Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist, physician, and folk hero. His recent fame was due to becoming the protagonist of numerous martial arts films and television series. Even though he was considered an expert in the Hung Ga style of Chinese martial arts, his real public fame was as a physician who practiced and taught acupuncture, Dit Da and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine in the now famous Po Chi Lam, a medical clinic in Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong Province. A museum dedicated to him was built in his birthplace in Foshan, Guangdong.
Once Upon a Time in China is a Hong Kong film and television franchise created and produced by Tsui Hark, consisting of six films and a television series released between 1991 and 1997. Tsui also directed four of the films and co-wrote the first five as well as an episode of the television series.
Once Upon a Time in China II is a 1992 Hong Kong martial arts film written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark. Jet Li stars as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the second instalment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series, and co-stars Donnie Yen, Rosamund Kwan and Max Mok. The iconic theme song, "A Man Should Better Himself" (男兒當自強), was performed in Cantonese by George Lam at the beginning of the film, and by Jackie Chan in the end credits. Chan also sang the Mandarin version.
Once Upon a Time in China III is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark. Jet Li stars as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the third installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series.
Once Upon a Time in China and America, also known as Once Upon a Time in China VI, is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts western film directed by Sammo Hung in his last directorial effort until 2016, who also worked on the film's fight choreography. The film is the sixth and final installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. The film also saw the return of Jet Li as Cantonese martial arts master and folk hero Wong Fei-hung, who had been replaced by Vincent Zhao in the fourth and fifth films. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 1 February 1997, and garnered positive reviews.
There are at least eight distinct lineages of the martial art Wing Chun. These are mostly little-known outside of China, and each has its own history of origin. In the West, Wing Chun's history has become a mix of fact and fiction due to the impacts of early secrecy and modern marketing. Additionally, there are competing genealogies within the same branch or about the same individual teacher.
Dreadnaught is a 1981 Hong Kong martial arts comedy-horror film starring Yuen Biao and directed by Yuen Woo-ping. The film was released on 5 March 1981.
The Banquet, also known as Party of a Wealthy Family, is a 1991 Hong Kong comedy film. It was quickly filmed for a Hong Kong flood relief charity, after the Yangtze River flooded in July of that year, killing over 1,700 people and displacing many more in the eastern and southern regions of mainland China.
The Magnificent Butcher is a 1979 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, and starring Sammo Hung, Kwan Tak-hing, Yuen Biao, and Wei Pai.
Once Upon a Time in China V is a 1994 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts action film written and directed by Tsui Hark. The film is the fifth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series, with Vincent Zhao reprising his role as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity Wong Fei-hung after taking over the character from Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China IV. The film also saw the return of Hark as director and of Rosamund Kwan as "13th Aunt", who was absent in the fourth film.
Once Upon a Time in China IV is a 1993 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film and the fourth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It was directed by Yuen Bun in his directorial debut and produced by Tsui Hark, who directed the first three films. Vincent Zhao starred as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, who was portrayed by Jet Li in the first three films.
Last Hero in China is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Wong Jing. It is a derivative of the Once Upon a Time in China film series, and unlike other imitations, it can be considered a spin-off or parody to some extent. It was released after the first three films in the Once Upon a Time in China franchise. The film starred Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung and the action choreography was done by Yuen Woo-ping. However Last Hero in China differs greatly in tone from the Once Upon a Time in China films as it contains stronger elements of violence and broader, more slapstick, comedy. The film contains some Easter eggs, such as a Lifebuoy poster in the 19th century, a staff of the Monkey King, a guandao and Ne Zha's Universe Ring.
Heroes Among Heroes is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film produced and directed by Yuen Woo-ping and starring Donnie Yen as the protagonist So Chan, who was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton. The film shows opium smugglers in the Qing Dynasty, China, with Officer Lin Zexu and Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity Wong Fei-hung fighting against them. It was released in the US as Fist of the Red Dragon.
Fist of Fury is a 1995 Hong Kong martial arts television series adapted from the 1972 film of the same title. Produced by Asia Television (ATV) and STAR TV, the series starred Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen, a character previously portrayed by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury (1972) and Jet Li in Fist of Legend (1994). The series is also related to the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, in which Yen reprises his role.
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man is a 2010 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film based on the early life of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, directed by Herman Yau and starring Dennis To in the title role. The film was followed by a sequel in 2013, Ip Man: The Final Fight. Though not made in collaboration with Wilson Yip's Ip Man or Ip Man 2, The Legend is Born features several actors who appeared in Yip's films, including Sammo Hung, Louis Fan, and Chen Zhihui. The film also features a special appearance by Ip Chun, the son of Ip Man. Released as Ip Man Zero in German and Dutch-speaking areas.
The Wong Fei Hung Series is a 1995 to 1996 Hong Kong–Chinese television film series of five stories about Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial artist and folk hero, each told in four episodes. The series was produced by Tsui Hark and starred Vincent Zhao, Maggie Shiu, Max Mok, Lau Shun, Kent Cheng, Hung Yan-yan, Power Chan and Cheung Chun-hung in the leading roles.
The Return of Wong Fei Hung is a 1984 Hong Kong martial arts television series produced by TVB and starring Andy Lau. Despite Wong Fei-hung being part of the English title, Wong is only a supporting character in the series while the protagonist is his famed disciple Lam Sai-wing, portrayed by Lau. The Cantonese title is "Po Chi Lam", the name of Wong's famed medicine clinic.
Man from Guangdong is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts television series produced by TVB and tells the story of Leung Kan, portrayed by Aaron Kwok, the fictitious son of famed martial artist Leung Foon, whom was a favored disciple of folk hero Wong Fei-hung, portrayed by Shih Kien. Shih, who portrayed Wong in the series, was known for portraying antagonists in a series of Wong Fei-hung-related films during the 1940s to 1970s, while the series also features Sai Gwa-Pau reprising his role as "Buckteeth So" from the aforementioned series of films.
Kick Boxer, also known in the West as Once Upon a Chinese Hero and Once Upon a Time in China 6: Kickboxer, is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Wu Ma, who also appears in a supporting role, and produced by and starring Yuen Biao, who also serves as the film's action director, in the title role.
Kung Fu League is a 2018 Chinese action martial arts fantasy comedy film directed by Jeffrey Lau and written by Huang Jianhong. Featuring the cast included Ashin Shu, Vincent Zhao, Andy On, Danny Chan, Dennis To and Madina Memet, the film tells a story of a struggling comic book artist who called four legendary masters to help him get his love interest.
