Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Khan/Yeoh, Chin Siu-Ho, Fennie Yuen, Yuen Cheung-Yan
Year: 1993
Jet Li stars in this tale of two best friends, Junbao (Li) and Tienbao (Chin Siu-Ho), who grow up together in a Shaolin monastery. During a competition Tienbao comes into conflict with one of the masters, and the two are expelled from the school. Out in the world for the first time, the two stumble upon a group of revolutionaries led by Michelle Yeoh who oppose cruel ruler eunuch Jin. Junbao joins the rebels but Tienbao, greedy for wealth and power, signs up in the eunuch's army. He quickly rises in the ranks by betraying Junbao and the revolutionaries. This is too much for Junbao to bear, who loses his mind. Only through the powers of tai chi is he both able to regain his sanity and defeat his former companion gone bad.
If you love wire-fu action, then this is the film to watch. This film is packed with gravity-defying fight scene after fight scene that will leave your head spinning. This film does not have the subtle complexities or serious exploration of socio-political issues found in the OUATIC series. What it does have is the highest ratio of asses whupped per minute. Watch as Jet Li takes on eunuch Jin's entire army . . . and wins. See people being thrown about as human weapons. See the classic Shaolin pole formation. See the incredible team-up of Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. See this film! Alright, I'll calm down. After about the first ten minutes the action kicks in and doesn't let up much thereafter. There isn't much of a story, but you won't mind. This film moves briskly from action scene to action scene with a good measure of humor in between, and it never gets tedious or repetitive. This film is just plain fun, and one of my top 5 favorites. I rated it 9 out 10 stars