''Last Hero in China'' is a 1993 Hong Kong
martial arts film
Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expres ...
written and directed by
Wong Jing
Wong Jing ( born 3 May 1955) is a Hong Kong film director, producer, actor, presenter, and screenwriter. A prolific filmmaker with strong instincts for crowd-pleasing and publicity, Wong Jing played a prominent role in Hong Kong cinema duri ...
. It is a derivative of the ''
Once Upon a Time in China
''Once Upon a Time in China'' (released in the Philippines as ''Enter the New Game of Death'') is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese et ...
'' film series, and unlike other imitations, it can be considered a spin-off or parody to some extent. It was released after the first three films in the ''Once Upon a Time in China'' franchise. The film starred
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, Chinese martial arts, martial artist, and retired wushu (sport), Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singapo ...
as
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
martial arts master and
folk hero
A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero – real, fictional or mythological – with their name, personality and deeds embedded in the popular consciousness of a people, mentioned frequently in folk songs, folk tales and other folklore; an ...
of
Cantonese
Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
ethnicity,
Wong Fei-hung
Wong Fei-hung (born Wong Sek-cheung with the courtesy name Tat-wun; 9 July 1847 – 17 April 1925) was a Chinese martial artist, physician, and folk hero. His recent fame was due to becoming the subject of numerous martial arts films and televis ...
and the action choreography was done by
Yuen Woo-ping. However ''Last Hero in China'' differs greatly in tone from the ''Once Upon a Time in China'' films as it contains stronger elements of violence and broader, more
slapstick
Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...
, comedy. The film contains some
Easter eggs
Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian feast of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The oldest tra ...
, such as a
Lifebuoy
A lifebuoy is a life-saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Other names
Other nam ...
poster in the 19th century,
a staff of
the Monkey King, a
guandao
A ''guandao'' is a type of Chinese pole weapon that is used in some forms of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese, it is properly called a yanyuedao (偃月刀; lit. "reclining moon blade"), the name under which it always appears in texts from the ...
and
Ne Zha
Nezha ( 哪吒) is a protection deity in Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (). He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" () after he became a deity.
Origins
According to Meir Shahar, Nez ...
's Universe Ring.
Alternative titles
* ''Claws of Steel'' (DVD release 22 Jan. 2003)
* ''Deadly China Hero'' (DVD release 27 Jan. 2004)
* ''Iron Rooster vs. Centipede'' (DVD release 7 Jan. 2005)
Plot
Wong Fei-Hung now has his own school of Kung fu, but its premises have become too small for his numerous students. Two of his disciples, Leung Foon and "Bucktooth" So succeed in finding an agreement with the owner of a vacant house. The school thus changes location... Unfortunately, Wong Fei-Hung's new school building is next to a "love hotel", which is unacceptable for the Master, although less so for his young students. What's worse, a new general wants Wong gone at any cost, for fear that he will reveal the general's dirty secrets...
Cast
*
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, Chinese martial arts, martial artist, and retired wushu (sport), Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singapo ...
as
Wong Fei-hung
Wong Fei-hung (born Wong Sek-cheung with the courtesy name Tat-wun; 9 July 1847 – 17 April 1925) was a Chinese martial artist, physician, and folk hero. His recent fame was due to becoming the subject of numerous martial arts films and televis ...
*
Alan Chui Chung-San
Chui Chung-San (often known as Shu Zhong Xin, Hsu Zhong-Xin or Alan Hsu; 16 August 1952 – 2 November 2022) was a Hong Kong actor, director, choreographer, martial artist and stuntman. He was known for being an action director and stuntman. Ch ...
as Lui Yat-siu
*
Sharla Cheung
Sharla Cheung Man (born 7 February 1968) is a Hong Kong actress and film producer.
Career
Cheung's acting career began in 1986 in The Magic Crystal.
Cheung was discovered by Wong Jing, with whom she worked on many of his productions in the early ...
as Ti Yin-er
*
Dicky Cheung
Dicky Cheung Wai-kin (; born 8 February 1965) is a Hong Kong actor and singer.
Early childhood
Cheung grew up with a physically abusive father. His parents divorced when Cheung was 14.
Cheung was educated in St Francis Xavier's College in Ho ...
as "Bucktooth" So
*
Bryan Leung
Bryan Leung Kar-yan (Chinese: , born 20 January 1948) is a Hong Kong film and television actor and film director who has played roles in numerous acclaimed martial arts films. He is affectionately known as "Beardy" due to his trademark facial ...
as Leung Foon
*
Anita Yuen
Anita Yuen Wing Yee (born 4 September 1971) is a Hong Kong film and television actress.
Pageant career
At the age of 18, Yuen entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During t ...
as Miss Nine
*
Natalis Chan
Natalis "Nat" Chan (born 3 December 1950 in Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong television host, film actor, singer and producer.
Besides his duties as a variety show host, he has also been a horse racing commentator and horse trainer. In total, his hor ...
as Mass Tar Wong
*
Kingdom Yuen
Kingdom Yuen King-dan (苑瓊丹; born 11 September 1963) is a Hong Kong actress with a long history working with TVB.
Life and career
Kingdom was born in Hong Kong, her father was an ivory carver. She started her acting career with HK ATV during ...
as San Gu
* Linda Cheung as hooker
*
Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu (Lau Kar-fai ); born Sin Kam-hei () August 22, 1951) is a Chinese martial arts film actor and martial artist. He played the lead role of San Te in ''The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'' (1978) and its sequels, and later played two roles in Qu ...
as Master Liu Hung
*
Dion Lam
Dion Lam (林迪安; Lam Dik-On) is a Hong Kong action choreographer and actor.
Filmography
* 1980 ''The Hangman''
* 1982 ''Energetic 21''
* 1983 ''Crazy Blood''
* 1988 ''Mistaken Identity''
* 1989 '' The Killer''
* 1989 ''Ghost Ballroom''
* 19 ...
as convicted robber and rapist
*
Wong Tin-lam
Wong Tin-Lam (1927–2010) was a Chinese screenwriter, producer, director, and actor, who has contributed to the Hong Kong cinema scene with a career spanning six decades. He has made films in Cantonese, Mandarin and Amoy dialect.
Career
Wong ...
as member of Moral Reform Society
* Pak Man-biu as Uncle Cheung
*
Szema Wah Lung as member of four com. associations
* Law Ho-kai as Robert
* Chung Fat as Yuen Lung
* Yuen Miu as Yuen Po
* Jimmy Au as Yuen Fu
* Julie Lee as woman chased through the woods
* Jackson Ng as young master molesting Yin-er
* Jue Tit-who as Yin-er's father
* Isabel Leung as hooker
* Gam Biu as magistrate
* Chun Kwai-bo as Nun Yah's bad monk
* Chu Tau as constable who beat Mass Tar Wong
* Chow Gam-kong as young master's servant
* Lui Tat as master of Nun Yah Temple
* Ku Tin-yi as hooker
* Roy Filler as Benjamin
* Chan Siu-wah as monk
* Ling Chi-hung as landlord's representative
* Lee Hang as constable
* Lam Kwok-git as constable / Master Wong's disciple
* Cheung Chun-hung as Master Wong's disciple
* So Wai-naam as Master Wong's disciple
* Ho Si-wan
* Lam Foo-wai
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Once Upon a Time in China
Films directed by Wong Jing
Hong Kong martial arts comedy films
Hong Kong action comedy films
1990s Cantonese-language films
1993 films
Kung fu films
1993 action comedy films
1993 martial arts films
Hong Kong slapstick comedy films
1990s Hong Kong films