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R E V I E W
Wing Chun
Tai Seng / 1994 / 95 minutes
Directed by Yuen Wo Ping
Written by Wong Wing Fei and Elsa Tang Bik-YinWith Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Waise Lee Chi-Hung
B A C K G R O U N D : director, in cinemas, recent and related films
Yuen Wo Ping had already established a sizable and distinguished resume as an action choegrapher and director by the time Wing Chun appeared. During 1993 he directed Tai Chi Master, Iron Monkey, and Heroes Among Heroes, as well as serving as action director for Last Hero in China and producing Madam City Hunter.
The film played for one week in Hong Kong cinemas in March 1994, earning a paltry HK $4.15 million.
This was one of the last films directed by Yuen Wo Ping. A couple of months later Fire Dragon came out, then The Red Wolf in 1995 and Tai Chi 2 in 1996. Each earned progressively less money. Since then he has served exclusively as an action choreographer for such films as Black Mask, The Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the upcoming Black Mask 2.
M O V I E : plot, performances, production, rating
Plot: Yim Wing Chun is locally renowned for her fierce kung fu. Scholar Wong Hok Chow comes to town for Beach Festival Day; concerned about protecting his assets from bandits, he decides the best way to secure the services of Yim Wing Chun as a bodyguard is to marry her. Wing Chun's aunt, known as Abacus Fong, takes a liking to Scholar Wong. On Festival Day, Charmy comes to town looking for medicine for her sick husband; the bandits attack, see the beauty of Charmy and decide to kidnap her for their 2nd Fortress Lord. Later, Leung Pok To comes to town looking for his long-ago fiancee Wing Chun; also looking for Wing Chun is 2nd Fortress Lord's defender, known as Flying Chimpanzee. None of this really matters.
Performances: Michelle Yeoh as Yim Wing Chun is solemn and serious many times, yet she also allows flashes of silliness, passion, and loneliness to dance across her face at seemingly unguarded moments. It's a beautiful performance, and (at least to me) her fighting looks authentic.. Donnie Yen Ji-Dan is relaxed as Leung Pok To. Waise Lee Chi-Hung is wonderfully funny as Scholar Wong Hok Chow, as is Yuen King-Tan as Abacus Fong. Catherine Hung Yan is sweet and touching as Charmy. Norman Tsui brings an imperious tone to the role of Flying Chimpanzee. Look for a cameo from Cheng Pei Pei close to the end.
Production: In many ways this could be considered a rather ordinary film. The story is not strikingly original, a lot of the comedy is silly, the music is a bit too chirpy, etc. From the opening moments, however, a smile crept onto my face and stayed there throughout . Much of that can be credited to the star power of Michelle Yeoh (see above) and the generally charming performances of the cast. The direction of Yuen Wo Ping is dynamic, paced at a gallop, and thoroughly entertaining. The enthralling action choreography is credited to Yuen Wo Ping, Yuen Shun-Yi, and Donnie Yen Ji-Dan. The cinematography by Mark Lee has a distinctive and attractive look (see below; Lee most recently worked on In the Mood for Love and Forever and Ever). That chirpy musical score was created by
Rating: Category II. Many scenes of martial arts violence, but no explicit bloodshed; several scenes with sexual innuendo.
D V D : look, sound, subtitles, features
Look: The letterboxed (approximately 1.78:1) presentation looked average, at best. The source print looked a bit aged, with some scratches. The color palette of the cinematography is predominantly golden yellow during the many daylight scenes, and the more typical blue saturation at night. Therefore it's a bit of a disappointment that the colors are not vibrant, flesh tones seldom look natural, and black tones are not sufficiently deep. The picture quality will not make you groan, though, and it is reasonably good for a HK film.
Sound: I listened to the post-synched DD 1.0 (mono) Cantonese audio track and it sounded fine for a mono track - you won't be blown away, but it gets the job done. Mandarin and English DD 1.0 (mono) tracks are also provided.
Subtitles: The removable yellow English subtitles are easy to read and well timed. I didn't notice any misspellings or other common subtitles mistakes. No other subtitles are provided.
Features: Twenty two chapters can be selected from a multi-page text with still frame menu. DVD release trailers are included for Wing Chun, The Heroic Trio, Executioners, and The Bride With White Hair, as well as theatrical release trailers for Tai Chi Master, and Fong Sai Yuk II. Filmographies are provided for Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Norman Tsui, and Yuen Wo Ping.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : buy, rent, or pass?
Buy. A 95-minute blast of sheer joy
(Reviewed 7/23/01)
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