The Legend (1993) User Reviews

Funny, Well Written, Nice Range of Fight Scenes

[Soujiro · 8/10 · 2 July 1999]

I had the privilege of watching this movie at the local theater recently and this is easily one of the top five Jet Li films of all time. The movie incorporates, comedy, action, a well-written plot, and good old gender-bending fun. There is a slight bit of gore in the beginning, but after that it's typical light hearted HK kung-fu action.

This movie also includes one of the most memorable martial arts fight scenes which takes place in part on the heads of the audience. Fun for all ages and a breath of fresh air from Western cinema.

Fun-filled historical romp with gravity-defying martial arts

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 16 August 2016]

This early Jet Li vehicle has had rather more exposure than some of his other flicks of the period, thanks to Dimension cashing in on Li's success in the US and releasing films from his back catalogue. Sadly, Dimension's decision had many fans up in arms, as the films were usually re-cut, badly dubbed and had new music added which was inferior to the original's. As far as I can see, THE LEGEND is no exception, with the level of dubbing being particularly noticeable. It's quite lucky that this film has plenty of comedy, as I imagine taking it seriously would be a difficult task.

Li plays the role of the Chinese hero with typical ease, and gets to do far more comedy here than we usually see in his movies. He fits in with the rest of the actors nicely, and his martial arts skills are, of course, outstanding. The supporting characters are little more than caricatures, although saying that they do tend to stick in your mind – faces such as Li's roly-poly assistant, or his kick-ass mother, or the weirdly pale bad guy. The plot is confused but the film looks wonderfully colourful, something I'd attribute to the sure-hand direction of Corey Yuen.

The best element of the film is, of course, the action. It's here where THE LEGEND really excels and becomes better than the norm. Wire work is in use here at all times, so don't go in expecting realism; instead, you get scenes of people flying, running along on the tops of crowds, and performing all manner of gravity-defying stunts. The fights are generally excellent, with three big standouts. The first is the kung fu contest where participants lose when they touch the ground; when Li joins it, it goes on for about ten minutes but never becomes boring. The other two quality moments are the battles with the pale bad guy, one halfway through and the other at the climax; both are terrifically inventive and packed with imaginative situations. It's the cartoonish action that really bolsters this movie and makes it what it is: an unassuming film with fun at the top of the agenda.

A Strong Jet Li Film with 3 Classic Fights

[PartTimeCritic · 6/10 · 12 March 2023]

THE LEGEND (B) comes on the heels of Jet's successful Once Upon a Time in China franchise where he played the folk Chinese kung fu hero Wong Fei-Hung. The Legend represents a fresh franchise starter for Jet Li with action director Cory Yuen. The story stars Li as another Chinese folk kung fu hero known as Fong Sai Yuk. It's a bit of a fool's errand to try and sum up the convolutions of Hong Kong martial arts films as many of them follow what I call the complicated simple plot: a basic story that turns in on itself so many times it becomes confusing. In this case, we have an evil and unpopular government trying to track down and destroy a popular underground movement against them known as the Red Lotus Society. Within that story the characters circle each other and cross back and forth, mostly for laughs, but also for fights, until the final showdown everything has been leading to. Vincent Zhao plays the central villain trying to track down a list of members of the Red Lotus Society and this is how Fong Sai Yuk ultimately becomes involved. The fight choreography here is top notch and it's not surprising to hear that this film won swept the Golden Horse and Hong Kong fight choreography awards. There are at least three major fight sequences that I score as an 'A-' or better here which is a rare feat. It's not the best film Jet's made, but it's the best of his 1993 output and a collection of fights you won't want to miss - especially his creative wire heavy "can't touch the ground" fight and two showdowns with Vincent Zhao.

A wonderfully funny film with a busy plot and great action scenes – only genre weaknesses hurt it a little bit

[bob the moo · 9 September 2004]

The Fong family live under the rule of a land-grabbing Governor who is keen to be liked by the people – despite being challenged by an underground movement for Chinese freedom called the Red Lotus Flower Society. When the Governor offers the hand of his daughter to the man who can defeat his wife in combat, Sai-Yuk Fong enters, only losing the fight on purpose when he spots who he thinks is the daughter. His mother enters (dressed as a man and passing herself as Sai-Yuk's brother) in order to win and, in doing so, accidentally wins the heart of the Governor's wife. With the Fong's already in trouble for this imaginary brother turning down the daughter's hand, things get worse when the Emperor comes to town to expose and destroy the members of the Red Lotus – a group that Father Fong is a key member of.

As the plot summary suggests, this is a very busy little film with a plot that is very simple but at the same time filled with lots of little things going on. In a way this is a problem because many of these things are by the by and only serve to fill a movie who's basic plot is 'Fong fights with bad Emperor', but here it doesn't matter so much because this patchwork of little events fit well into this basic frame of a story and make the film enjoyable. Each little bit works well to create a film that is actually fun to watch. The script throws up plenty of well written lines – not jokes, but actions and dialogue that is witty and fun to listen to. I was caught up in the light tone it had for the most part and really enjoyed it; only in the final quarter does the tone turn harder and it is done a bit too suddenly for the film's own good – damaging the sense of fun it had garnered up until then. Aside from this, the overall plot is nothing more than a frame and I can understand why some viewers would be bothered by both the lack of firm foundations as well as the comic tone.

For me though, the comic tone was a big reason I loved it – just like I felt it made Once Upon a Time in China 3 so much fun to watch. With physical action, the humour could have been lazy slapstick but it wasn't; instead it is witty dialogue woven into the story through funny characters. The physical work is good too – just not for comedy though. The fights are impressive and make good use of the actors' skills as well as effective wirework. Much is made of the fights in trees of Crouching Tiger, or the lake fight of Hero but, while these look beautiful, it is a lot more fun to see the fight here that occurs on top of a crowd of people! There is no one fight that stands out as a really great one (indeed the climatic fight is probably the least of the film) but generally they are all of a high standard and are great fun to watch. Li is a great martial artist and he makes it all seem so natural and easy; he also shows that he is a leading man of great charisma and presence – something that the swaggering 'gangbanger' movies he has made in the US have not allowed him to show. He is likable, serious, fun and charming and this film shows why (along with the physical skills) he has become such a star. Siao is just as good and is very funny, even with her 'romance' is just filler. Chu is solid as Father Fong, the Governor is an enjoyable clown even if the Emperor lacks real menace. Performances were hard to judge for me as I saw the dubbed version, but the dubbing is not that bad and, while not great actors, the voice talent (as the credits call them) all do well to capture the tone and style of their characters – certainly the dubbing fits with the jocular tone of the majority of the film.

Overall this is a really fun film. Admittedly not a really great film but certainly one that I will enjoy watching several times again. The script is funny and witty for the most part and the serious turn doesn't do too much to detract from this. The fights are good and the plot is busy and lively, even if some of it is just filler and the actual narrative flow is not all it really could have been. With Jet Li back in people's minds recently, now is as good a time as any to revisit this film and enjoy it for what it is – a well written and fun film that doesn't take itself too seriously.

A good place to start watching martial arts films

[dave13-1 · 7/10 · 15 April 2012]

Most martial arts movies have a few good fight scenes and practically no plot - just random wandering to transition between the fight scenes or some kind of revenge vendetta. This one, however, has enough plot devices for five movies (secret societies, secret identities, romantic misunderstandings, petty jealousies) and some of the most elaborate martial arts scenes ever staged. Jet Li is likable as Fong Sai Yuk (a genuine hero to the Chinese, about whom tall tales are spun, sort of like Daniel Boone), a young do-gooder who seems perpetually caught up in one mess after another despite his good intentions. Veteran action actress Sibelle Hu, not surprisingly, steals the picture as Fong's future mother in law Tiger Lily, a sentimental romantic and kick-ass martial artist. She winds up accompanying him on his adventure to make certain he doesn't cheat on her daughter, thereby becoming a rare thing in the movies - a mother in law who is also an action sidekick! Any of the big set piece fight scenes are worth the rental, especially the one early in the movie on a huge and rather unsteady looking tower. Plus there is real humor here which is integrated into the situations rather than tacked on in the fashion of so many Chinese movies.

Very entertaining and can be watched again and again.

Exciting with a dash of comedy

[InzyWimzy · 10/10 · 3 July 2002]

Wow. After seeing this, Jet Li is truly awesome. But he's not the only one who shines here.

