Hero (starring Yuen Biao)...another CZ review

[Guest Chen Zhen]

just got an opportunity to watch this Boxer from Shantung remake last night, starring Yuen Biao, directed by Corey Yuen. wow, i gotta say this film exceeded expectations quite a bit. having watched the original film only days prior, my appreciation grew while watching it. big shoutout again to Yakuza954 for hooking me up with my copy...i got it in the mail yesterday buddy...thanx again.

apparently this movie wasnt a very huge success at the box office...too bad. its actually produced by the once almight Shaw Brothers, who also produced the aforementioned Boxer from Shantung. Corey Yuen's take on the movie is surprisingly faithful to the original, while putting in enough of its own flair.

if uve seen BfS, then u already know the gyst of the plot, but long story short, the main character Takeshi Kaneshiro, and his brother Yuen Wah move to shanghai and dream of rising to the top, just like the top dogs, Yuen Biao and (in a rare starring role) Yuen Tak. as Biao and Tak's rivalry grows, Kaneshiro comes up surprisingly fast. enter plot twists here and a few surprises, which leads to a climactic showdown involving all 3 top dogs. as already mentioned, the plot stays very faithful to the original, and left me very interested in the plot. Corey's direction is mostly pretty sharp, and Yuen Biao and Takeshi Kaneshiro are great in their roles. Yuen Biao is easily one of the best kf actors in the game and it shows. lots of twists, that keep the viewer on his toes and the plot unfolds quite nicely. in terms of plot, dialogue and acting, this is definetely one of Yuen Kwai's better films. pacing was fine too, action scenes are dispersed quite evenly throughout the film. im impressed.

now for the action. there are about 5 or 6 action scenes throughout this movie, mostly martial arts with a bit of gunplay. Corey Yuen and Yuen Tak worked on the action together, and they did a great job. the action scenes for the most part are pretty fast, well choreographed and inventive...and also some of YK/YT's most violent action ive seen to date. definetely bloodier than the avg YK movie...or the avg MA flick for that matter. one of the best fights is the opening fight between kaneshiro and biao on a carriage...very creative, inventive stuff there. camera work is generally very good altho one or two fights contained some camerawork and editing that was a tad too fast. but overall, as usual, i was impressed with the Yuen Bros action.

overall this film surprised me. i read many lukewarm reviews for this movie, but i took a chance on it, being a big Corey Yuen fan, and i ended up enjoying it a lot. great action tied with a good plot with well developed characters that you actually care about...thats my kind of martial arts movie if u ask me. great stuff.

8 or 8.5 out of 10

thanks for reading.

[Guest peringaten]

thanks for reading.

My pleasure - certainly got my interest levels in seeing it peaking.

Cheers!

[Guest Chinatown Kid]

It's been a long time since I seen this film but I remember not liking it too much, might need to rewatch this one again since you gave it such a favorable review. It's always a pleasure to watch Yuen Biao in action though!

[Guest The Running Man]

Did you see the version that has the uncut version of the last fight or the cut version of the last fight?

[Guest BKarza]

was a piece of crap. I first saw the Taiwanese version and then later on the big screen, the hk violence, hatchet job. Both suck. The tape didn't last long in my collection back then.

It's no wonder it was a bomb. It was typical crap of the time. All over the place and no heart. Yuen Kwei and Yuen Wah play the comedy guys. Takeshi K. does the comedy thing, then not. He's not right for the role even partially. If this would have been focused on Yuen Biu and Yuen Tak's characters, it would have been interesting. Do not go into this thinking of it as a Boxer from Shangtung remake, it will make you truly despise it. Look at it for the muck it is.

The action is the 1-3 move, quick cut, over soon type of that time. It's fancy and not memorable. It's got guns, hatchets, etc and still fails. In action piece, Yuen Biu takes on about 30-50 guys with hatchets. It doesn't last long, isn't deep, engaging or memorable, save for a kick to the head that is very nasty. I always ask what was the point of this? Kind of remake an absolute classic and do it ALL wrong. To make this and NOT have it be serious, was f'n dumb.

In BfS, there is a part where Ma goes to claim a casino in a certain part of town. Chang Cheh does it right. In terms of how the scene is played and then how the action plays out. In this, it's done with no heart, ummf, or anything. It's played like any other scene in the movie. That's a failure. The action that accompanies it is worthless.

The 90s had too many movies that didn't play it straight. Kill, then comedy that's not funny, then action, then unfunny comedy, then tragedy, then... That's what this is and that's why it's completely forgettable.

[Guest Chen Zhen]

Running Man: im really not sure what version this is...i'll have to check the running time most likely.

the comedy didnt really bother me, this film was serious with very few comedic moments. i thought Kaneshiro did a fine job. i went into this movie knowing its a BfS remake because it is. so many of the story elements are straight from chang cheh's original, its hard to disregard the comparison. the comedy didnt overwhelm the seriousness of the film. BfS had some comedic touches in it as well. that yuen biao fight was great. clear action. yuen biao still moves great.

The action is the 1-3 move, quick cut, over soon type of that time.

HK action has been like that for the last 13 or so years...long takes in general lost popularity towards the end of the new wave era. the cuts didnt really bother me, aside from the last group fight with Kaneshiro, and some of the casino fight.

[Guest luckystars]

Could you fill us n on the cuts Running Man? Is the Universe disc cut? I have that and a mainland release too...

[Guest Egocentrik1]

cheers for the review Chenzhen..I really liked the movie too and its not a " piece of crap" at all...:rolleyes

Anyway,I saw the uncut version and its a nice movie a nice remake..though I like the original version a tad more...:smokin

[Guest The Running Man]

Could you fill us n on the cuts Running Man? Is the Universe disc cut? I have that and a mainland release too...

The Universe disc cuts the last fight for much of it's violence. I don't remember what cuts exactly are, but there a several shots missing from it.

[Guest luckystars]

Damn. This I did not know.

I'll have to compare with a mates VCD cos I'm sure both my DVD's are the same.

What is the official uncut release please RM?

[Guest The Running Man]

I have the old UK disc for it that is uncut.

Don't know if it's still in print or not.

[Guest luckystars]

No problem, I'll do some homework on what I have.

Is yours in Cantonese/English subbed?

EDIT: I have the WA DVD and that has the ending intact. Removable English subs, Mandarin only.

I read a review that the UK disc has some kind of outtakes tho, is this true??

[Guest Thekfc]

I have the WA DVD and that has the ending intact. Removable English subs, Mandarin only.

I have the same disc.

[Guest The Running Man]

Is yours in Cantonese/English subbed?

Yup. Subs are the burnt in ones.

I read a review that the UK disc has some kind of outtakes tho, is this true??

Nope.

[Guest luckystars]

Done something I should've tried to start with...the adg Alt Versions thread.

Hero - 1997 Universe DVD is cut for bloody violence, especially during the finale. Metrodome UK is in comparison almost uncut. The Taiwanese LD, however, features a much bloodier version of a man having his head ripped off, not present in any other edition. Here you see the actual act, blood spraying out of the body, then cut to the audience, then his falling body. The HK edit only shows the Horse Riders, then the bloody pulp of the man falling to the ground. The Chinese WA DVD is minus Anita Mui's song and is cut for Violence; mostly minor stuff, not the most bloody scenes cut in HK, although the head-ripping is even shorter than in any other version.

So only the Taiwan LD is uncut? I wonder if VCD has seen an uncut Cantonese version...

[Guest HwangJangLee]

I believe the australian VHS, by Siren Entertainment is completely uncut, but I am not sure if it is still in print