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Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Xin Xin Xiong, Kwok-Pong Chan, Jeff Wolfe ... see more see more... , Joe Sayah , Christa Belle Eucht , Patrick Lung , Richard Ng

Martial arts master/doctor Wong Fei-hung (a familiar character in Hong Kong cinema) and his gang find adventure amidst the cowboys and Indians of the American West. The sixth in the enormously popular... read more read more... "Once Upon a Time in China" series of Hong Kong action films that was created by director Tsui Hark in 1991, this episode takes an entirely new direction for the series; it features plenty of broad comedy in the first half (though whether or not it was intentional is debatable), eye-popping stunts and excitement. In another unusual turn, it was also shot with scenes in English as well as the standard Cantonese. Wong's adventure's begins when he and his gang sail to San Francisco to oversee the latest branch of their Bo Chi Lam. They find a country where the Chinese are exploited and despised. Soon after arriving, the courageous Wong (Jet Li) loses his memory after the daring rescue of Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan), Wong's long-time love, who was just about to fall from a cliff. Separated from his group, the amnesiac Master Wong ends up with a tribe of Native Americans (all of whom are obviously white), who adopt him. Though they too know martial arts (as do the cowboys Wong encounters), but are no match for Wong, who proves his skill by single-handedly braving the spears, kicks and chops of an enemy tribe. Eventually, Wong reconnects with Aunt Yee and his gang; together they go on to have more adventures and battle a number of evil villains. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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64% liked it

7,123 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

Release Date: January 1, 1997

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DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000

Stats: 142 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (142)

  • deano
    September 6, 2009
    deano
    I'm happy to see Jet Li returned to his main character as Wong Fei Hung in this next adventure since part 3. The frequent fight scenes (choreographed by director Sammo Hung) are as exciting as ever. Jet's cool bullet-dodging in the climactic fight is fun, but only real highlight ... read moreis the scene where Fei Hung's loyal comrade Seven attempts to cure his master's amnesia by fighting him in the styles of villains from the previous films.
  • kpn666
    July 4, 2006
    kpn666
    Great period pic!
  • rageofsadako2008
    December 24, 2008
    rageofsadako2008
    Jackie Chan had planned on making Shaghai Noon for years before he eventually did with Owen Wilson. Of those numerous times he attempted it, 1997 was an especially interesting year. While going into production, Sammo Hung and Tsui Hark made Once Upon a Time in China and America, ... read moreand took the story Chan was originally going to use and applied it to the Wong Fei Hung character. Jackie had to change certain things about his movie-i.e: the old west setting, which became Africa-, and his production eventually became 1997's Who am I? Shanghai Noon followed in the new millenium. This, though, is quite decent. It was filmed in Texas, btw.
  • soulxside
    December 14, 2007
    soulxside
    Before Shanghai Noon, Jet Li had a go at making roughly the same film. This one felt a little off, but I really enjoyed the hell out of it.

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Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

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Cole Smithey
July 15, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
August 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Christopher Null
June 5, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

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Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

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Marjorie Baumgarten
March 10, 2003
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

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January 1, 2000
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

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Walter V. Addiego
January 1, 2000
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Examiner

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