The fourth addition to the spectacular ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ series with Zhao Wen-Zhou replacing ‘Jet Li’ as Wong Fei Hung. This time Wong Fei Hung, Leung Fu (Max Mok Sui-Chung), Club foot (Xiong Xin-Xin) and Wong Fei Hung’s Father Wong Kei-Ying (Lau Shun, as in ‘Once Upon a Time in China 3’) get tangled in with all sorts of minor factions that are trying to take advantage of china’s domestic disputes. Among them include the ‘Red Lantern Society’, which consist of an all-women gang that uses rope-type weapons and ether-containing lanterns to sedate their foes. During a festive parade, which is hosted by the ‘Red Lantern Society’, they attack a German church, which leads to the death of several innocent foreign bystanders. But lucky Wong Fei Hung jumps in, on queue, and stops the ‘Red Lantern Society’ before things get out of hand. Another faction includes the notorious German’s hell-bent on taking over China. Helping the Germans are two men supporting the German army, also seeking to destroy the reigning Chinese dynasty, played by Billy Chow Bei-Lei (From other roles in ‘Tai Chi 2’) and Chin Kar-Lok (from other roles in ‘Swordsman 2’ and ‘Full Alert’).

Also Aunt May (played by ‘Jean Wong’, from other memorable roles in ‘Iron Monkey’ and ‘Swordsman 3: East is Red’) replaces Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan) as the new love interest of Wong Fei Hung, although there is very little evidence to prove this during the course of the film. Eventually, the Wong family is invited to compete in a Lion contest, China V’s Foreigners (ie. Japan, Germany, USA, France, UK and so on….), where we witness another grand assembly of Lion Heads (as in Once Upon a Time in China 3). But this time the foreigners use different much improved versions, including Flying Eagle Model, Centipede Model, Dragon and other assorted creatures. The last fight is too long and assertive, with Wong Fei Hung and his team of no-goods eventually ditching the Lion Heads and using their martial arts to overcome the imperialist enemies. There is little, if any, to explain the motive for the foreigners challenge to the Chinese in a Lion Dance Contest and eventually things escalade when the German’s break into the Forbidden City of China, with the obvious Wong Fei Hung going after the German General to stop his dictatorship once and for all. Little emphasis is also given on the 2 men, joining with the Germans, and their reason for doing so.

Tsui Hark takes a smaller role, as the producer for this movie and lets Yuen Bun take the role of the director. Yuen Bun has also action choreographed / directed other previous movies like ‘Swordsman 2’, ‘Dragon Inn’ and ‘Green Snake’, which explains the excellent action-choreography displayed in this film. The only disappointment is that, Tsui Hark and Yuen Bun tried to cover far too much in one movie, and so very less went into character development and storyline structure. The whole ambiance of period, where the film was set in, was spectacular and very little needed to be done to improve it. As Wong Fei Hung, Zhao Wen Zhou, substitute’s grace and wisdom for Jet Li’s Power and sometimes insecurity. Thanks to the standard Kung-Fu Choreography and martial arts lion dancing, Once Upon a Time in China 4, is practically non-stop action.

Overall there is very little that could have been done to improve this movie in terms of action and acting. But in regards to length of the movie, it clocks in at just under 120 minutes, but should really have been divided into two movies, since too much was covered in too little time. On the plus side, there are more positive points about this movie than there are negative, so all in all the movie is very entertaining and worthwhile watching.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10