OK, I don't particularly like Jet Li, although I can appreciate that he is a brilliant martial artist. The movie works for me the same way: I don't like the movie, but I can appreciate that it is a good one.

When I first saw the artistic, haunting, beautiful opening scenes, I thought it was going to be really good, but for me it all went downhill from there. I felt that Tsui Hark postured to make "Once Upon A Time" into an artistic film, but really, as with all Kung Fu movies, any artistic content was only there to kick the fights along.

Another problem is that I really don't like wire-fu, and I found the needlessly slowed-down fights really boring. I wished the fights were full-speed, especially with someone as usually lightning-quick as Jet Li.

Basically, I think this is probably a really great movie, starring a great fighter. Unfortunately, I don't like it or its star, but that's just personal.

(2/10)