Fong Sai Yuk (Jet Li) is a young man who yearns to compete and backs it up with amazing kung fu. Jet is more carefree in this one and doesn't hesitate to fight. Josephine Siao plays his mother and she's such a character!! Any scene with her and Jet are just too funny! Michelle Reis plays the beautiful Ting Ting and has very good chemistry with Jet in the film (lucky guy!). Her dad Tiger Lu (Sung Young Chen) is quite a kooky character too and his mood swings provide for humor as well.

Now on to the action. The 'marriage' contest is AMAZING as Jet and Sibelle Hu are literally fighting over the crowd stepping from head to head, shoulder to shoulder. Jet really shows his prowess throughout the film fighting with fists, feet, swords, arrows and more! Credit deservedly goes to Corey Yuen who displays some of the most creative battles I've ever seen.

With a really cool soundtrack, great cast, humor and great kung fu, Fong Sai Yuk is really fun to watch.

lots of flaws, but far from terrible

[miketh · 6/10 · 28 June 2001]

Both the plot and the fight scenes from this movie stretch credibility a bit too much, even by the decidedly low standards of kung fu movies. I know Crouching Tiger was unbelievable too... but at one point in this movie two people fight while standing on a guy's outstretched arms, for pity's sake.

Having said that, this movie is well worth watching for the action sequences. The camerawork in the film is a bit irritating -- all the quick-cuts designed to highlight the action tend to be confusing and distracting -- but Jet Li is clearly at his best here.

There's also quite a few funny bits in the movie, mostly courtesy of the hero's wisecracking kung-fu mom... and there's lots of amusing inaccuracies and anachronisms. (I'm pretty sure the ancient Chinese didn't have guillotines.) Suspend disbelief and you'll enjoy it all the more.

A must-see HK movie

[simon_booth · 9/10 · 31 January 2003]

Fong Sai Yuk I&II were the first 2 HK movies I saw, though an accident of video recording meant that I had to wait at least a year to see the beginning of Pt I and the end of Pt II. Even in incomplete form, the two films were enough to make me an instant fan of HK Cinema (after years of disappointment with the Hollywood fare I'd been exposed to). I think they're possibly the best introduction to the territory's movie industry there could be... if you don't love Fong Sai Yuk, chances are Hong Kong Cinema is not the cinema for you. It's a rare example of everything coming together, if not perfectly then at least very well.

The solid script from Jeff Lau is the anchor without which the movie would not have succeeded. In typical Jeff Lau style it bounces all over the place, from stupid comedy to high (melo)drama via a little romance and the obligatory gender confusions, and of course leading into the incredibly imaginitive action sequences choreographed by director Corey Yuen and former opera brother Yuen Tak.

The production values for the movie are very high, if not quite as slick as the Once Upon A Time In China movies they clearly aspire to emulating. Ann Hui is credited as Production Designer here, a rare role for the critically adored director. The cinematography from Jingle Ma is top notch, framing the luscious sets and costumes and the action very well. The soundtrack from James Wong (with regular partner Romeo Diaz) seems a little too close to his score for OUATIC in places, but mostly does a commendable job.

Jet Li has said that Fong Sai Yuk is the character that most closely resembles his real personality from all those he's played. From the small time I've spent in Jet's company I'm not sure his self-image is entirely accurate, but he's probably in a better position to judge than me Certainly Fong Sai Yuk is a very likeable chap the way Jet plays him, and you can tell Jet was 100% into the character and the project. Despite this, the show is unequivocally stolen by Josephine Siao Fong-Fong as Fong Sai Yuk's kung fu fighting mother. She plays her character to perfection, showing a fantastic knack for comedy which I'm not sure she ever got to display in her roles when she was "in her prime" and also kicking ass in . Sibelle Hu also steals a fair amount of screen as the mother of Fong Sai Yuk's love interest (the beautiful Michelle Reis), and wife of semi-villain Tiger Lui (Chan Chung-Yung?), who also shines with an affably overstated performance. Of all the cast, Fong Sai Yuk's father (Paul Chu Kong?) is probably the only one whose performance is rather weak and forgettable. Main villain Chiu Man Cheuk is conspicuously far more charismatic and convincing than in any other movie he's been in apart from The Blade.

