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Starring
:
Jet
Li
Yee
Sing
Chingamy
Yau
Wang
Lung Wei
Deannie
Yip
Action
:
Yuen
Kwai
Yuen
Tak
Producer
:
Poi
Cheung Cuen
Director
:
Wong
Jing
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NEW
LEGEND OF SHAOLIN (1994)
A.K.A.
- Legend Of The Red Dragon
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
In
this fast and furious new-wave film, Hung Hsi Kwan (Li)
escapes the destruction of the Shaolin temple with his young
son and a group of monks with various parts of a treasure map
tatooed on their backs. To avoid the Manchu authorities, Hung
gets a job as a bodyguard for an important town leader. While
in his service, Hung encounters a beautiful con woman and
persuades her to join his noble cause. This brings them in
direct conflict with a horribly scarred Shaolin renegade and a
military general.
What
could have been a classic is rendered merely enjoyable by the
prominence of some very weak comedy. Instead of letting the
narrative gather pace, Wong Jing slows it down with his usual
tedious humour. Jet Li, however, is electric and plays the
legendary Hung Hsi Kwan as a very laconic hero. Yuen Kwai and
Yuen Tak, two of the best fight arrangers in cinema, create
some exciting fight action, albeit with an over-dependence on
wires. Definitely promises more than it delivers.
Rating:
 
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