Tsui Hark’s Once Upon A Time In China film series became one among many quintessential investments in introducing the world to one of Hong Kong Cinema’s most renowned film stars to date, with Jet Li in the title role of legendary healer and pugilist, Wong Fei-Hung.
Undoubtedly, it’s the first three that get the most attention having long been celebrated by most fans thanks to companies like Fortune Star and Hong Kong Legends. This time, Eureka Entertainment is taking the mantle once again through its Eureka Classics shingle with another revisit of the trilogy on 4K Blu-Ray, as well as Li’s 1997 reprisal in a 2K-restored Once Upon A Time In China and America, beginning December 7, brandishing new artwork to boot.
Pre-orders are now up and running through the UK’s Eureka Store and at Zavvi.
Starring Jet Li as the real life Cantonese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung, a physical embodiment of traditional Chinese values and moral incorruptibility, the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series is a martial arts epic that charts China’s transition into the modern-world as it gradually abandons its old traditions and begins to accept the inevitable encroach of Western cultures.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA – In 19th century Canton, Wong Fei-hung battles ruthless imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country and enslave his people, leading to a climactic fight sequence still regarded as one of the best ever filmed.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II – Wong Fei-hung faces off against the White Lotus Cult, a dangerous xenophobic group seeking to drive all European influence out of China, as well as a corrupt military officer, played by Donnie Yen in his breakthrough role.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA III – Wong Fei-hung travels to Peking and is forced to enter a martial-arts contest in order to prevent an assassination attempt against a prominent Chinese diplomat who wants to showcase traditional Chinese martial-arts, and restore national pride.
With action sequences choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series is a glorious high-point in martial-arts filmmaking, and Eureka Classics is proud to present Tsui Hark’s original trilogy, as well as ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA AND AMERICA (which saw Jet Li return to the Wong Fei-hung role after a four-year gap).
SPECIAL BLU-RAY EDITION CONTAINS
-4 Blu-ray discs housed in a single case, with slim cardboard packaging featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling
-1080p presentations of all three films on Blu-ray, sourced from 4K restorations
-Original Cantonese audio tracks
-Optional English and Mandarin audio tracks
-Optional English subtitles
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA AND AMERICA [dir. Sammo Hung & Lau Kar-wing, 100 mins, 1080p HD from a 2K restoration] – the final chapter in the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series, with Jet Li making a triumphant return to his most iconic role
-Original Cantonese, dubbed English, and original Mandarin synch-sound audio options
-Optional English subtitles
-“Making of…” documentary [30 mins]
-Audio commentaries on ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA I-III by martial-arts cinema expert Mike Leeder and filmmaker Arne Venema
THE LEGEND OF WONG FEI-HUNG [48 mins] – a three-part featurette on the legendary folk hero
MEMORIES OF ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II – Interview with actor Mike Miller [49 mins]
MEMORIES OF ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA III – Interview with actor John Wakefield [29 mins]
Archival interview with actor and Shaw Brothers veteran, Yen Shi-kwan [10 mins]
Archival interview with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with Donnie Yen
Archival Q&A with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with director Tsui Hark [23 mins]
Archival interview with actor John Wakefield [11 mins]
