Well Go USA released Once Upon A Time In Shanghai to Blu-ray on Jan 13.
Wong Ching Po’s Once Upon A Time In Shanghai is a new-school kung fu film that tries, with mixed success, to be a throwback to the old-school classics. It is a remake of sorts, not of 1998’s Once Upon A Time In Shanghai, but rather The Shaw Brothers’ The Boxer from Shantung (1972) and other takes on folk hero Ma Wing Jing/Ma Yong Zhen.
Due to its highly stylized approach, this one’s pretty uneven with some high highs and low lows.
Certain thematic elements and plot points will be familiar to anyone who’s familiar with the kung fu genre: Bruce Lee homage, organized crime, friendship and brotherhood, and of course the Japanese occupation of China in the 1930s and 40s.
Even for those who haven’t seen The Boxer from Shantung, the story will feel familiar. The idea of Chinese nationals coming to blows with Japanese aggressors has been done many times before, most famously in Fist Of Fury (That’s The Chinese Connection to those of you who grew up with the goofy retitled Bruce Lee canon). And like The Big Boss (also known as Fists Of Fury because the 70s were a very confusing time) and similar films, it’s centered on a gentle lower-class laborer who comes to town and ends up becoming a one-man army, fighting the system.
The idea of a “fist of fury” is also baked right into our hero Ma Yongzhen (Phillip Ng), whose literal fist is so furious it land punches with devastating effect — he’s also a mean arm-wrestler. Ma’s skills and righteousness put him in direct contact with successful gangster Long Qi (Andy On). They first meet as enemies, but the pair win each others’ respect and become good friends, each affecting the other’s personality and worldview. The odd pairing surprises the friends of both men, but will become even more critical as they unite against foreign interests (read: the Japanese) who want to take over Long Qi’s territory and operations.
The film does drag a bit as various parties of grimacing gangsters sit around looking tough and saying tough-sounding things to each other. It seems some of this could’ve been whittled down in favor of exploring more of Ma’s important — and undercooked — relationships with Long Qi, neighborhood sage Master Tie (Sammo Hung), and love interest Miss Tie. Even the major villains feel somewhat impersonal.
There have always been plenty of kung fu films set in and around the early 20th Century, particularly the interwar period, a post-dynastic time marked by the rise of Communism and Japanese occupation. Even so, it seems the popularity of this setting may have actually risen in recent years, with entries like Kung Fu Hustle, Blood Brothers, Legend Of The Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, the many Ip Man films, and others.
Once Upon A Time In Shanghai attempts to stand apart from the herd by incorporating a highly desaturated color palette. The extent of decolorization varies, sometimes the colors stand out a bit more prominently, at other times the film is almost black and white. Apparently this choice was a compromise borne from disagreement over whether to release the film in full color or black and white. Unfortunately, the experiment doesn’t pay off. It would’ve been preferable if the filmmakers had picked one or the other and ran with it, or offered two viewing options for home video. Rather than enriching the film, the muted colors simply feel drab and drained of life. The style is successful neither as a throwback to classic kung fu (most of the greats are in color), nor to old-fashioned filmmaking (in this respect the digital picture and computery effects ring false).
Despite the film’s many missteps, the major fight sequence that caps off the film is pretty dang great. The movie’s action choreography is conducted by the undisputed master, Yuen Wo Ping. As Ma ascends the great steps and enters the Japanese villains’ tower in a fit of rage and vengeance, moving ever higher past increasingly difficult opponents, he recalls yet another Bruce Lee classic — Game Of Death. In fact the Bruce Lee references get pretty direct (and awesome) as he sheds his shirt and strikes some familiar poses. It’s a terrific endcap that serves up a yummy dessert to a somewhat mediocre film.
The Package
Well Go USA released Once Upon A Time In Shanghai to Blu-ray on Jan 13. The Blu-ray includes both Mandarin and English dub audio, as well as English subs. The subs are mostly fine but suffer from a handful of typos.
The package looks and feels quite nice; mine included an embossed slipcover with both glossy and matte textures.
Special Features and Extras
“Making Of” (4:39)
Despite the title, this is really more of an EPK style featurette of behind the scenes footage. There’s no narration or explanation beyond a few chapter headings (“Love And Brotherhood”, “The Action Scenes”, and “A Different Shanghai Bund, A Different Ma Yongzhen”).
Trailer (1:34)
Previews
Trailers for Well Go USA releases Supremacy (2:01), Iceman (1:42), and Kundo (1:57).
Some great fight scenes directed by Yuen Wo Ping and fun pilfering of Bruce Lee’s legend manage to land this otherwise mediocre film into the “recommend” category. If you’re hot on the genre, give it a rental or pick it up on the cheap (as of this writing, it’s $10 at Best Buy). Others will probably want to skip it; there are far better representations of the genre I’d rather steer you toward.
A/V Out.