Hero (1997 film): Difference between revisions

Hero
Hero
	Hero DVD cover
Traditional Chinese	馬永貞
Simplified Chinese	马永贞
Jyutping	Ma2 Wing2 Zing1
Directed by	Corey Yuen
Written by	Corey Yuen; Jeffrey Lau
Based on	Boxer from Shantung; by Chang Cheh; Ni Kuang;
Produced by	Mona Fong
Starring	Takeshi Kaneshiro; Yuen Biao; Jessica Hsuan; Valerie Chow; Yuen Wah; Yuen Tak; Corey Yuen
Cinematography	Tom Lau
Edited by	Hai Kit-wai
Music by	Lincoln Lo; Raymond Wong; William Hu
Production; companies	Shaw Brothers Studio; Celestial Pictures
Distributed by	Shaw Brothers Studio
Release date	7 June 1997;
Running time	97 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK$3,015,240

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Hero (Chinese: 馬永貞; Jyutping: Ma² Wing² Zing¹) is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Corey Yuen. The film stars Taiwanese-Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, established Hong Kong action stars from the China Drama Academy (Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Corey Yuen, Yuen Tak) and Hong Kong actresses Valerie Chow and Jessica Hsuan. Hero is a remake of the 1972 film Boxer from Shantung. The film was produced by then TVB chairwoman Mona Fong.^[1]

Plot

At the end of the Qing Dynasty due to poverty and starvation, Ma Wing-jing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and his older brother Ma Tai-cheung (Yuen Wah) flee from their harsh homeland to the big city of Shanghai to make their fortune. Once they arrive in Shanghai reality sets in and both are only able to secure jobs as coolies (bitter hard manual labor) making chump change. Wing-jing admires the local triad gangster boss Tam Sei's (Yuen Biao) life style. Tam, seeing Ma Wing-jing admire his horse carriage, challenges Wing-jing to a human versus horse race. Wing-jing accepts his challenge, after seeing Wing-jing's determination, loyalty, fighting skills and athleticism, the two strike up a friendship and Tam tells Wing-jing to visit his night club one day if he ever needs help.

The two most powerful mob bosses in Shanghai are Tam Sei, who has the British government backing him, and Yang Shuang (Yuen Tak), who has the entire Shanghai police force working for him. Both are at odds to gain full control of Shanghai's crime organization. Ma Wing-jing gains more trust from Tam Sei when he hears about and intervene's in Yang Shaung's assassination attempt on Tam Sei, saving Tam's life. As a reward, Tam gives Wing-jing a small territory in Shanghai to control. Wing-jing uses it to his advantage to gain more territory in Shanghai. All is well and prosperous until he tries to conquer the territory belonging to Yang Shuang. Blinded by his power and greed, he is betrayed by the one he had trusted the most, leading to tragedy for himself and Tam, who, despite Wing-jing's foolishness, still remains his friend.^[2]^[3]

Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro as Ma Wing-jing
Yuen Biao as Tam Sei
Jessica Hsuan as Kam Ling-tze
Valerie Chow as Yam Yeung-tien
Yuen Wah as Ma Tai-cheung
Yuen Tak as Yang Shuang
Corey Yuen Kwai as Uncle Po

Production crew

Production Manager: Jackson Ha
Sound Recording: True Technic Limited
Art Director: Lau Man-hung
Lighting: Chan Wai-lin
Planning: Chang Oi-bing, Wan Pak-nam, Lawrence Wong
Makeup: Lee Wai-fong
Hair Stylist: Sharon Li
Costume Designer: Dora Ng
Props: Lai Yu, Hung Hin-fat
Assistant Director: Bill Chan, Chan Sek
Action Director: Yuen Tak, Corey Yuen
Assistant Action Director: Jonathan Ting, Jacky Tang

References

^ "Hero (1997)".
^ http://www.cityonfire.com/hero-1997-aka-ma-wing-jing/
^ "REVIEW: Hero (1997) « Kung Fu Cinema". Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.

External links

[1] "Hero (1997)".

[2] ttp://www.cityonfire.com/hero-1997-aka-ma-wing-jing/

[3] "REVIEW: Hero (1997) « Kung Fu Cinema". Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1997 Hong Kong martial arts film}}
+{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
+{{Use Hong Kong English|date=May 2014}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Hero
 | image          = 1997herohk.jpg
-| film name = {{Film name|traditional = 馬永貞
+| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|t = 馬永貞
-|simplified = 马永贞
+|s = 马永贞
-|jyutping = Ma Wing Jing}}
+|j = Ma2 Wing2 Zing1}}
-| border         =
+| alt            =
-| alt            = Ma Wing Jing
+| caption        = ''Hero'' DVD cover
-| caption        = ''Hero'' theatrical poster
+| director       = [[Corey Yuen]]
-| director       = [[Corey Yuen]] Kwai
+| producer       = [[Mona Fong]]
-| producer       = [[Mona Fong]] Yat-Wa
+| writer         = Corey Yuen<br />[[Jeffrey Lau]]
+| based_on       = {{based on|''[[Boxer from Shantung]]''|{{Plainlist|*[[Chang Cheh]]
-| writer         = Corey Yuen Kwai<br />[[Jeffrey Lau]] Chun-Wai
+* [[Ni Kuang]]}}}}
-| screenplay     =
+| starring       = [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]]<br />[[Yuen Biao]]<br />[[Jessica Hsuan]]<br />[[Valerie Chow]]<br />[[Yuen Wah]]<br />Yuen Tak<br />[[Corey Yuen]]
-| story          =
+| music          = Lincoln Lo<br />[[Raymond Wong (composer)|Raymond Wong]]<br />William Hu
-| based on       = [[Boxer from Shantung]]
+| cinematography = Tom Lau
-| narrator       =
+| editing        = Hai Kit-wai
-| starring       = [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]]<br />[[Yuen Biao]]<br />[[Valerie Chow]] Kar-Ling<br />[[Jessica Hsuan]] Suen Huen<br />[[Yuen Wah]]<br />Corey Yuen Kwai<br />Yuen Tak
-| music          = Lincoln Lo Kin<br />Raymond Wong Ying-Wah<br />William Hu Wei-Li
+| studio         = [[Shaw Brothers Studio]]<br />Celestial Pictures
+| distributor    = Shaw Brothers Studio
-| cinematography = Tom Lau Moon-Tong
-| editing        = Hai Kit-Wai
+| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1997|06|07}}
-| studio         = [[Shaw Brothers Studio]]<br />[[China Film Group Corporation]]<br />Inner Mongolia Film Studio
-| distributor    = Shaw Brothers Studio<br />Newport Entertainment<br />Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK)
-| released       = {{Film date|1997|06|07}}
 | runtime        = 97 minutes
 | country        = Hong Kong
 | language       = Cantonese
 | budget         =
-| gross          = HK $3,015,240.00
+| gross          = HK$3,015,240
 }}
-{{Contains Chinese text}}
-'''''Hero''''' ({{zh|t=馬永貞|j=''Ma Wing Jing''}}) is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts, action and gangster film written by [[Corey Yuen]], [[Jeffrey Lau]] and also directed by Corey Yuen. The film stars Taiwanese-Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, established Hong Kong action stars from the [[Peking Opera School]] ([[Yuen Biao]], [[Yuen Wah]], Corey Yuen Kwai, Yuen Tak) and Hong Kong actresses [[Valerie Chow]] and [[Jessica Hsuan]]. The film is a remake of the 1972 Hong Kong action film ''[[Boxer from Shantung]]''. The film was produced by then [[TVB]] chairwoman [[Mona Fong]].<ref>http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8273&display_set=eng</ref>
+'''''Hero''''' ({{zh|t=馬永貞|j=''Ma<sup>2</sup> Wing<sup>2</sup> Zing<sup>1</sup>''}}) is a 1997 Hong Kong [[martial arts film]] written and directed by [[Corey Yuen]]. The film stars Taiwanese-Japanese actor [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]], established Hong Kong action stars from the [[China Drama Academy]] ([[Yuen Biao]], [[Yuen Wah]], Corey Yuen, Yuen Tak) and Hong Kong actresses [[Valerie Chow]] and [[Jessica Hsuan]]. ''Hero'' is a remake of the 1972 film ''[[Boxer from Shantung]]''. The film was produced by then [[TVB]] chairwoman [[Mona Fong]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8273&display_set=eng | title=Hero (1997) }}</ref>
 == Plot ==
-At the end of the Qin Dynasty due to poverty and starvation, Ma Wing Jing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and his older brother Ma Tai Cheung (Yuen Wah) flee from their harsh homeland to the big city of Shanghai to make their fortune. Once they arrive in Shanghai reality sets in and both are only able to secure jobs as [[Coolie|coolies]] (bitter hard manual labor) making chump change. Wing Jing admires the local triad gangster boss Tam Sei's (Yuen Biao) life style. Tam Sei seeing Ma Wing Jing admire his horse carriage challenges Wing Jing to a human versus horse race. Wing Jing accepts his challenge, after seeing Wing Jing's determination, loyalty, fighting skills and athleticism the two strike up a friendship and Tam Sei tells Wing Jing to visit his night club one day if he ever needs help.
+At the end of the Qing Dynasty due to poverty and starvation, Ma Wing-jing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and his older brother Ma Tai-cheung ([[Yuen Wah]]) flee from their harsh homeland to the big city of Shanghai to make their fortune. Once they arrive in Shanghai reality sets in and both are only able to secure jobs as [[coolie]]s (bitter hard manual labor) making chump change. Wing-jing admires the local triad gangster boss Tam Sei's (Yuen Biao) life style. Tam, seeing Ma Wing-jing admire his horse carriage, challenges Wing-jing to a human versus horse race. Wing-jing accepts his challenge, after seeing Wing-jing's determination, loyalty, fighting skills and athleticism, the two strike up a friendship and Tam tells Wing-jing to visit his night club one day if he ever needs help.
+The two most powerful mob bosses in Shanghai are Tam Sei, who has the British government backing him, and Yang Shuang (Yuen Tak), who has the entire Shanghai police force working for him. Both are at odds to gain full control of Shanghai's crime organization. Ma Wing-jing gains more trust from Tam Sei when he hears about and intervene's in Yang Shaung's assassination attempt on Tam Sei, saving Tam's life. As a reward, Tam gives Wing-jing a small territory in Shanghai to control. Wing-jing uses it to his advantage to gain more territory in Shanghai. All is well and prosperous until he tries to conquer the territory belonging to Yang Shuang. Blinded by his power and greed, he is betrayed by the one he had trusted the most, leading to tragedy for himself and Tam, who, despite Wing-jing's foolishness, still remains his friend.<ref>http://www.cityonfire.com/hero-1997-aka-ma-wing-jing/</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/hero-1997 |title=REVIEW: Hero (1997) « Kung Fu Cinema |access-date=21 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421095555/http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/hero-1997 |archive-date=21 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-Wing Jing takes up Tam Sei's offer, but because they are penniless and don't have the proper attire for an fancy high end night club both Wing Jing and Tai Chueng sneaks through the back door and bribes an low level employee to give them waiter uniforms to blend in at the night club. The night club is managed by one of Tam Sei's mistresses, Yam Yeung Tien (Valerie Chow) who is in love with Tam Sei and wants to be more to him then just one of his mistresses.  Wing Jing takes an immediately liking to Kam Ling Tze (Jessica Hsuan) whom he thinks is a cigarette girl at the club. Wing Jing and Tai Chueng are having fun at the club until an assignation attempt on Tam Sei happens at the club by rival triad boss Yang Shuang (Yuen Tak). Wing Jing saves Tam Sei and as thanks he is given an huge sum of money but Wing Jing refuses it because of his pride, he and his brother leaves the club and later finds out the cigarette girl he had flirted with early is the famous night club singer, Kim Ling Tze.
-The next few days Wing Jing and Tai Chueng mugs two foreigners and steals their money and clothes. Both go to Yeung Tien's night club in the daytime wearing the stolen foreigners clothes to set up a date between Wing Jing and Ling Tze. Tai Chueng passes an message to Ling Tze telling her to meet Wing Jing at the bridge that night. Ling Tze agrees to meet with Wing Jing later that night, but her Uncle Po (Corey Yuen) who happens to work as a drummer at the club is not happy at the prospect of his niece blending together with an penniless guy. Ling Tze does not care for her uncle's words and sneaks off to meet Wing Jing that night. While waiting for Ling Tze, Wing Jing and Tai Chueng are arrested by the police for robbing the two foreigners earlier that day. Sitting in the police station waiting to be arraigned they overhear the corrupted police officers who work for Yang Shuang talk about their plans on assassinating Tam Sei that same night. Wing Jing and Tai Chueng hatch a plan to escape and saves Tam Sei. While saving Tam Sei, Wing Jing forgets about his meeting with Ling Tze. Ling Tze thinking that she has been stood up cries to her uncle that night.
