Hero 馬永貞 & The Boxer From Shangtung 馬永貞

1997 · KONCAT3

Hero ( Chinese : 馬永貞 ; Jyutping : Ma 2 Wing 2 Zing 1 ) 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 The Boxer from Shantung is a 1972 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-li, and starring Chen Kuan-tai , Ching Li and guest stars David Chiang . Godfrey Ho was assistant director (as Chih Chiang Ho). Plot Boxer from Shantung follows Ma Yongzhen and Xiao Jiangbei. Ma and Xiao are manual laborers busting their tails in Shanghai at the beginning of the film, and Ma's first encounter with the crime lord Tan Si - who shares power in the city with Boss Yang, who has the Four Champions fighting for him - starts him off on the underworld influence ladder. Step by step, he earns the respect of everyone he meets, either with his strength of character or by beating them up. When he gets a really big break by defeating a Russian strongman, he indulges himself in a fancy cigarette holder, much like the one Tan Si uses. However, he is mindful of his humble beginnings, and of the fact that times are still tough for many in Shanghai . He shares his good fortune with his old fellow wage slaves, and when they assist him in his various extralegal activities, he lectures them on the futility of trying to extort money from people who simply don't have any to spare. The tea house that Ma and his underlings frequent employs a singer, Jin Lingzi, and her uncle, who provides the music. Ms. Jin's hopes that Ma's arrival will mark a turn for the better for conditions in the crime-plagued city are dashed when she ascertains that he isn't different enough from the other bosses she's seen rise and fall. She begins contemplating leaving the city. Tan Si is ambushed and killed by Boss Yang. Ma finds Tan Si's body and is subsequently invited by Boss Yang to discuss business in a restaurant. Ma's followers warn him that Ma might be ambushed during the meeting. Ma decides to go anyway. He calls his friend and cart driver Xiao Jiangbei, gives him 100 dollars to leave the city as he is worried about his friend, who is too friendly and naive for the gangster lifestyle. In the restaurant, Yang has all the waiters and customers thrown out and replaces them with his own men. Ma arrives, observes the situation and slowly starts the conversation with Yang. He quickly tells Yang that he only came to the meeting to kill Yang. Suddenly the men Yang had placed i