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{{Short description|1992 Hong Kong film by Tsui Hark}}

{{Infobox Chinese film

{{Use Hong Kong English|date=January 2014}}

|name = Once Upon a Time in China II

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

|image = OUATIC2.jpg

{{Infobox film

|image size =

| name = Once Upon a Time in China II

|alt =

| image = OUATIC2.jpg

|caption = Japanese film poster

| alt =

|traditional = 黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強

| caption = Japanese film poster

|simplified = 黄飞鸿之二男儿当自强

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t = 黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強

|pinyin = Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Èr Nánér Dāng Zìqiáng

| s = 黄飞鸿之二男儿当自强

|jyutping = Wong4 Fei1-hung4 Zi1 Ji6 Naam4-ji4 Dong1 Zi6-koeng4

| p = Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Èr Nánér Dāng Zìqiáng

|director = [[Tsui Hark]]

| j = Wong4 Fei1-hung4 Zi1 Ji6 Naam4-ji4 Dong1 Zi6-koeng4}}

|producer = Tsui Hark<br>[[Ng See-yuen]]<br>[[Raymond Chow]]

| director = [[Tsui Hark]]

|writer =

|screenplay producer = Tsui Hark<br>Chan[[Ng TinSee-suenyuen]]<br>Cheung[[Raymond TanChow]]

| writer = Tsui Hark<br>Chan Tin-suen<br>Cheung Tan

|story =

| starring = [[Jet Li]]<br>[[Rosamund Kwan]]<br>[[Max Mok]]<br>[[Donnie Yen]]

|narrator =

|starring music = [[JetRichard LiYuen]]<br>[[RosamundJohnny Kwan]]Yeung<br>[[MaxChow Mok]]<br>[[Donnie Yen]]Gam-wing

| cinematography = [[Arthur Wong]]

|music = [[Richard Yuen]]<br>Johnny Yeung<br>Chow Gam-wing

| editing = [[Marco Mak]]<br>Angie Lam<br>Andy Chan

|cinematography = [[Arthur Wong]]

| studio = [[Film Workshop]]<br>[[Orange Sky Golden Harvest|Golden Harvest]]<br>Paragon Films Ltd.

|editing = [[Marco Mak]]<br>Angie Lam<br>Andy Chan

|studio distributor = [[Film Workshop]]<br>[[Golden Harvest]]<br>Paragon Films Ltd.

| released = {{Film date|1992|4|16|df=y}}

|distributor = Golden Harvest

| runtime = 113 minutes

|released = {{start date|1992|4|16|df=y}}

|runtime country = 113Hong minutesKong

| language = [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]]<br>[[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]]<br>[[English language|English]]

|country = {{filmHong Kong}}

| budget =

|language = [[Cantonese]]<br>[[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]]<br>[[English language|English]]

| gross = HK$30,399,676<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng |title=HKMDB |access-date=9 March 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002554/http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng |url-status=live }}</ref>

|budget =

|gross = HK$30,399,676.00<ref>[http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng HKMDB]</ref>

}}

'''''Once Upon a Time in China II''''' is a 1992 Hong Kong [[biographical film|biographical]] [[martial arts film]] written, produced and directed by [[Tsui Hark]] and starring. [[Jet Li]] returningstars as [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] martial arts master and [[folk hero]] of [[Cantonese people|Cantonese]] ethnicity, [[Wong Fei-hung]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-07-ca-9214-story.html|title= MOVIE REVIEW : 'China II': History in a Martial Arts Fantasy|publisherlast=Thomas|first=Kevin|date=January 7, 1994|access-date=2010-12-27|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=27 November 2024|archive-url= httphttps://articlesweb.archive.org/web/20241127083851/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-07/entertainment/-ca-9214_1_martial9214-arts-fantasystory.html|accessdate=2010url-12-27status=live}}</ref> It is the second film and first sequelinstalment in the [[Once Upon a Time in China (film series)|''Once Upon a Time in China'' film series]]., Theand Mandarinco-stars version[[Donnie ofYen]], the[[Rosamund Kwan]] and [[Max Mok]]. The iconic theme song, ''"A Man Should Better Himself''" (男兒當自強), was performed in Cantonese by [[JackieGeorge ChanLam]] whileat the Cantonesebeginning versionof wasthe sungfilm, and by [[GeorgeJackie LamChan]] in the end credits. Chan also sang the Mandarin version.