-The next day one of Tam Sei's men tells Yeung Tien that Tam Sei has given the territory where her night club is and her night club to Wing Jing, also he will no longer be coming by to see her. She is furious of his decision, she fires Ling Tze and her uncle knowing that Wing Jing has a thing for Ling Tze. That night when Wing Jing arrives at her night club hopping to see Ling Tze one of the club workers tells him that Ling Tze no longer works there as she has gotten married to a rich man. Wing Jing is disappointed, but Yeung Tien seduces him with her singing and body that night. They become intimate and she tells him about who controls which territory in Shanghai. She also tells him that Tam Sei and Yang Shuang are both the most powerful triad bosses in Shanghai because Tam Sei has the British backing him while Yang Shuang has the entire Police force working for him. Ma Wing Jing continues his raise in power in Shanghai with Yeung Tien by his side, he has taken over all of Shanghai except the territories belonging to Tam Sei and Yang Shuang. Tam Sei visits Wing Jing and Wing Jing tells him that he is planning to take over Yang Shuang's territory soon. Tam Sei advises him not to as Yang Shuang has the entire police force working for him. Wing Jing tells Tam Sei not to worry but Tam Sei still persuades not to do so, Yeung Tien butts into their conversation and tells Wing Jing that Tam Sei doesn't want Wing Jing to takeover Yang Shuang's territory because Tam Sei wants that territory for himself. Tam Sei is furious with her comments and tells her to shut up, he also tells Wing Jing to be careful of her as she is an ambitious women who will sleep with any man that will help her raise in power. Wing Jing ask Tam Sei to leave as he feels disrespected by his comments since Yeung Tien is now his fiancee.
-That night still upset of his earlier argument with Tam Sei, Wing Jing goes out for a horse ride only to be ambushed by Yang Shuang, the police force and other Triad bosses he has taken over territories from. He also finds out that Yeung Tien was part of Yang Shuang's plans to ambushed him. Yeung Tien tells an injured Wing Jing that she has always hated him and that he was just a pawn to destroy Tam Sei. An injured Wing Jing is thrown into the river to die. That same night Tam Sei is lured out of his home by one of his men telling him the British diplomat wants to meet with him at the bridge. At the bridge the British diplomat tells Tam Sei that it was he who set up the meeting to meet him. One of Tam Sei's men kills the British diplomat, he soon finds out he has been betrayed and set up. Yang Shuang betrays Yeung Tien by slashing her face and taking her night club as she is no longer useful to him and Tam Sei is thrown into prison framed for the murder of the British diplomat. Wing Jing is saved by his brother Tai Chueng, Ling Tze and her uncle who are now living in a junk house boat. They make up an story about what happened as they do not want Wing Jing seeking revenge. Yeung Tien who is still in love with Tam Sei visits him everyday at prison and ask the guards to give him his favorite Asian pear. Yang Shuang wanting to show his new found power in Shanghai decide to hold a public ceremony on the day that Tam Sei is to be executed.
-Wing Jing, Tai Chueng, Ling Tze and her uncle are living happy and peacefully by the harbor and he and Ling Tze soon resume they romantic interest in each other when Yeung Tien sees them at the harbor and seeks him out to save Tam Sei. Wing Jing disrupt Yang Shuang ceremony by leading Tam Sei's funeral procession. Soon a gun battle breaks out and Tam Sei who was still alive jumps out of the coffin to seek revenge against Yang Shuang. Tam Sei and Yang Shuang are killed during the gun battle, Wing Jing who survived prepares to leave Shanghai with his brother Tai Chueng, Ling Tze and her uncle, before he broads the train he gives a letter to Yeung Tien that Tam Sei had left for her.<ref>http://www.cityonfire.com/hero-1997-aka-ma-wing-jing/</ref><ref>http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/hero-1997</ref>
