Rise Of The Legend (2014) (Blu-ray) (2D + 3D) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Blu-ray Region A

Taking place in 1868 during the late Qing Dynasty period, the film is set in Guangzhou's Huangpu port district, where the Black Tiger and Northern Sea gangs fight for control of the pier and the lucrative foreign trade. A young Wong Fei Hung (Eddie Peng) arrives in town, and immediately joins the Black Tigers, making an impression on the ruthless Master Lei (Sammo Hung) after killing the Northern Sea boss. Rising up the ranks, Wong is soon one of Lei's right hand men, though is in fact pursuing a plan of his own, going undercover as one of a team of childhood orphan friends led by Fiery (Jing Boran, The Guillotines) and Chun (Wang Luodan, Caught in the Web), dedicated to bringing down corruption and rescuing dock workers being kidnapped by the Black Tigers for nefarious ends.

Though comparisons to Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China and other Wong Fei Hung classics are inevitable, it's best to approach Rise of the Legend with as open a mind as possible, since the film does present itself as a full-on reboot, chronicling events before Wong became a hero of the people. Of course, the thought of yet another origin story may well elicit groans from some viewers, though to the credit of director Roy Chow and scripter Christine To, the film doesn't do too badly in this regard, presenting a perfectly acceptable account of Wong's early years, if one perhaps a little over-reliant on childhood flashbacks. The story itself is an interesting one, with lots going on, and the Infernal Affairs style gimmick of Wong as an undercover agent fits well with the overall themes of righteousness and corruption, as well as giving the film a somewhat different feel to other more straightforward period set martial arts dramas. Though a little over-plotted and variably paced in the manner of Chow's previous works, it comes across as at least vaguely old school, with some training montages thrown in and a nod to the famous theme music from Once Upon a Time.

Rise of the Legend is certainly a prestige production, having clearly enjoyed a large budget and being co-produced by Universal Pictures - there's no denying that it looks great throughout, with impressive visuals, sets and special effects. Famed action director Corey Yuen's choreography is solid, if perhaps a little reminiscent of The Grandmaster and other recent genre hits and a touch heavy on the slow-motion, though it does at least have a reasonable level of impact, and never feels too computer-enhanced. There are a few standout brawls and one on one duels scattered throughout, notably the inevitable showdown between Peng and Sammo and a mass battle in a rainy alleyway, and the set pieces are generally well-judged and help to keep the film moving along at a decent pace.

Crucially, Peng does well in the lead role, and though the Wong Fei Hung portrayed here is not quite as charismatic as in other versions, this is more down to Chow and To's approach rather than his performance, which is likeable and suitably earnest. Physically, he proves a good choice, as do most of his co-stars, who all apparently underwent considerable training for their parts, and Sammo makes for a commanding presence as always, adding a welcome touch of gravitas and making Lei a layered figure rather than a simple villain. The big name supporting cast all put in respectable turns, including the likes of Tony Leung Ka Fai, Max Zhang (The Grandmaster), Angelababy (Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon) and others, and though such famous faces are a little bit of a distraction at times, they do help to up the film's star appeal.

This is only to be expected, Rise of the Legend being every inch the big budget Chinese blockbuster, aimed at mass market appeal. With this in mind, though it might disappoint diehards hoping for a truly old-school attempt to recreate the magic of Once Upon a Time in China and other Wong Fei Hung classics, it's an entertaining and fun film in its own right, and superior to many other similar offerings of late.

by James Mudge - EasternKicks.com