ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 4 (1994)

Starring: Vincent Chiu Man Cheuk, Mox Siu-chung, Hung Yan Yan, Jean Wang

After watching Jet Li revolutionise the image of Wong Fei Hung in the first three films of Once Upon a Time in China, it is difficult imagining someone else filling in his kung fu shoes. Especially so after Jet Li literally made the role of Wong his own - its akin to seeing someone else play Luke Skywalker besides Mark Hamill.

Therefore, Vincent Chiu had a big task ahead of him when he decided to take the role of Wong in this fourth instalment of the Once series. But after watching the film, I found that I rather liked Chiu as Wong - different as it is from Jet Li's Wong, but good nevertheless. If Chiu was cast in the first film, then I think most people would see him as a very good Wong, as his performance was marvellous, although Jet is the better Wong. Jet Li has more on-screen charisma than Chiu, and Jet has a boyishness in his performance, whereas Chiu maintains a hard-man icy cool aura. That's not to say he doesn't have a touch of intimacy and warmth in him, but just that Jet has the upper hand in the 'acting' stakes.

Part 4 picks up from where Part 3 left of: Wong had won the Lion Dance competition, but he refused to accept the gold tablet prize. Lord Sze brings the tablet personally to Wong, and tells him that the government have been challenged to another Lion Dance competition, this time from the 8 nations of the Allied Forces. Lord Sze hopes that Wong, as champion of the Lion Dance, would spearhead the team that would face the foreigners. Wong accepts the role, but there is also the complication of the Red Lantern Sect, who are causing havoc in Peking (Beijing).

When I first watched this film (way back in 1994), I felt a bit detached from the film, because there was no Jet Li and the film was about lion dancing again. I came to the conclusion that I could accept Chiu as Wong, but I hated seeing more lion dancing - couldn't the scriptwriters come up with better ideas? After all, lion dancing literally spoiled Part 3, and I was bored of seeing more. The saving grace of Part 4 is the martial arts action (very good in places, and quite abundant), and the performance of Chiu, who makes a dashing Wong. In fact, because Chiu is taller and physically stronger than Jet Li, his Wong looks more powerful and threatening.

Apart from the lion dancing, there are a couple of side stories in the film involving women. Rosamund Kwan, who played Aunt 13, is missing here, replaced by her sister Aunt 14 (Jean Wang, who is seen in Iron Monkey). Aunt 14 is like her sister, Western-educated, and very beautiful, with quite a lot of feminist ideals, but she too, like her sister, has fallen in love with Wong. Another woman in love with Wong is Hung, a member of the Red Lantern Sect, whose mission is to rid foreigners from China (like the White Lotus Sect in Part 2). But because of the limited script, both women don't get a chance to further develop their relationship with Wong, leaving their love to be one-directional.

The pacing of the film is pretty quick as we leap from one action sequence to another, and although I hate to admit it, Chiu is a better kicker than Jet. Unfortunately, there were a lot of wire work in the film, which I felt was unnecessary, especially as the previous three parts had limited use of wire work. But when Chiu is given the opportunity to showcase his martial arts, he literally flies. The biggest problem in the film, however, is the lack of a decent opponent - a flaw which plagued the third film. There is no villain here that you can positively think can put Wong in his paces, which is unfortunate, because I would have thought a nasty villain would have been far better than have another lion dance competition.

Mox Siu-chung and Hung Yan Yan reprise their roles as Leung Foon and Clubfoot, and yet again, Hung really shines. His footwork is really amazing, it's just a shame he isn't given enough to do. There has been a lot of work and energy put into the making of this film, with the large set pieces and tons of extras, but ultimately the film is failed by a poor script. Without Jet Li in the lead, the film would have benefited from a stronger plot.

Nonetheless, the film is enjoyable, very much so for the action, and Chiu makes a good replacement for Jet, enough so that he appeared in part 5 and a television series.

RATING

7 / 10