== Plot ==

InThe film is set in [[China]] in 1895, during the late [[Qing Dynastydynasty]],. [[Wong Fei-hung]] travels by train from [[Foshan]] to [[Guangzhou|Canton]] to attend a seminar on Western and [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. He is accompanied by his romantic interest [[Thirteenth Aunt|13th Aunt]] and studentapprentice Leung Foon. HeThe givessituation ain lectureCanton onis rather chaotic. On one hand, there are protests in the benefitsstreets against the signing of the [[acupunctureTreaty of Shimonoseki]]. whileOn the other hand, the [[White Lotus Societies|White Lotus Sect]], a fellow[[Xenophobia|xenophobic]] cult, goes around attacking Westerners and destroying everything regarded as alien to Chinese doctorculture. helpsAt himone translatepoint, for13th Aunt is almost captured by the predominantlycult when she tries to take a photo of them, but Wong shows up, fights with the cult members, and foreignsaves audienceher.

Wong gives a lecture on [[acupuncture]] at the seminar while a Western-trained Chinese doctor, [[Sun Yat-sen|Sun Wen]], helps him translate for the predominantly non-Chinese audience. The seminar is disrupted when the White Lotus Sect shoot flaming arrows into the building; Wong, Leung and Sun manage to escape safely. Wong feels that Canton is not safe and wants to bring Leung and 13th Aunt with him back to Foshan. However, just as they are about to leave, they learn that the White Lotus Sect is attacking the [[Tongwen Guan]], a school for Chinese children to study foreign languages. They head over and save the children. The innkeeper refuses to allow the children to remain in his inn because he is worried that the White Lotus Sect will find trouble with him.

The seminar is disrupted by the fanatical [[White Lotus]] Society, an extreme nationalist cult led by the sinister and seemingly-invincible Priest Kung. The sect aims to drive all foreigners out of Canton and has been killing Westerners and destroying everything regarded alien to Chinese culture. Wong later learns that the translator [[Sun Yat-sen|Sun Wen]] is actually the leader of a group of pro-democratic rebels aiming to topple the Qing government and establish a republic in China. Sun and his friend [[Lu Hao-tung]] are heading to Hong Kong to continue with their plans for revolution.

When Wong decidesgoes to assistthe Sun[[Yamen|local Wengovernment andoffice]] to ask if the rebelschildren butcan theytake encountershelter athere, Qinghe officialencounters calleda Generalmilitary officer, Nap-lan Yun-seut, who standsspars with him to test his skill in theirusing waythe [[Gun (staff)|staff]]. ChaosAlthough ensueNap-lan whenis theimpressed Whitewith LotusWong's Societyskill, attackshe adoes foreign-languagenot schoolapprove forWong's childrenrequest. In the meantime, Leung and 13th Aunt bringsbring the studentschildren to hide in the British consulate., Nap-lanwhich suspectsis thatunder thesiege rebelsby arethe alsoWhite hidingLotus inSect. At the consulate, Wong meets Sun Wen again and helearns ordersthat Sun and his menfriend, to[[Lu disguiseHaodong]], themselvesare aspart cultof members[[Tongmenghui|an andunderground attackmovement]] planning to overthrow the building.Qing Wonggovernment defendsand theestablish consulate[[Republic whileof SunChina Wen(1912–49)|a escapesrepublic secretlyin China]]. Nap-lan thenshows entersup thewith consulatehis undersoldiers theand pretexttries ofto protectingenter the foreignersconsulate fromto thecapture cult,Lu while usingbut the opportunityBritish toconsul searchstops forhim. LuThat Haonight, Nap-tung.lan Luorders disguiseshis himselfmen to disguise themselves as LeungWhite FoonLotus andSect followsmembers Wongand outbreak ofinto the consulate. safely,After whilesome Leungtime, pretendshe toleads behis Lusoldiers andinto luresthe Nap-lanconsulate away.under Tothe putpretext anof end toprotecting the Whiteconsul Lotusand Society'sarresting evilthe activities,cult Wongmembers andwhile Luactually travel tousing the sect's headquartersopportunity to confronthunt Priestdown KungLu. WongHe defeatssecretly Kungkills inthe aBritish fightconsul andwhen the cultlatter sees through his disbandsruse.

Lu disguises himself as Leung and follows Wong out of the consulate, while Leung pretends to be Lu to distract Nap-lan. Wong and Lu are then forced to travel to the White Lotus Sect's base to confront Priest Gao, the cult's leader. After fighting with the cult members and engaging Gao in a one-on-one fight, Wong defeats Gao and accidentally kills him by causing him to be impaled on the point of a statue's finger, revealing that he was wearing body armour. Wong, Leung and Lu then proceed to retrieve a book, which contains the names of the revolutionaries, from a secret ___location. However, they encounter Nap-lan and his soldiers, and Lu is fatally shot. While Wong fights with Nap-lan to buy time, Lu and Leung burn the book to prevent it from falling into the Qing government's hands. Before succumbing to his wounds, Lu stops Leung from burning the cloth used to wrap the book and tells him to meet Sun Wen at the pier and pass him the cloth.

