Once Upon A Time in China II (1992)

Once Upon A Time in China II follows Jet Li's legendary character, Wong Fei Hung, who is a masterful martial artist in addition to being proficient in many medical techniques. The story itself is fiction, but Wong Fie Hung is a real Chinese hero. The movie takes place near the end of the nineteenth century and continues to demonstrate the western cultures' influence on China.

Wong Fei Hung travels to Canton for a medical conference, where he attempts to explain acupuncture to a group of British doctors and medical students. During his presentation, The White Lotus group begins to shoot flaming arrows into the building. The violence quickly thrusts Wong Fei Hung into the middle of a conflict between the Chinese gang and the Westerners during the chaos of the dying Ching Dynasty. The White Lotus group wants all foreigners killed and has no tolerance for their seeming invasion of China. Wong Fei Hung must protect the innocent foreigners and his Aunt as he prepares for a showdown with the group's leader.

Jet Li is fantastic in Once Upon A Time in China II. In many action movies, the hero first faces extreme adversity and eventually defeats his opponents only after being beaten up or wounded. In Once Upon A Time in China II, Jet Li annihilates his opponents and dominates in each of his fights. It is clear from the previous movie that Wong Fei Hung is in control and almost unstoppable. Jet Li exudes infinite confidence and his character is clearly the best martial artist at the time.

The fight scenes are absolutely amazing and rank among the all-time top fights ever filmed. In many good Hong Kong action movies, there are a few good fight scenes and one great final showdown. In Once Upon A Time in China II there are no less than five great fight scenes spread throughout the movie, meaning there is never a dull moment. Even a smaller wooden lance duel is awesome. Wong Fei Hung is a captivating character and one of the best that Jet Li has ever had the opportunity to play.

The movie's score is great, sometimes relying on classical music from Mozart and other famous composers. The rest of the music is excellent too, fitting perfectly with whatever is occurring on-screen. The cinematography is great and the sets are impressive, which makes Once Upon A Time in China II a true masterpiece. The historical nature of the series in general adds credibility to each movie, but the fights are truly what make the second installment stand above nearly ever movie of its type.

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