ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA PART 3 (1993)

Starring: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Mox Siu Chung, Hung Yan Yan, John Wakefield

After the success of the first two parts, it was inevitable that a third part would appear so quickly. Moving away from the locales of Southern China, we head into the capital of Imperial China, where Wong Fei Hung's father has been living for a good many years. As well as visiting his father, Wong is there to tell him that he is planning to wed Peony, his Aunt 13.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager has endorsed a lion dance competition, open to all contenders, which causes mayhem throughout the capital as powerful clans try to rid their competitors even before the competition begins. Wong gets caught up in the disorder, as well as having competition for the love of Peony, he also has to enter the lion dance competition in his father's stead.

The one continuing aspect of the Once films is the development of the relationship between Wong and Peony. Here, their relationship goes a step further as they plan for their wedding, yet afraid to tell Wong's father because of Wong and Peony's familial relationship. Even though they aren't blood relatives, it is still something of a taboo subject. Also, Wong gets jealous for the first time, as he sees Peony's Russian friend, Tomansky, a love rival.

Maybe it is because of the weak plot in this third film, that I feel as if the love relationship between Wong and Peony is more central to the film than the lion dance competition itself. There are a few really sweet moments between the couple: Peony kisses Wong unawares in a factory, she teaches him English, they embrace in public; and the satisfying smug look on Wong's face as he takes Peony away from Tomansky is positively endearing. All of this add to the appeal of Wong's character as we see him gradually develop into a romantic person by each film.

Part 3 also introduces a character who will become a permanent fixture in the rest of the Once series, and a major player in the television series as well. Clubfoot Seven (Hung Yan Yan) is a bad guy for most of the first half of the film, but when he becomes seriously injured, his boss, Chiu Tin Bah, leaves him for dead. If not for Wong, Clubfoot probably would've died, but Wong heals him, and he later becomes one of Wong's students. The contrast is very evident in his eyes, as he enjoys the warm, family feel within Wong's household, as opposed to the crooked, cold, and nasty environment he was in before.

There is a lot of action in the film, but none of them really stand out. The fabled lion dance scenes are well executed and choreographed, but seeing Wong fight hundreds of people prove to be less exciting than it seems. Certainly, this finale cannot match the finales from the previous two films. The main problem is that Wong doesn't have a main villain to fight against. In part one, he had Iron Robe Yen, who was a worthy opponent, and Donnie Yen in part two also proved a good match, but Chiu Tin Bah in this third film simply can't cut it as the bad guy.

Overall, Part three is a good sequel, and offers plenty of good entertainment, especially the relationship between Wong and Peony, but unfortunately, I feel the action and plotting lets the film down.

RATING

7 1/2 / 10