Like the villains appear to be hardcore anti-foreigner nationalists.

Also the hero Jet Li is also a traditionalist, just he’s not an arsehole about.

The other main character, played by Rosalind Kwan, seems very enraptured by Western culture.

I haven’t quite figured out Donnie Yen’s deal. But if you’ve seen Ip Man, you know you don’t mess with Donnie Yen.

#OnceUponATimeInChina

I’ll admit to a lot of the politics of this film going over my head.

It’s made in 1992, five years before the handover of Hong Kong. But it’s set in 1895 and foreign influence in society is a major theme.

#OnceUponATimeInChina

Cinema Kid walks in the room:
“Is this one of your crazy movies? Like the one with the three women?”

(He means ‘The Heroic Trio’ starring Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung.)

Me:
“Sort of.”

#OnceUponATimeInChina

Also, the “Once Upon A Time…” moniker is (as I understand) totally invented for the translation.

I like to think there’s a lineage between “One Upon A Time In…”

- The West
- China
- America
- Hollywood

… but I guess it’s not there. Though Tarantino probably had his reasons.

Edit: So ‘The West’ and ‘America’ are both Leone films.

#OnceUponATimeInChina