Yuen Cheung-Yan Movies

Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo Ping returned to the director's chair for the first time in nearly a decade and a half with this lavish historical action-drama. Su Can (Vincent Zhao) is a fearless warrior in the late days of the Quin Dynasty, and after serving his time in the military he's eager to return home to his beautiful wife, Yuan Ying (Zhou Xun), and start a family. Six years later, his half-brother, Yuang (Andy On), shatters Su Can's idyllic life; filled with hatred for his kin, Yuang has developed a deadly martial arts technique, "The Five Venom Fist," and after using it to vanquish his foes on the battlefield, he's come to get revenge against Su Can. While Su Can can hold his own against Yuang and saves the life of Yuan Ying, Yuang steals their young son and takes him away. After the loss of his son, Su Can falls into a deep depression that grows far worse when his wife dies while searching for their missing child. Su Can becomes a reclusive alcoholic and seems destined to stay that way until he learns his son is alive and needs his help. With the guidance of Lord Wushu (Jay Chou), Su Can trains to win back his fighting skills, mastering "The Drunken Fist," and sets out to rescue his son. Featuring supporting performances from David Carradine, Michelle Yeoh, and Gordon Liu, Su Qi Er (aka True Legend) was an official selection at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Shot back-to-back with The Matrix Reloaded, the third and final installment of Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski's sci-fi action saga picks up where the second film left off. Neo (Keanu Reeves) remains unconscious in the real world, caught in a mysterious subway station that lies between the machine world and the Matrix, and Bane (Ian Bliss) is still a conduit for Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), who continues to grow out of control, threatening to destroy both worlds. Meanwhile, as the sentinels get closer and closer to Zion, the citizens of the earth's last inhabited city prepare for the inevitable onslaught. By bargaining with The Merovingian (Lambert Wilson), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) are able to free Neo who, after meeting with The Oracle (Mary Alice stepping in for the late Gloria Foster), decides that he must leave Zion and head for the machine mainframe. As Neo and Trinity venture into the dangerous machine world, with hopes of stopping both the machines and Agent Smith, their comrades in Zion attempt to fight off the attacking sentinels with the odds stacked greatly against them. Other cast members returning include Monica Bellucci, Ngai Sing, and Harold Perrineau Jr. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

After creating an international sensation with the visually dazzling and intellectually challenging sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix, the Wachowski brothers returned with the first of two projected sequels that pick up where the first film left off. Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) have been summoned by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to join him on a voyage to Zion, the last outpost of free human beings on Earth. Neo and Trinity's work together has been complicated by the fact the two are involved in a serious romantic relationship. Upon their arrival in Zion, Morpheus locks horns with rival Commander Lock (Harry J. Lennix) and encounters his old flame Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith). Meanwhile, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) has returned with some surprises for Neo, most notably the ability to replicate himself as many times as he pleases. Neo makes his way to The Oracle (Gloria Foster), who informs him that if he wishes to save humankind, he must unlock "The Source," which means having to release The Key Maker (Randall Duk Kim) from the clutches of Merovingian (Lambert Wilson). While Merovingian refuses to cooperate, his wife, Persephone (Monica Bellucci), angry at her husband's dalliances with other women, offers to help, but only in exchange for a taste of Neo's affections. With The Keymaker in tow, Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus are chased by Merovingian's henchmen: a pair of deadly albino twins (Neil Rayment and Adrian Rayment). Filmed primarily in Australia and California (the extended chase scene was shot on a stretch of highway build specifically for the production outside of San Francisco), The Matrix Reloaded was produced in tandem with the third film in the series, The Matrix Revolutions. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Increasingly desperate to seek out the Little Buddha lest he fall victim to a deadly disease, the Emperor soon finds the fact that the boy he seeks is hidden among the little monks of the Shaolin Temple the least of his worries. A deceptive tyrant who longs to become Emperor, King Fifth is making his way to the Shaolin Temple in hopes of killing the Little Buddha and claiming the throne for himself. Desperate to escape the evil King Fifth, the miniature monks embark on a series of wild adventures and even learn the art of the Drunken Fist! ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Jet Li stars in this historical Hong Kong action film, as Chen Zhen, a Chinese student in Japan in the 1920s. When his master is killed during the Japanese occupation of China, he returns to avenge his teacher's death. Back in China, he finds himself caught in the escalating racial tensions between the Chinese and the Japanese. The martial arts sequences in this 1994 film are handled more seriously than flashy acrobatics of other kung fu epics of the time and are perhaps a better showcase for Li's awe-inspiring fighting abilities. This story is inspired heavily by Bruce Lee's classic Fists of Fury. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, Rovi

Wong Fei-hung runs a martial arts academy in Canton, and is the exemplar of all sorts of native Chinese virtues. He is appalled to discover that the rent on his space in Canton was raised significantly while he was away in Hong Kong. In addition, he has to face the escalating enmity of a local government type, Lui, a martial artist who has adopted many western values and is conspiring with western businessmen to disrupt the Chinese way of doing things in the region. Tournament competitions between rival academies are only a prelude to the final competition between the two masters, in which the Iron Chicken style will be used against the Centipede style of fighting. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Inspector Wears a Skirt meets Ghostbusters meets Falling Down in this mad-cap police comedy directed by Yuen Cheung-yan featuring workplace violence and demonic possession. The Hong Kong police force has hit upon some financial hard times and its cowardly superintendent has hit upon a splendid way of dispensing with unwanted help without actually going through the ordeal of firing them -- taunt and abuse them 'til they quit. Yet the plan horribly backfires when in the midst of the hazing, the officers accidentally raise a malicious female spirit who promptly possesses the entire male population of the force. Though a Taoist priest expels the spirit from the men, it immediately possesses a policewoman named May (Lau Yuk-ting), who takes machine gun in hand and goes postal on one and all. The film ends with prolonged grieving process and an answer to whether or not there are actually any vampires in this movie. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Instant Kung-Fu Man stars John Liu...and John Liu. The story concerns twin brothers; more specifically, the story concerns one twin being mistaken for the other. One of the Lius is a martial-arts expert; the other isn't. The less physically prepared brother finds it expedient to learn a few tricks of the trade in a reeeeaaal hurry. Okay comedy content, above-average action ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping takes the helm for this wild and unconventional epic action adventure. When the Shaolin Temple comes under the attack of the dreaded Wu Tang sect, the master of liquor style (aka drunken boxing) must swing into action to save the day. Featuring monsters, outrageous kung fu, and a supernatural theme, this unique martial arts film certainly stands out from the pack. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In this horrifying martial arts film, a young hero takes on an evil sorcerer with the help of a good one. Together the good guys take on hungry alligators, zombies, and other fearsome creatures. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this action-packed kung-fu film, the leader of the Snake Sect begins an affair with the sexy frontwoman of the Scorpion Sect in order to reconstitute the Five Poison Web. However, the leader of the Centipede Sect, as well as other fearsome martial artists, wants to stop this plan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Yuen Woo Ping directs the action of 1973's Awaken Punch (also known as Village on Fire). Chan Sing plays a young man who lives in a village that is getting raided by gangsters. In order to save his village, he is motivated to violently remove the gangsters. He uses a special killing move called the Awaken Punch. This film has been released on DVD with Red Wolf (1995) as part of a "Black Belt Theatre Double Feature" from Ground Zero. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi