True Legend
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| True Legend | |
|---|---|
![]() promotional poster | |
| 苏乞儿 | |
| Directed by | Yuen Woo-ping |
| Written by | Christine To |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Zhao Xiaoding |
| Edited by | Wenders Li |
| Music by | Shigeru Umebayashi |
| Distributed by | EDKO Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 115 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Mandarin |
| Budget | US$20,000,000 |
| Box office | RMB 46.5 million |
True Legend (苏乞儿) is a 2010 Chinese–Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, his first since Tai Chi Boxer (1996). A Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, the film starred Vincent Zhao as Chinese folk hero Su Can, and co-starred Zhou Xun, Jay Chou, and Andy On. Gordon Liu, Leung Kar-yan, Michelle Yeoh, and David Carradine make cameo appearances.[1] Set in late 19th-century and early 20th-century China, the film follows a retired general whose peaceful life is interrupted when his vengeful sworn brother returns from war armed with a deadly skill. Weakened but not destroyed, he learns drunken boxing from the God of Wushu to defeat his sworn brother.
The film has been shown in both 2D and 3D, and was promoted as the first Chinese 3D film. It was released in the United States on 13 May 2011 by Indomina, grossing US$62,200 during its run. Though it was a rather large financial loss for producer Bill Kong, making only RMB 46.5 million (US$6.82 million) against an estimated budget of US$20 million, the film received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly for its action choreography. True Legend was awarded the Lotus Action Asia at the 13th Deauville Asian Film Festival and won the Best Asian Action Movie award.[2][3]
Synopsis
[edit]Su Can, a former general, has retired from military service to focus on wushu. He has a tense relationship with his sworn brother Yuan Lie, who is jealous of him. Years ago, Su's father had killed Yuan's father when the latter had fallen to evil. Su's father has since adopted Yuan, but fears that the boy might follow in his father's footsteps.
Five years later, Su has married Yuan's sister Ying and they have a son Feng. Yuan has also returned to serve as a governor, and he kills Su's father in revenge. When Su confronts Yuan, the latter defeats and wounds him before throwing him down a waterfall. Ying jumps into the water in an attempt to save Su, and both of them are lost. Yuan then takes custody of Feng.
Ying and Su survive their fall and are saved by a healer. Su is devastated to learn that he is crippled and turns to alcohol to drown his sorrows. Later, with Ying's support, he recovers, relearns martial arts and spars with an imaginary "God of Wushu". He eventually faces Yuan in battle and saves Feng, but Ying dies after being buried alive on Yuan's order.
Su becomes insane after losing his wife and roams the streets with his son. During this time, he picks up drunken boxing from sparring with the "God of Wushu", and regains his sanity. Later, he meets an old comrade and gets involved in a fighting arena, defeating some foreign challengers with his newly mastered skills.
Cast
[edit]- Vincent Zhao as Su Can
- Zhou Xun as Yuan Ying
- Jay Chou as the God of Wushu
- Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shulian
- Andy On as Yuan Lie
- David Carradine as Anton
- Guo Xiaodong as Colonel Ma
- Feng Xiaogang as the pickpocket
- Cung Le as a militia leader
- Gordon Liu as the Old Sage
- Bryan Leung as Su Wankun
- Jacky Heung as a prince
- Yan Ni as the bar owner
- Will Liu as Iron Lad
- Jiang Luxia as Iron Maiden
- Li Zo as Feng (age 5)
- Suen Han-wen as Feng (age 8)
- Conan Stevens as Malotoff
- Jon Heidenreich as a fighter
- Sylvester Terkay as the older Scot brother
- Matt Wiese as the younger Scot brother
- Dominique Vandenberg as Bald One-Eye
Production
[edit]When director Yuen Woo-ping was given the script by producer Bill Kong, the latter reportedly recommended Vincent Zhao for the lead role, saying that Zhao had been acting in many television series in recent years and should appear more in films. Yuen, after looking through some of Zhao's older films, chose him for the lead role. To prepare for his role, Zhao lost up to 9 kilograms (20 lb) as "Beggar Su can't be too plump." Zhao also had to take breakdancing classes for about two months as Yuen wanted a more rhythmic and modern form of drunken boxing.
