Legend of the Red Dragon (film)

Infobox Film
name = Legend of the Red Dragon


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director = Wong Jing
Corey Yuen
producer = Helen Li
Jet Li
Wai Sum Shia
writer = Wong Jing
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starring = Jet Li
Chingmy Yau
Damian Lau
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cinematography =
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released = 1994
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language = Cantonese
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imdb_id = 0110054

"Legend of the Red Dragon" (zh-cpl|c=洪熙官之少林五祖|p=Hóng Xīguān Zhī Shàolín Wǔ Zǔ|l=Hong Xiguan's Shaolin Five Founders; also known as "Hung Hei-Koon: Shaolin's Five Founders", "Legend of the Future Shaolin", and "The New Legend of Shaolin") is a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Wong Jing, and Corey Yuen, and starring Wushu and international film star Jet Li, who also co-produced the film.

This film showcases Hung Hei-Kwun's exploits as a rebel against the Qing government. Unlike Li's Fong Sai-yuk movies, the film has a much darker tone. Hung (Li) hardly ever shows affection, even to his son, and speaks in the same tone throughout the movie. The same applies to his son, who mirrors the little boy from Lone Wolf and Cub from his hair to his facial expressions. This is one of two films in which Miu Tse and Jet Li play a father-son duo, the other being "My Father is a Hero."

Plot

The movie revolves around Hung Hei-Kwun, who arrives in his village after a raid by the government, only to find his whole village destroyed. Hung Hei-Kwun quickly finds his son and gives him a test of destiny. Upon leaving his village he is encountered by Ma Ling-Yee who is also supposed to be involved in the rebellion along with Hung Hei-Kwun and his family. Hung Hei-Kwun quickly discovers there is a bounty on his head and Ma Ling-Yee is out to collect. After an epic battle, we skip several years, and arrive with Hung Hei-Kwun and his now martial arts skilled son roaming China in order to find money for living expenses.

"Red Bean", whom at the time is swindling a very rich man out of his money. Soon after a war between the government and Shaolin is beginning and pieces of a map are tattooed onto the backs of several pupils, who are then removed from the temple in order to keep safe the Ming Dynasty treasure the map leads to. Unfortunately years ago Hung Hei-Kwun's encounter with the money hungry Ma Ling-Yee did not end as Hung thought it did. Ma Ling-Yee survived the fight as a result of being dipped in poison in the last battle and restored by The Monk of the West District in the process.

Now a disgusting creature, he is after the map tattooed on the backs of the Shaolin pupils, unfortunately the rich man "Red Bean" is swindling is the father of one of the pupils. In attempts to protect the government from knowing his son is a shaolin pupil, he hires Hung Hei-Kwun as a bodyguard. This leads to the rekindling of the conflict between the monster Ma Ling-Yee(who seemingly works either alongside or with the government) and Hung Hei-Kwun.

Cast and roles

* Jet Li - Hung Hei-Kwun
* Chen Sung Young - Ma Kai-Sin
* Damian Lau - Chan Kan-Nam
* Chi Chuen-Hua - Ma Ling-Yee
* Miu Tse - Hung Man Ting
* Wang Lung Wei - Commander
* Wong Jing - Cameo
* Chingmy Yau - Red Bean
* Deannie Yip - Red Bean's Mother
* Eric Tsang - Man in Crown (uncredited)

DVD Remastered Version

The movie was remastered in the recently, and gives a new aspect of hardcore fight scenes with the new DVD.

Audience and Critics Response/ Similarities to Lone Wolf and Cub

Also, it should be noted that in the beginning, after Hung's town is burned, his child manages to survive. Though the child is an infant Hung gives him the choice between a toy or sword to either die and be with his mother or to follow Hung in his quest to save the Han Chinese from the Qing Dynasty government. This same event happens in the Lone Wolf and Cub manga in a different context and in Japan instead of China. The action is plentiful and not dismissive but nothing new to Jet Li fans besides some quite awkward spear extending. The film was not well received by critics or the audience.

Trivia

- This was actor Miu Tse's on-screen debut. This is also the first time he has played the role of Jet Li's on-screen son. The second and final time playing the role of the on-screen son was in "My Father Is a Hero".

External links

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