Hero (1997 film)
| Hero | |
|---|---|
 Hero theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Corey Yuen Kwai |
| Written by | Corey Yuen Kwai Jeffrey Lau Chun-Wai |
| Produced by | Mona Fong Yat-Wa |
| Starring | Takeshi Kaneshiro Yuen Biao Valerie Chow Kar-Ling Jessica Hsuan Suen Huen Yuen Wah Corey Yuen Kwai Yuen Tak |
| Cinematography | Tom Lau Moon-Tong |
| Edited by | Hai Kit-Wai |
| Music by | Lincoln Lo Kin Raymond Wong Ying-Wah William Hu Wei-Li |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Shaw Brothers Studio Newport Entertainment Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK $3,015,240.00 |
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Hero (Chinese: 馬永貞; Jyutping: Ma Wing Jing) is a 1997 Hong Kong action film written and 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, 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.[1]
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 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.
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 Sei's life. As a reward, Tam Sei gives Ma Wing Jing a small territory in Shanghai to control. Ma 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 Sei, who, despite Ma Wing Jing's foolishness, still remains his friend.[2][3]
Cast
- Takeshi Kaneshiro as Ma Wing Jing
- Yuen Biao as Tam Sei
- Valerie Chow Kar-Ling as Yam Yeung Tien
- Jessica Hsuan Suen Huen as Kam Ling Tze
- Yuen Wah as Ma Tai Cheung
- Corey Yuen Kwai as Uncle Po
- Yuen Tak as Yang Shuang
Production crew
- Production Manager: Jackson Ha Chak-San
- Sound Recording: True Technic Limited
- Art Director: Lau Man-Hung
- Lighting: Chan Wai-Lin
- Planning: Chang Oi-Bing, Wan Paak-Naam, Lawrence Wong Ka-Hay
- Makeup: Lee Wai-Fong
- Hair Stylist: Sharon Li
- Costume Designer: Dora Ng Lei-Lo
- Props: Lai Yu, Hung Hin-Fat
- Assistant Director: Bill Chan Wing-Biu, Chan Sek
- Action Director: Yuen Tak, Corey Yuen Kwai
- Assistant Action Director: Jonathan Ting Yuen-Tai, Jacky Tang Wai-Yuk