Fong Sai Yuk could be described as a light-hearted riff on the wire-fu wave launched by Once Upon A Time In China. Certainly humour is brought to the front here whilst the politics is pushed quite far to the back. Hong Kong humour can be an acquired taste, and the jokes sometimes fall flat in Fong Sai Yuk. Jeff Lau's jokes are generally a bit hit or miss, but he aims so wide that it's not surprising. There are some genuinely funny moments though.

When it comes down to it, the action scenes are what really got me hooked when I saw the movies though. Since Tsui Hark raised the bar several notches above anything people had imagined possible for fight scenes when he made Once Upon A Time In China, the Hong Kong choreographers had been engaged in a battle to see who could produce the most inventive and outlandish action scenes. The best of the bunch tended to be in Jet Li's movies, and the fights in Fong Sai Yuk are fine examples of HK creativity. Purists will no doubt cry that the fight scenes rely too heavily on wires, editing and stunt doubles, but I'm sure that Bruce Lee's statement about missing all that heavenly glory applies here. Grandly conceived if not flawlessly executed, the fights in Fong Sai Yuk were especially impressive to these innocent eyes that had never seen action Hong Kong style before. "How the? What the? Did they just?" etc etc. I wish they'd spent just a little bit more time tightening up the camera angles and hiding the obvious doubles better, but I can't fault them for ambition. I think the movie won the "best action" award that year, which is pretty impressive for a HK movie made in 1993, the year the new wave style reached its peak.

Fong Sai Yuk is definitely a movie that has a special place in many fans hearts, even though it does have too many mis-fired jokes and rough edges to be called a true masterpiece. Still a must see for any fan of Hong Kong cinema though, a wonderfully representative example of what makes it so special and unique.

Sadly, the DVD owner that wishes to watch Fong Sai Yuk is faced with only 3 choices, none of which are particularly appealing. They are:

1. Original Universe HK DVD with Mono sound. One of the earlier HK DVDs, basically a laser disc badly transfered to the smaller radius medium. Burnt in subs, washed out picture from a dirty print and badly framed such that the picture drifts up and down throughout, sometimes cutting subtitles in half.

2. Universe "Remaster" HK DVD with 5.1 sound. New picture transfer that now looks more like VHS than laser disc thanks to excessive edge enhancement, but at last removable subtitles that are clear and easy to read. Unfortunately the disc is totally ruined by the worst 5.1 remix *ever*. Sounds like it was mixed in a bathroom by a monkey with a rat in his head. Crap new sound effects totally mis-timed and with completely random levels, dialogue mixed to fit listeners on a heavy acid trip and... well, it's horrible actually. I tried it for 15 minutes then switched back to the original disc.

3. "The Legend" - absurdly retitled and otherwise Disney-fied release that doubtless looks miles better than either HK disc, but is rendered totally worthless by the inexcusable failure to include the original Cantonese language audio and English subtitles. If this is all you've seen, you've not seen the movie at all. It's probably cut by 30 minutes and re-scored with rap music, knowing Miramax's utter contempt for their catalogue and audience.

I think the best versions of the movies I have are still the long play VHS copies recorded from Channel 4 in the UK before I discovered DVD, to be quite honest. A ridiculous state of affairs for such a classic movie!

Fong Sai-Yuk

[ferdiverweij · 6/10 · 20 October 2002]

what do you think of when someone talks about a Chinese movie, which is a cross between martial arts "Crouching Tiger" action, hilarious comedy, a farce, modern fairytale, passioned lovestory and very out of sync talks? with a great score though...

well, this Jet Li canton movie proved it can work out. the fights are magnificent, the jokes cool and only Shakespeare himself could have written a comedy of misunderstanding, love and honour etc.

I liked this one!

This is the film that made me fall in love with Hong Kong cinema

[mctheimer · 9/10 · 2 April 2000]

Unless you believe that all films must be deep and meaningful, you'll love this film. For just pure entertainment, this film is hard to beat. This beats most action films out of the west. Its special effects are due totally to the stars' martial arts skills, not some gazillion dollar budget and special editing. The plot is wonderful. Besides, who can resist a film where the hero, if he's is in danger, will call on Mom to beat up the enemy? Sit back, get out the popcorn, and be prepared to be wildly entertained.