Yuen also initially wanted Feng Xiaogang to portray the Old Sage but Feng turned down the offer due to schedule conflicts. However, Feng had the chance to direct a scene in the film where he appeared as a pickpocket teaching Su Can's son to steal. Nevertheless, the scene never made it into the film's final cut as Yuen and the producers felt that it was unnecessary.
True Legend began shooting in the mountainous region in a suburb of Beijing on August 28, 2008. Filming wrapped up in late January 2009. The set of the scene in which Su Can saves the prince broke a record for the largest set ever built inside a Chinese filming studio. The shooting lasted five months. While still in pre-production, Yuen and his staff took more than four months to scout for possible shooting locations. They eventually selected Huangshan, the Hukou Waterfalls, and traditional Hui-style residences in Anhui. Yuen preferred to shoot the film in their original buildings instead of in replicas in sound stages.
The scene in which Andy On and Vincent Zhao fight at the Hukou Waterfalls was the hardest fight scene to shoot in the entire film. As Yuen stated,
"The safety issue for that scene was the biggest challenge of the whole movie. The landscape looks magnificent but are very dangerous; there was no chance for us to make any mistakes. We meticulously planned out the whole choreography and tested and rehearsed it for many times before rolling the camera. We also double-wired our talent just to make sure they were completely safe. This fighting sequence took us 15 working days to complete."
The film's action choreography received both praise and ridicule, with some saying that it was unmemorable. Despite this, Yuen explained that "if it's too fanciful, the audience won't be able to see all the moves clearly." Instead, he wanted to create a hybrid (traditional and modern) form of martial arts, thus Vincent Zhao incorporated breakdancing moves into drunken boxing in some of the fight scenes.
When asked why only 20 minutes of the film was in 3D, Yuen explained that making a full 3D film is very expensive and takes up a lot of human resources. He added that he hired up to 100 digital artists, who took about six months to convert the two most important action scenes into 3D. Despite his efforts, a number of countries which bought the distribution rights did not release the film in 3D as it was too troublesome for movie theatre staff to inform the audience when to put on and remove the 3D glasses.
Jay Chou also helped with designing some of the outfits.
DVD release
[edit]On October 25, 2010, DVD was released in Optimum Home Entertainment in Europe in Region 2.
Reception
[edit]On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 63% based on 38 reviews.[4] The film has a score of 62 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 10 reviews.[5]
The film was awarded the Lotus Action Asia at the 13th Deauville Asian Film Festival and won the Best Asian Action Movie award.[6][7]
Reviewer Charlie Jane Anders of Gizmodo praised the film as "pure old-school awesomeness", comparing it to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Hero (2002).[8]
Reviewer Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave True Legend 2 out of 5 stars, writing that it "boasts some great action scenes. But otherwise it's a slightly plodding account of Chinese myth and legend."[9]
In a review of True Legend for The New York Times, reviewer Mike Hale wrote, "Like so many of the bloated, moralistic epics being pumped out by the Chinese film industry, it maneuvers cardboard characters through a story built almost entirely from aphorisms, scheming and pledges of revenge."[10]
References
[edit]- ^ https://kungfumovieguide.com/true-legend/
- ^ http://michelleyeoh.info/Movie/truelegend.html
- ^ https://kungfukingdom.com/profile-of-vincent-zhao/
- ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/true_legend#:~:text=Audience%20Reviews&text=Everything%20in%20this%20movie%20is,very%20valid%20and%20well%20written&text=A%20cool%20movie%20this%20drama%20is%20a%20fun%20and%20enjoyable%20Action%20film.
- ^ https://www.metacritic.com/movie/true-legend/
- ^ http://michelleyeoh.info/Movie/truelegend.html
- ^ https://kungfukingdom.com/profile-of-vincent-zhao/
- ^ https://gizmodo.com/yuen-woo-pings-true-legend-pure-old-school-awesomeness-5799814
- ^ "Film review: True Legend". TheGuardian.com. 23 September 2010.
- ^ Hale, Mike (12 May 2011). "A Martial Artist in Action". The New York Times.
