Like any Wong Fei-hung movies, the story of Ma Wing-jing, a pugilist from Shantung who rises to the top of the Shanghai triad ladder, is worth telling over and over. Corey Yuen’s remake of Chang Cheh’s Boxer From Shantung sees Taiwanese Japanese heart-throb Takeshi Kaneshiro in the role made famous by Chang’s favourite Chen Kuan-tai. Although better known for his dramas than action, Kaneshiro rises powerfully to the occasion, backed by the stellar martial arts talents of Yuen Biao, Yuen Hua and Yuan Te. Corey Yuen – who has worked with Jet Li on all his Hollywood movies and directed such hits as Fong Sai-yuk – brings the hero to life with his trademark of explosive action and comic relief. Less bloody than Boxer From Shantung and definitely just as riveting.