Amazing fight sequences, a must-see for kung-fu enthusiasts!

[rcropperUK · 7/10 · 24 February 2004]

Jet Li starred in this film shortly after making Once Upon A Time In China, and once again he kicks ass. The fight scenes are truly amazing for its time, and film is just brimming with entertainment from start to finish. The story starts off with our cheeky, smiling hero Jet Li getting into a fight with some guy over a girl, which leads to a sports competition to determine the winner, followed by some kung-fu ass whoopin. Fantastic. This film doesn't stop on the action, and although some of the humour is puzzling at times, and the soundtrack and sound effects pure hilarious, I am pleased I took the time to watch this. The story consists of Fong Sai Yuk (Jet Li) being forced into a family marriage, his romance with the girl, finding out his dad is part of some rebel movement, and protecting the whole family then on as they are on the run. Some of the choreagraphy is truly awesome, especially in one scene where Jet Li is fighting the evil govner with a small pole, wheras the govner has a huge f**k off 20 ft one. The action is superbly captured and the stunts are tremendous, and the comedy through the film is so cheesy it helps keep the film from not taking itself too seriously. There are a few stupid scenes in this, particulary one where Jet Li dresses up as a woman, and another one where Mother Fong covers her hair so people mistake her for a man (even though she has make up on and still looks like a chick). These are strange parts of the film but keeps it light hearted and I think if I had watched this film when I was a kid I would love it to bits. Kung fu enthusiasts should definately take a look at this for the action and to see Jet Li do his stuff, but it's not really one for the mainstream hollywood film lovers. Fans of Jet Li should check this out to see how how he progressed from this to classics such as Twin Warriors, Fists of Fury and the undoubtedly magnificent Hero. Mainstream film audiences should also see this so they can understand the truly aweful american martial arts films they have seen over the past decade, and appreciate some real skill and finesse from the middle east.

Sheer Madness

[DunkD · 10/10 · 26 November 2001]

I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of this movie, and all I can say is WOW! Wow, because I didn't understand what the hell was going on for the whole movie, the subtitles were so badly misaligned. But mainly WOW! because it didn't matter a jot that I couldn't tell what the plot was as the film is just one amazing "fight" scene after another. This film defies belief, and description. If you like martial arts movies, check this out. If you enjoyed Crouching Tiger, check this out. If you love MAD films check this out.

There is a scene in which Jet Li fights the mother of the woman he has a crush on entirely on the HEADS of a crowd! Then HIS mother has a fight with the first woman.

From the opening scene you will see that this is a piece of genius. The plot doesn't matter. This is pure spectacle.

When you see these people move you will realise that the USA can never invade China. They just have all the tricks in the book. They wrote the tricks. I wish I had seen this when I was 9. It would have changed my life totally.

Putting Words Into Other Peoples Mouths

[Theo Robertson · 5/10 · 27 August 2004]

FONG SAI YUK is known as THE LEGEND in Britain and was broadcast on BBC 1 earlier tonight probably because it ties in with the release of Jet Li`s up coming HERO and since we`re also treated to an athletics contest very early into the film I guess someone thought it might have been a good idea to broadcast it after the BBC`s Olympic coverage

THE LEGEND isn`t a bad martial arts movie , it features romance , comedy and action which is what entertainment is all about . It`s not going to win any Oscars and is in no way comparable to CROUCHING TIGER , HIDDEN DRAGON ( There`s a few revealing errors which adds to its entertainment value ) but at least it`s not as irritating as all those Jackie Chan and Jean Claude Van Damme star vehicles .

