Review: I was very surprised to pop in a domestic Jet Li DVD and actually see subtitles. It is an extremely good thing that Columbia TriStar got a hold of this series before it ended up in the Disney “Jet Li Collection” of dubbed over garbage. I had other expectations for this film too, and luckily, non of my fears came true. First of all, the number 3 in a film’s title usually scares the hell out of me. I figure that by the time you reach the third film, it must be pretty hard not to churn out garbage. But in typical Tsui Hark fashion, this worry of mine is null and void, and Once Upon a Time in China 3 becomes another valid entry into this revered series.

Many fans of the first two flicks may first ask how this one stacks up to the previous classics. I would say that it comes in third on the list, but saying that this is the worst of the three is hardly an insult ( though I haven't seen 4 or 5). You still get amazing action and a good story to back it up with, so there are no complaints in that department. This is where the magic of Once Upon a Time in China comes into play. Although the fight scenes in the film use wires and aren’t exactly realistic, unlike many movies of this genre, the story helps the viewer believe in what they see. There is a feeling of history in the film that engages the audience in an entertaining way. Not that Tsui Hark should be teaching any classes soon, but with this film, you at least feel like the period it is set in is conveyed well. I found that a good percentage of the realism came with the introduction of the “motion camera” to the Chinese by the evil Russian diplomat Tumanovsky. The scene where Wong Fei Hung’s woman Aunt 13 is showing everyone footage that she recorded with the camera is pretty damn funny, since you get to see how amazed they all are by the machine would one day film Once Upon a Time in China.

Did I mention that the Russian guy was EVIL? God I hated that bastard. I guess it is a good thing that they casted such an outwardly unlikable chump to play the antagonist, because it really sways me even more to the side of Wong Fei Hung. I usually don’t get the urge to bust inside the movie I’m watching and go “oops upside the badguy’s head” with a sock full o’ rocks and urine, but I’ll make an exception with this guy.

Now for my favorite part; the action!! OUATIC 3, like it’s predecessors, delivers in spades. Heavy on wires and speed, I can’t think of any lackluster fights. Plus these fights are filmed in the classic style so that the viewer can actually tell what’s going on. None of that close-up above the waist for the whole scene crap. The real diamond in the asskicking rough, though, was Clubfoot. This guy is as dirty as they come, and crushes everything his feet brush up against. Fights between him and Jet Li are great, and personally the highlight of the film. But for true over the top action, wait until the end for the Lion King Martial Arts contest. Anything goes in every sense of the phrase. Lose the Lion mask, and you lose the match, so you get to watch Jet Li break open a can on everyone while he wears some truly pimp headgear. The scene kind of drags on a few more minutes than it needs to, but I just look at it as more for ya money. I had no doubt that Jet Li would carry on his fine performances from the previous two films, and needless to say he delivered. He has a smooth grace to all of his actions that make it apparent why he is a martial arts superstar. As Peter said in the KFC review of the first OUATIC, he makes the unbelievable believable. The whole movie has an interesting western feel to it (perhaps because of the American-looking Russian character) that I can’t quite put my finger on.