External links
[edit]True Legend
View on GrokipediaDevelopment and production
Development
True Legend was announced in 2007 as Yuen Woo-ping's return to directing, marking his first feature as director since Tai Chi Boxer in 1996.[4][5] The film drew inspiration from the legend of Su Can, the Qing Dynasty general credited with originating the Drunken Fist (Zui Quan) martial arts style, portraying his transformation into the folk hero known as Beggar Su after personal tragedy and exile.[6][7] With an estimated budget of US$20 million, the production was positioned as China's first major 3D martial arts film, incorporating specialized 3D cameras to capture dynamic fight sequences and enhance visual depth in wuxia-style action.[8][9] Pre-production spanned from 2007 to August 2008, during which screenwriter Chi-long To developed the script emphasizing wuxia themes of heroism, betrayal, and martial mastery, setting the stage for principal photography to begin later that month.[10]Casting
Vincent Zhao was cast in the lead role of Su Can, the retired Qing general and inventor of the Drunken Fist style. To prepare for the physically demanding part, Zhao lost 9 kilograms in weight and underwent two months of breakdancing training to incorporate modern, fluid movements into the traditional Drunken Fist choreography, as directed by Yuen Woo-ping.[11] Zhou Xun as Su Can's wife, Ying, bringing emotional depth to the supportive family role. Michelle Yeoh as the immortal Yu So, a herbalist and martial artist who aids Su Can in his recovery, adding a layer of international star power with her established action credentials.[12] Andy On was selected as Yuan Lie, Su Can's vengeful foster brother and brother-in-law through marriage, emphasizing themes of betrayal in the narrative. David Carradine took on the role of the antagonist Lord Yu, the foreign overlord who forces Su Can into underground fights; this marked Carradine's final film appearance before his death in June 2009.[13] The casting of Yeoh and Carradine enhanced the film's global appeal, bridging Hong Kong martial arts traditions with Western audiences.[14] Jay Chou appeared as the God of Wushu, also known as the Drunken God, a mystical mentor figure who guides Su Can's spiritual and martial growth. Gordon Liu rounded out key supporting roles as the Old Beggar, a wise and eccentric teacher in the Drunken Fist lineage, drawing on his iconic status from classic kung fu films.[15]Filming
Principal photography for True Legend commenced on August 28, 2008, in the suburbs of Beijing and continued until January 2009, spanning five months across multiple locations in China.[10][3] Shooting began secretly in Beijing's Miyun and Huairou Counties, including the China Movie & TV Industry Zone, before moving to the Hukou Waterfall along the Yellow River in Shanxi Province on September 9, 2008, and then to Anhui Province on September 24, 2008, where key scenes were filmed amid the dramatic landscapes of Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountains) and ancient villages such as Xidi, Hongcun, and Qiankou Town.[10] The production returned to Beijing on October 24, 2008, to complete remaining sequences, with actress Zhou Xun's final day on set occurring on January 18, 2009.[10] Renowned action director Yuen Woo-ping oversaw the film's choreography, blending innovative wirework with practical stunts to bring the Drunken Fist sequences to life, drawing on his extensive experience from classics like Drunken Master.[16][17] These action set pieces emphasized fluid, acrobatic movements that highlighted the protagonist Su Can's mastery of the style, utilizing harnesses for aerial maneuvers while prioritizing authentic martial arts execution over excessive digital augmentation in core fight scenes.[18] The production incorporated 3D filming for select sequences to heighten the visual impact of the action, employing dual-camera rigs to capture stereoscopic depth, though the team ultimately opted against converting the entire film to 3D due to prohibitive costs estimated at several million dollars additional and up to five extra years of work.[10] CGI elements were integrated during post-production to enhance spatial effects in combat choreography, addressing challenges like synchronizing wire-assisted performances with digital extensions for more immersive fight dynamics.[19] Approximately 20 minutes of footage, primarily action-heavy segments, were presented in 3D, requiring audiences to wear glasses intermittently during screenings.[1] Post-production extended over more than 10 months, involving over 100 digital artists to refine the 3D effects and overall visual polish, culminating in completion by late 2009 ahead of the film's February 2010 release.[10] Composer Shigeru Umebayashi crafted the score, featuring orchestral arrangements that evoked the film's historical wuxia tone through sweeping strings and percussion.[1]Narrative and cast
