Jet Li's The New Legend of Shaolin

Jet Li is becoming popular here in the United States, what with "Lethal Weapon IV" and "Romeo Must Die" as well as the up and coming "First King" in production. It seems the America is coming to realize what Hong Kong has known for years--Jet Li knows how to be an Action Hero.
So, with all of the hype around Mr. Li, it only seemed fitting that his films become more available in the U.S. And one film to try and find is his 1994 offering "New Legend of Shaolin".
Written and Directed by Jing Wong, this film goes out of its way to exemplify what Hong Kong does right with action movies taking drama, comedy, and of course frenetic martial arts action and producing a film that is compelling to watch. The plot is a standard one for Hong Kong's period epics; A wandering former monk helps to work against the evils of the Manchu emperors. It's the getting there that Hong Kong loves. Jet Li is in his usual fine form as the wandering monk, Hung Hei-kwun, but the real pleasure in this film is martial arts wunderkind Tse Miu (a.k.a. Xie Miao, "My Father is a Hero")as Hung Man-Ting, Jet Li's son.
Miu is perfect as he alternates between his child-like playfulness with his friends, to his monk-like stoicism and pragmaticism, to his righteous fury when he is pushed too far.
The direction her is top-notch, giving some of the action a hazy dream-like quality that reinforces the sense of the fantastic within this film. Editing too is superb, keeping the pacing perfect, letting the steam up from time to time with light comedy but always keeping us moving along with the plot.
When rating Hong Kong films, one is tempted to classify them on the basis of "The Stunt" some singularly outrageous scene or action that makes the whole movie pale in comparison. Even here, though, it is tough to pick out a single scene. Li and Miu double-teaming the villain with paired spears? The master of the Heaven and Earth Association entering the temple by running along the thrown swords of his followers? Granny catching darts in her hands and teeth in an enormous dart throwing duel in an alley? There's too much. And it's all good.
If you want to know why it is that Jet Li is as popular as he is, this is a good place to start. And if you want to see what Jet Li is truly capable of, when not constricted by a bad role or a bad film, then this is perfect for you.