Once Upon a Time in China II
Once Upon a Time in China II
黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強
Overview
"Folk hero and physician Wong Fei-hung travels to Canton for a medical conference, only to find the city in violent turmoil. Caught between revolutionary forces seeking to overthrow the Qing dynasty and the xenophobic, violent White Lotus sect attacking foreigners, Wong must use his intellect and unparalleled martial arts to protect his friends and the future of China."
Iconic Tracked Scenes
- ▶
A breathtaking duel using a rolled up wet cloth as an impenetrable staff weapon against a sword.
"wet cloth fight""cloth staff" - ▶
Infiltrating the White Lotus cult temple and fighting zealots balancing on high tables.
"white lotus cult""temple tables fight" - ▶
Final showdown fighting on precarious bamboo ladders inside an enclosed courtyard.
"bamboo ladder duel""ladder fight" - ▶
Using acupuncture needles defensively to disable an opponent's nervous system.
"acupuncture needles""needle throw"
Why It's Remembered
- ★Wong Fei-hung fighting with a tightly rolled wet cloth acting as a rigid staff.
- ★The massive scale fight against the White Lotus cult balancing atop tables.
- ★The intense blindfold-like showdown in the narrow corridors during the climax.
Cultural Context
- ◈Features highly allegorical political themes regarding Chinese identity and Western influence.
- ◈The final fight between Jet Li and Donnie Yen is widely considered a cinematic masterpiece of wire-fu and choreography.
- ◈Tsui Hark's direction redefined the Wuxia genre for the 1990s.
About the Action Elements
Once Upon a Time in China II is widely celebrated among martial arts cinema fans for sequences involving wet cloth, towel, staff, impenetrable, alley. One of the most memorable sequences features Jet Li naturally executing wet cloth fight, where the choreography and unique set pieces become the unexpected highlight of the film.