Wong, Lu and Leung proceed to retrieve a hidden list containing the names of the rebels but run into Nap-lan and his soldiers and Lu is killed by gunfire. In the final scene, Wong engages Nap-lan in a fight and kills the latter and obtains the name list. He returns the list to Sun Wen, who is waiting at the dock, and Sun sails to Hong Kong.

Wong and Leung try to escape but they are cornered by Nap-lan. Wong and Nap-lan fight using a bamboo staff and a "cloth staff" (a twisted, long piece of cloth) respectively. During the fight, Nap-lan manages to wrap the cloth around Wong's neck and tries to strangle him, but Wong manages to free himself and slit Nap-lan's throat with a sharp splinter from his broken bamboo staff. As dawn approaches, Wong and Leung make it to the pier, where they throw the cloth to Sun Wen, who opens it up to reveal Lu's design of the [[Blue Sky with a White Sun]] flag.

==Cast==

{{Cast listing|

* [[Jet Li]] as [[Wong Fei-hung]]

* [[Jet Li]] as [[Wong Fei-hung]] (doubled by [[Hung Yan-yan]])

* [[Donnie Yen]] as General Nap-lan

* [[RosamundDonnie KwanYen]] as "13thAdmiral Aunt"Nap-Lan SiuYun-kwanSeut

* [[Rosamund Kwan]] as [[Thirteenth Aunt|"13th Aunt" Yee Siu-kwan]]

* [[Max Mok]] as Leung Foon

* [[David Chiang]] as [[Lu Haodong]]

* [[Zhang Tielin]] as [[Sun Yat-sen|Sun Wen]]

* [[David Chiang]] as [[Lu Hao-tung]]

* [[Hung Yan-yan]] as Priest Kung

* Yen Shi-kwan as Governor Chung

* [[DionHo LamKa-kui]] as Chung'sInnkeeper assistantMak

* [[Paul Fonoroff]] as the British consul

* Ho Ka-kui as Innkeeper Mak

* Paul Fonoroff as British consular

* Mike Miller as Dr Thompson

* [[Dion Lam]] as Governor Chung's assistant

* Chu Kai-sang as White Lotus regiment commander

* Chun[[Hung KwaiYan-boyan]] as cult"Priest memberGao" Kau-kung

}}

* Kong Chuen as cult member

* Chan Siu-wah as cult member

* Ling Chi-hung as cult member

* Leung Yat-ho

* Ho Chi-moon

* Chow Shu-kei

* Chang Kin-ming

* Wong Wai-leung

* Leung Shing-hung

==DVDHome release datemedia==

On 2 July 2, 2001, [[DVD]] was released in [[Hong Kong Legends]] at [[Europe]] in [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]].

Two years later, Hong Kong Legends DVD were released on April 7, April 2003 at 3 disc set ''Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy''.

Three years later, The Donnie Yen Collection DVD were released on May 29, May 2006 at 4 disc set including two films they were ''[[New Dragon Gate Inn]]'' and 2 disc platinum edition ''[[Iron Monkey (1993 film)|Iron Monkey]].''.

==Historical references==

* Sun Wen ([[Sun Yat-sen]]) and [[Lu Hao-tung]] are historical characters. The former was the founding father of the [[Republic of China]] while the latter was the designer of the [[Blue Sky with a White Sun|Republic's emblem]].

* The film is set after the [[First Sino-Japanese War]]. At the beginning there is a student protest against the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] in which Formosa (modern Taiwan) was handed over to the [[Empire of Japan]].

* The [[White Lotus]] cult in the film is based on a xenophobic underground society called the "Righteous Harmonious Fists" (also known as the "Boxers" of the [[Boxer Rebellion]]). The cult also has references to the historical White Lotus, such as the cult of [[Maitreya]].

* An "Eastern Extension Australasia and China telegraph company" office can be seen, where the locals are demonstrating outside.

==Alternative version==

The Taiwanese [[VHS]] release distributed by Long Shong opens with a 7 seven-minute-long recap of the first film. inIt seriesalso features some scenes that were cut from the international release.

This version also includes scenes cut from the international releases:

* 13th Aunt tastes some medicine and says that it tasted bitter. Leung Foon tries it and agrees. Wong Fei-hung returns but they are unsuccessful in their prank on him.

* Lu Hao-tung discloses Sun Wen's plans for revolution. Wong Fei-hung protests angrily by saying that China should not experience any more turmoil.

* After the scene featuring children learning martial arts at the foreign-language school, 13th Aunt and Leung Foon discovers that they were writing their wills. Unexpectedly, Leung manages to raise their spirits by teaching them martial arts.