 == Cast ==
-*[[Takeshi Kaneshiro]] as Ma Wing Jing
+*[[Takeshi Kaneshiro]] as Ma Wing-jing
 *[[Yuen Biao]] as Tam Sei
-*[[Valerie Chow]] Kar-Ling as Yam Yeung Tien
+*[[Jessica Hsuan]] as Kam Ling-tze
-*[[Jessica Hsuan]] Suen Huen as Kam Ling Tze
+*[[Valerie Chow]] as Yam Yeung-tien
-*[[Yuen Wah]] as Ma Tai Cheung
+*[[Yuen Wah]] as Ma Tai-cheung
+*Yuen Tak as Yang Shuang
 *[[Corey Yuen]] Kwai as Uncle Po
-*Yuen Tak as Yang Shuang
 == Production crew ==
-*'''Production Manager:''' Jackson Ha Chak-San
+*'''Production Manager:''' Jackson Ha
 *'''Sound Recording:''' True Technic Limited
-*'''Art Director:''' Lau Man-Hung
+*'''Art Director:''' Lau Man-hung
-*'''Lighting:''' Chan Wai-Lin
+*'''Lighting:''' Chan Wai-lin
-*'''Planning:''' Chang Oi-Bing, Wan Paak-Naam, Lawrence Wong Ka-Hay
+*'''Planning:''' Chang Oi-bing, Wan Pak-nam, Lawrence Wong
-*'''Makeup:''' Lee Wai-Fong
+*'''Makeup:''' Lee Wai-fong
 *'''Hair Stylist:''' Sharon Li
-*'''Costume Designer:''' Dora Ng Lei-Lo
+*'''Costume Designer:''' [[Dora Ng]]
-*'''Props:''' Lai Yu, Hung Hin-Fat
+*'''Props:''' Lai Yu, Hung Hin-fat
-*'''Assistant Director:''' Bill Chan Wing-Biu, Chan Sek
+*'''Assistant Director:''' Bill Chan, Chan Sek
-*'''Action Director:''' Yuen Tak, Corey Yuen Kwai
+*'''Action Director:''' Yuen Tak, Corey Yuen
-*'''Assistant Action Director:''' Jonathan Ting Yuen-Tai, Jacky Tang Wai-Yuk
+*'''Assistant Action Director:''' Jonathan Ting, Jacky Tang
 ==References==
@@ Line 72: / Line 64: @@
 == External links ==
-*{{Imdb title|id=0136242}}
+* {{IMDb title|id=0136242}}
-*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=1101086-hero|title=Ma Wing Jing}}
+* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=1101086-hero|title=Ma Wing Jing}}
+* http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hero_1997.htm
-*{{Amg movie|214004|Hero}}
+* http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8273&display_set=eng
-*http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hero_1997.htm
+* http://www.hkcinema.co.uk/Reviews/hero1997.html
-*http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8273&display_set=eng
-*http://www.hkcinema.co.uk/Reviews/hero1997.html
 {{Corey Yuen}}
-[[Category:Hong Kong films]]
-[[Category:Cantonese-language films]]
-[[Category:Films directed by Corey Yuen]]
-[[Category:1990s action thriller films]]
 [[Category:1997 films]]
+[[Category:1997 action films]]
+[[Category:Remakes of Hong Kong films]]
 [[Category:Hong Kong action thriller films]]
+[[Category:Hong Kong martial arts films]]
+[[Category:1990s Cantonese-language films]]
+[[Category:Shaw Brothers Studio films]]
 [[Category:Films set in Shanghai]]
-[[Category:Martial arts films]]
+[[Category:Films shot in Shanghai]]
 [[Category:Triad films]]
+[[Category:Films directed by Corey Yuen]]
+[[Category:1990s Hong Kong films]]
+[[Category:Films scored by Raymond Wong]]

v t e Works by Corey Yuen
Films directed	Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982; also writer) No Retreat, No Surrender (1985) Yes, Madam (1985) Righting Wrongs (1986; also producer) No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987) In The Blood (1988) Dragons Forever (1988) She Shoots Straight (1990; also writer) All for the Winner (1990; also producer) The Top Bet (1991; also writer) Saviour of the Soul (1991) Ghost Punting (1992) Saviour of the Soul II (1992) Fist of Fury 1991 II (1992) Women on the Run (1993; also producer) Fong Sai-yuk (1993) Fong Sai-yuk II (1993) The New Legend of Shaolin (1994) The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994) My Father Is a Hero (1995) Mah-jong Dragon (1997) Hero (1997; also writer) Black Rose II (1997) Enter the Eagles (1998) The Avenging Fist (2001) So Close (2002) The Transporter (2002) The Twins Effect II (2004) DOA: Dead or Alive (2006)
Films produced only	Eastern Condors (1987) The Blonde Fury (1989) Shanghai, Shanghai (1990) Mortuary Blues (1990) Fist of Fury 1991 (1991) Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So (2016)
Films written only	God of Gamblers II (1990) God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai (1991)