The Assassins

2012

103 minutes

Chinese, good subtitles

4 Stars

Based on the final years of Cao Cao, one of the most ruthless tyrants of Ancient China. Chow Yun-Fat is wonderful as Cao Cao. He made the old tyrant seem more human, a different take from what I've seen in other movies and or read. Yifei Liu played opposite, and I found her lacking. There was no tension between them, she was wooden, and the primary reason I dropped it from 5 to 4 stars. Kidnapped as a child, along with a friend, they were trained to become Assassins, and to win their freedom they must kill the Tyrant, Cao Cao. She adds little beyond a beautiful face. It turns out she is a princess, but we have no flash backs to give us hints, nothing until the end. Costuming, music, filming, and Chow Yun-Fat are all 5 Stars.

Trailer

Once Upon a Time in China, Part 3

Once Upon a Time in China, III

Cantonese, English Subtitles

1993, 111 Minutes

5 Stars

Once again Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, and Max Mok crossed Rainy Day's screen. Ms. Kwan provides the romance element, and does so with style; Mr. Mok is the ever faithful sidekick, Foon, and Rainy Day can't help but wonder if Foon was a name deliberately chosen as a shortened form of 'Bufoon' – he provides the comic relief. And, of course, Jet Li is superb as Wong Fei-Hung. If you've ever seen a Lion Dance during Lunar New Year in your local China Town, you must see this movie. It is filled not just with kung fu fighting, but with beautiful lions dancing. Some reviewers state the kung fu isn't up to par, but Rainy Day still found it beautiful to watch. The theme music is still captivating, oh, and it stars Jet Li.

For a trailer, click here.

Once Upon a Time in China, Part 2

Once Upon a Time in China, II

Cantonese, English subtitles

1992, 113 Minutes

5 Stars

Rainy Day should tell you at the beginning, there is NO set-up on this series of DVDs, you need to use the Subtitle button on your remote to get the English subtitles, but they are there. This time, Jet Li as Wong Fei-Hung takes on the White Lotus cult. One of the supporting characters (non-violent) is Sun Yat Sen, which makes sense as this story takes place in 1895 in Canton. Some stunning fight scenes, magnificent choreography, superb photography, and the story was pretty good, too. And, did Rainy Day mention it stars Jet Li? This is one of those sequels that is even better than the first movie.  Grab your favorite libation, a bowl of popped corn, sit back and enjoy. Donnie Yen's cloth stick fight at the end is almost believable.

For a leader of Part 2, click here.