Plot
Set in 1860s Qing Dynasty China, the story follows Su Can, a celebrated general who retires after a heroic rescue mission to fulfill his dream of building a family and establishing a wushu school. He marries Ying, the sister of his adopted brother Yuan, and they welcome a son named Feng, settling into a serene life focused on martial arts training and domestic bliss. However, this tranquility shatters when Yuan, consumed by long-held resentment over the death of his biological father at the hands of Su's adoptive father—the Grand Elder—returns transformed into a ruthless warrior proficient in the poisonous Five Venom Fists technique. Leading an assault on the family temple, Yuan slays the Grand Elder, overpowers Su in a brutal confrontation that leaves him poisoned and broken, and hurls both Su and Ying from a cliff into the river below, presuming them dead while seizing young Feng to raise as his heir.[20][19] Miraculously, Su and Ying survive the fall and are rescued by the compassionate herbalist Dr. Yu and her brother, who nurse them back to health in a remote village. Devastated by his defeat and haunted by visions, Su spirals into alcoholism and isolation, but he encounters mystical guidance from the God of Wushu, a spectral mentor who imparts the unconventional Drunken Fist style— a fluid, unpredictable form mimicking intoxication to evade and counter attacks. As Su immerses himself in rigorous training amid towering stone guardians, blending physical discipline with emotional turmoil, Ying grows increasingly distant, strained by his obsessive pursuit of vengeance. Meanwhile, Yuan consolidates power as a governor, using Feng in his schemes, and later captures Ying during her desperate attempt to reclaim their son, ultimately burying her alive in a cruel act of retribution.[21][22] Mastering the Drunken Fist through years of hardship, Su emerges as the ragged Beggar Su, a far cry from his former glory, yet empowered with unparalleled agility and resilience. He infiltrates Yuan's domain to rescue Feng, forging a renewed bond with his son amid the chaos of colonial influences encroaching on China. The climax unfolds in a grand arena spectacle, where Su challenges Yuan—now a monstrous figure enhanced by venomous elixirs—before an audience including foreign dignitaries and Dr. Yu, who has become a key ally. In a visceral showdown blending raw power with deceptive drunken movements, Su defeats Yuan, avenging his family's suffering without succumbing to blind rage.[19][23] In the aftermath, Su confronts the lingering scars of his losses, gradually regaining his mental clarity and sense of purpose. Embracing his identity as Beggar Su, he honors Ying's memory and their shared legacy by imparting the Drunken Fist to Feng and his students, ensuring the enduring spirit of wushu as a path to redemption and strength amid adversity. This transformation cements Su's folklore status as the originator of the style, symbolizing resilience in the face of betrayal and imperial decline.[13][24]Cast
Vincent Zhao portrays Su Can, the film's protagonist and master of the Drunken Fist martial arts style.[25] Zhou Xun plays Ying, Su Can's devoted wife who supports him through personal hardships.[25] Jay Chou stars as the God of Wushu, a mystical mentor who teaches Su Can the Drunken Fist style. Michelle Yeoh depicts Sister Yu, a skilled fighter and healer serving as a family ally.[15] David Carradine appears as Anton, a foreign arena ringleader in a cameo role.[15] Supporting roles include Andy On as Yuan Lie, the vengeful adoptive brother driven by resentment, and Gordon Liu as the Old Sage, a wise figure who provides guidance.[26]| Actor | Role | Notes on Character Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Vincent Zhao | Su Can / Beggar Su | Protagonist; develops and masters Drunken Fist. |
| Zhou Xun | Ying / Yuan Ying | Devoted wife; represents emotional anchor. |
| Jay Chou | God of Wushu | Mystical mentor; teaches Drunken Fist to Su. |
| Michelle Yeoh | Sister Yu / Dr. Yu | Skilled fighter and healer; family protector. |
| David Carradine | Anton | Foreign arena ringleader; cameo embodying colonial threat. |
| Andy On | Yuan Lie | Vengeful brother; drives central conflict. |
| Gordon Liu | Old Sage | Wise mentor figure; provides guidance. |
| Guo Xiaodong | Colonel Ma | Military figure; involved in early action. |
| Cung Le | Militia Leader | Warrior opponent; highlights combat prowess. |
| Bryan Leung | Su Wankun | Family elder; provides backstory depth. |