==Box office==

''Once Upon a Time in China II'' was a rare instance where a sequel to a Hong Kong film earned higher at the box office as compared to the previous film. It grossed a total of HK$30,399,676 during its theatrical run<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng|title=Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)|website=hkmdb.com|access-date=2019-10-13|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002554/http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng|url-status=live}}</ref> and holds a 93% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/once_upon_a_time_in_china_2/|title=Once Upon a time in China II|website=Rottentomatoes.com|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=25 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525145332/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/once_upon_a_time_in_china_ii|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:OUATIC2 dvdcover.jpg|right|thumb|USA DVD cover]]

This was a rare sequel to a Hong Kong film to exceed the original film's box office take. It grossed $30,399,676 HKD.[http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng]

==Awards and nominations==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ;

*1992 [[Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards|Golden Horse Film Festival]]

|-

**Won: Best Original Song (James Wong)

! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Awards and nominations

|-

*'''[[12th Hong Kong Film Awards|1993]] [[Hong Kong Film Award]]s'''

! style="background:#ccc | Ceremony

**'''Won: Best Action Choreography ([[Yuen Woo-ping]])'''

! style="background:#ccc | Category

**Nominated: Best Film

! style="background:#ccc | Recipient

**Nominated: Best Supporting Actor ([[Donnie Yen]])

! style="background:#ccc | Result

**Nominated: Best Director ([[Tsui Hark]])

|-

**Nominated: Best New Performer ([[Hung Yan-yan]])

|rowspan=9|'''[[12th Hong Kong Film Awards]]'''

**Nominated: Best Art Direction (Eddie Ma)

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]

**Nominated: Best Cinematography ([[Arthur Wong]])

|''Once Upon a Time in China II''

**Nominated: Best Film Editing ([[Marco Mak]])

|{{Nom}}

**Nominated: Best Original Film Score ([[Richard Yuen]], Johnny Njo)

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|[[Tsui Hark]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]

|[[Donnie Yen]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer|Best New Performer]]

|[[Hung Yan-yan]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]]

|Eddie Ma

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]

|[[Arthur Wong]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Editing|Best Film Editing]]

|[[Marco Mak]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography|Best Action Choreography]]

|[[Yuen Woo-ping]]

|{{Won}}

|-

|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Score|Best Original Film Score]]

|[[Richard Yuen]], Johnny Njo

|{{Nom}}

|-

|rowspan=4|'''29th [[Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards|Golden Horse Film Festival]]'''

|[[Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor|Best Actor]]

|[[Jet Li]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|[[Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]

|[[Max Mok]]

|{{Nom}}

|-

|Best Action Choreography

|Yuen Woo-ping

|{{Nom}}

|-

|Best Original Film Song

|[[James Wong (lyricist)|James Wong]]

|{{Won}}

|-

|}

==References==

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==External links==

{{Portal|China|Hong Kong|Film|1990s}}

*{{Imdb title|0105839|Once Upon a Time in China II}}

* {{AmgIMDb movietitle|1736710105839|Once Upon a Time in China II}}

* [http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7576&display_set=eng HKMDB]

* [http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/movie.asp?id=63 HK Cinemagic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191335/http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/movie.asp?id=63 |date=3 March 2016 }}

{{Once Upon a Time in China|state=expanded}}

{{Tsui Hark}}

{{Ng See-yuen}}

{{Once Upon a Time in China}}

{{Best Action Choreography HKFA}}

{{CinemaofHongKong}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Once Upon A Time In China II}}

[[Category:Hong1990s Kongbiographical films]]

[[Category:1990s Cantonese-language films]]

[[Category:1990s Hong Kong films]]

[[Category:1992 films]]

[[Category:1990s1992 actionmartial arts films]]

[[Category:HongCultural Kongdepictions actionof filmsSun Yat-sen]]

[[Category:Cantonese-languageFilms filmsabout cults]]

[[Category:BiographicalFilms filmsdirected by Tsui Hark]]

[[Category:MartialFilms artsset filmsin Guangdong]]

[[Category:OnceFilms Upon a Timeset in China seriesGuangzhou]]

[[Category:Films set in the Qing dynasty]]

[[Category:Golden Harvest films]]

[[Category:FilmsHong setKong inbiographical Guangdongfilms]]

[[Category:FilmsHong directedKong bymartial Tsuiarts Harkfilms]]

[[Category:SequelHong Kong New Wave films]]

[[Category:Hong Kong sequel films]]

[[Category:Kung fu films]]

[[de:Last Hero – Once Upon a Time in China II]]

[[Category:Mixed martial arts films]]

[[fr:Il était une fois en Chine 2 : la secte du lotus blanc]]

[[idCategory:Once Upon a Time in China II(film series)]]

[[Category:Wushu films]]

[[it:Once Upon a Time in China II]]

[[hu:Kínai történet 2.]]

[[pl:Dawno temu w Chinach 2]]

[[sr:Било једном у Кини 2]]

[[fi:Tapahtui kerran Kiinassa 2]]

[[zh:黃飛鴻之二：男兒當自強]]