way to see these films, but if you can only see the American version, don’t let the dubbing and ‘newly improved’ soundtrack put you off.
Overall, Fong Sai Yuk is one of the few Jet Li movies I’ve seen that actually lives up to its hype. While it certainly does have some flaws, they’re outweighed by some fantastic performances, some breathtaking martial arts sequences, and some generally solid direction. If you like period kung fu flicks, then Fong Sai Yuk is well worth your time
Jet Li stars as a carefree young martial arts expert who gets involved with a government official’s daughter just as he discovers his family is part...More at HotMovieSale.com
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