There is one problem to THE LEGEND and that is the dubbing on the English language version - It`s quite awful . We see 70 year old men , their voices dubbed by actors who sound like their straight out of high school while their is no emotion or inflexion put into their voices . It`s quite ridiculous watching characters screaming and bawling on screen with their dubbed voices being calm and relaxed to the point of politeness . Unfortunately it`s not as funny as it sounds

One of Jet's best movies

[abentenjo · 14 April 2002]

Jet revives another Chinese folk-hero into traditional action with a spirited portrayal of Fong Sai Yuk, kung fu wonderkid with a happy-go-lucky attitude and gleaming smile: despite their moral standings and martial artistry, Fong couldn't be more different than Jet's other alter-ego Wong Fei-hung. FSY is mostly played for laughs, and succeeds in all departments. Plots run parallel: one, in which Fong enters a kung fu competition held by former bandit Tiger Liu (Chen Sung Yung) offering his daughter as the prize, only to lose out to Liu's wife, Siu (Sibelle Hu), so his equally-spirited mother presumes male garb and takes over: she not only wins the competition but also wins Siu's heart! The other reveals Fong's father to be a key member of the Red Flower society and in possession of a list of its members, gutlessly pursued by an evil Manchu general (Zhao Wen Zhou). Everything simply falls into place and we're left with a truly delightful action romp, with special turnouts from charming comedienne Josephine Siao (as Fong's mother) and the always-exciting Jet Li.

very good despite the overdub

[jed-59 · 9/10 · 19 February 2005]

Believe it or not, this was the movie that introduced me to Jet Li. I was immediately hooked. I've read reviews that discredit the dub into English, but I found it easy to overlook this -- in fact, I found it to be somewhat hilarious. This film has all the makings of a great movie. There are no sub-plots that do not get resolved. The servant who always bawls whenever Jet Li's character get's set to go away for a minute or two is downright hilarious. That's one of the unique things about this movie: with so much drama they managed to make a hilarious movie, as well. As usual, the kung fu is extraordinary. In particular, there are a few scenes in which the opponents face off and the camera takes a moment to pause and let the viewer see the poses from a brilliant perspective. This will always be one of my favorite Chinese films.

I love Jet Li

[tripwires · 10/10 · 10 November 2001]

And I think his Hong Kong/China movies are far better than his Hollywood ones. I saw this movie literally years ago, when I was a kid, so I don't remember it as well as I want to. I do remember it being kind of sad, but nevertheless, it's one of my favourite films. Jet Li simply rules.

Fong Sai Yuk doesn't suck

[chris-836 · 10/10 · 23 January 2000]

Fong Sai Yuk works on so many levels. It's a fully entertaining film, with a decent plot, three dimensional characters and some great martial arts action. In possibly his best role, Jet Li creates a character that's arrogant yet naive. Josephine Siao plays his mother whose comic acting is greater than Jackie Chan.

Those who dislike Kung fu films may get past their disliking after seeing this film. Though it does contain its share of cliches and wild stunts (a man rides his horse as it jumps about 50 feet on to a boat), its story, action and humor may win over those whose hearts are closed to martial arts cinema.

In short, see the film. You won't be disappointed.

Great funny comedic zombie martial arts movie

[EasternZZ · 10/10 · 16 November 2018]

This movie is awesome. It is about a guy who is burned at the beginning by Jet Li, then he returns many years later as a Freddy Kruegar-like zombie, with a metal looking car and fully armor skin. He battles with Jet Li, who has a son who was raised by Jet Li after Jet Li refused to kill him because he didn't like toys but swords as a baby. Jet Li uses a spear as a weapon, but this spear can extend to over 15 feet long.

This movie is crazy, and it is definitely a Chinese Fantasy movie. There are some cool and very funny scenes in this movie. Jet Li also gives us his famous "No Shadow Kick."

Expected Better from Jet Li! 1/10

[leonblackwood · 1/10 · 4 December 2014]

Review: This movie was terrible. The acting is appalling, along with the script which became hard on the ears after a while. To be honest, I didn't know what was going on from one scene to the next because I lost interest very early in the film. I did like Jet Li's mum but I didn't like Jet Li playing a comedic role. The fight scenes were soooooo over exaggerated and the storyline was all over the place. It seemed like the characters were fighting for no reason most of the time and Jet Li's mum just couldn't help poking her nose into her son's business. At the end of the day, it's a badly directed movie with a bad concept and I'm surprised that they made a sequel. Disappointing!

Round-Up: I think that the director was attempting a Jackie Chan type comedy with this movie, but he done a really bad job. Personally I prefer the earlier Kung Fu movies which don't use all of the wire trickery or the crazy flying techniques. Anyway the love story was ridiculous and Jet Li's silly face expressions really became tedious after a while. On top of that, you've got this annoying soundtrack which really doesn't help matters. On the plus side, it does look authentic and the mum did crack me up in a few scenes, but I did end up falling asleep.

Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: HK$30.6million

I recommend this movie to people who are into their Jet Li movies about a man fighting for justice to save his family and his love ones. 1/10

8 out of 10

[dragon ma young · 11 July 2001]

i didnt think this was going to be filled with humor, and the humor turned out to be HILARIOUS! i was really suprised at how funny this movie was. it could have been a comedy all by it self, it didnt even need action. but we got brilliant action, and thats awesome. one to check out.

Jet Li is the headline star, but...

[danielemerson · 8/10 · 7 August 2020]

I first saw Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2 years ago, and loved their mix of martial arts, wire-work and farcical humour. Jet Li is a fine leading man, playing the happy-go-lucky, but somewhat conceited Fong Sai Yuk, with all the scintillating moves you'd expect. This would make for a good movie on its own, but Josephine Siao as his formidable but eccentric mother effortlessly steals every scene she's in and takes it all to a different level. The supporting cast are fully committed to the deranged gusto of the whole thing, especially Chen Sung-Young. Both Fong Sai Yuk movies will thrill and entertain.

The first time i laughed at quality violence

[Ross-1 · 10/10 · 18 April 2001]

Ah a film that combines comedy and fast paced action...its a lot better than the second one (which i saw first?!?) Jet Li seems to have far too much energy for the other stars in the film all in all a truly awe inspiring film 10/10

In a class by itself; a classic

[Guido-35 · 10/10 · 3 October 1999]

This movie is very well known to fans of Hong Cong action movies - but not to many others, and that's a real shame. This movie is absolutely splendid on so many levels that it deserves to be on everyone's favorite film list. It's visually spectacular, with first rate production values. The choreography of the action scenes is inventive, exciting, and witty. It has an engaging plot and memorable characters. The acting is terrific, especially the character of Sai Yuk's mother created by Josephine Siao. The movie is very funny - on purpose, not the way many action films are! If you're a fan of Hong Cong action movies you'll think this is Jet Li's greatest film; if you're new to the genre you're likely to be completely blown away because in addition to everything else you'll have the fun of being exposed to this exotic world. Do know, however, that this is not typical of the genre; it's in a class by itself. If you can find it, see it; you're in for a treat.

Fong Sai Yuk..Jet Li style

[gorytus-20672 · 10/10 · 22 April 2021]

April 2021

The non HK releases are called "The Legend" but its actually the "Legend of Fong Sai Yuk" starring Jet Li.

An incredibly entertaining film, loads of comedy as well as the martial arts, and even more incredible this was released in 1993, along with its equally as excellent sequel, plus the also excellent "Last Hero In China" and yet another excellent film "Tai Chi Master". On top of that he made several films the year before and the year after and they were all great, so what a strong couple of years that was.

Comedy, kung fu, more comedy and Jet Li in his prime, what more do you want.

Now go and watch part 2.

10 out of 10.

Average Jet Li fodder

[smellthecult-com-1 · 5/10 · 18 September 2009]

This wilfully demented martial arts comedy is a mixed affair. Set some time in the past - sorry folks, Chinese history is not my strong point - when Empire was all, this sees a group of dissidents attempting to overthrow their evil overlords. Jet Li, acting as Executive Producer as well as the main star, plays Fong Sai-Yuk, a cheeky chappy with amazing Kung Fu prowess who falls in love with the beautiful daughter of an influential businessman and must prove his worth to the judgemental Patriarch. That's all I could really glean from the haphazard plotting, but it mattered not one jot as this is all about the fight scenes, which are many and varied. Going the Jackie Chan route of making use of scenery, this sees Jet leaping about on bamboo scaffolding, dancing on rooftops and even fighting on the shoulders and heads of the eagerly watching crowd. Whilst the comedy element quickly becomes tiresome and irritating the action is dazzling though be warned, it is all wire work, so if that annoys or disappoints this may not be the chop-socky movie for you. Whilst far from great, this nevertheless passed the time efficiently enough. Oh, and try to get hold of the subtitled version if you can as the dubbed voices on the version I watched are almost unbearable at times.