REVIEW: Rise of the Legend

A film directed by Roy Hin Yeung Chow

Rise of the Legend is a Chinese film that stars Sammo Hung as crime boss Master Lui and Eddie Peng as Wong Fei, a gifted martial arts prodigy who is out for revenge. Fei carries out a seemingly impossible and harrowing mission in this stunningly told biographical epic. Almost immediately after the opening credits, the brilliant cinematography sucks you in. The detail and savagery of the initial fight scene provides an immediate hook. The plot isn’t the easiest to follow if you don’t know much about 19^th century Chinese history, but the prologue provides enough information for a very basic understanding of the dire social situation that spurs our hero along. If you are a martial arts fan or enjoy foreign films, don’t sleep on this one! CCPL owns DVD copies, but if you prefer to download the film and watch it on your mobile device, Rise of the Legend is available for check out through Hoopla.

— Reviewed by Tama R. Howard, John’s Island Regional Library, John’s Island, S.C.

Find this and similar titles at Charleston County Public Library. This item is available as a print book and in other formats. To learn more or to place a hold, visit www.ccpl.org or call 843-805-6930.