A Man Called Hero
Encyclopedia
A Man Called Hero is a 1999 Hong Kong film based on the manhua
series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by artist Ma Wing-shing. Directed by Andrew Lau
, the film starred Ekin Cheng
, Shu Qi
, Kristy Yang
, Nicholas Tse
and Yuen Biao
. The film's theme song Tin Sat Ku Hsing (天煞孤星) was performed by Ekin Cheng in Cantonese. Cheng also performed the Mandarin version of the theme song, titled Tianya Haijiao (天涯海角).
16 years later, Hero's childhood friend Sheng and Hero's son Sword arrive in America. They meet Monk Lohan in China House in Chinatown and hear news about Hero. Lohan tells them of his meeting with Hero while they were on board the ship for America and their experiences as labourers in Steel Bull Canyon. They travel to Jade's grave later and Sheng tells Sword of how he and Jade travelled to America 16 years ago in search of Hero, as well as their reunion and the subsequent marriage of Hero and Jade in America.
Sheng and Sword meet Hero's senior, Shadow, who tells them of their skirmish with some Japanese ninja
s and the story behind Sword's birth. Sword and his twin sister were born in China House amidst a blaze set by the ninjas. Sword's sister was taken away shortly after her birth by a traitor named Bigot and no news have been heard of her since then. Shadow also tells them of Hero's encounter with a fortune teller, who told Hero that he was born under the Star of Death and will be condemned to a life of loneliness. Lastly, Shadow tells them of their teacher Pride's duel with Invincible in Japan for the rightful possession of the martial arts manual "China Secret". Pride transferred all of his powers to Hero before his death.
At China House, the Boss, along with Sword, Shadow and the others, plan to liberate the labourers at Steel Bull Canyon. They disguise themselves as an opera troupe and infiltrate the canyon. They catch the American supervisors off guard with their surprise attack and succeed in freeing the Chinese labourers there. Lohan is killed in action and Sword is threatened at gunpoint by Bigot when he confronted Bigot on the whereabouts of his twin sister. The long-lost Hero appears at the critical moment and joins in the battle, defeating the villains eventually. However, his daughter's whereabouts are still unknown.
Sword is happy to see his father for the first time after hearing the various stories about his father. However, Hero maintains a cold attitude towards his son and constantly keeps a distance away from him. Hero persistently believes that he was born under the Star of Death and he would lose his loved ones and spend the rest of his life in solitude. Just then, Invincible arrives in America to finish the duel with Pride and since Pride had died, Invincible turns on Hero, Pride's successor. Hero and Invincible have a spectacular duel atop the Statue of Liberty
and eventually Hero defeats Invincible. Before the film ends, Sword and Sheng prepare to leave America while Hero observes them from a distance.
Manhua
Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by artist Ma Wing-shing. Directed by Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
, the film starred Ekin Cheng
Ekin Cheng
Ekin Cheng is a Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer. Early in his career he used the name Dior as a first name. He has also been referred to as Noodle Cheng, after a popular noodle product with a similar name...
, Shu Qi
Shu Qi
Shu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi or Shu Kei . Her name is sometimes seen in the Western order as Qi Shu.-Early life:...
, Kristy Yang
Kristy Yang
Kristy Yang , also known as Kristy Yeung, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese Canadian actress.-Biography:Yang was born in Shanghai, China, to a Chinese father and a British Chinese mother...
, Nicholas Tse
Nicholas Tse
Nicholas Tse is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, actor and musician, and son of actor Patrick Tse. He is a member of the Emperor Entertainment Group...
and Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
. The film's theme song Tin Sat Ku Hsing (天煞孤星) was performed by Ekin Cheng in Cantonese. Cheng also performed the Mandarin version of the theme song, titled Tianya Haijiao (天涯海角).
Plot
In 1914, Hero is given the Red Sword (his family heirloom) and accepted by Pride as a disciple after passing a test. When he returns home, he discovers that his family had been murdered by foreigners for opposing opium trading. That night, Hero breaks up the foreigners' party and kills them for revenge. He flees from China after bidding farewell to his love interest, Jade, and sails to America.16 years later, Hero's childhood friend Sheng and Hero's son Sword arrive in America. They meet Monk Lohan in China House in Chinatown and hear news about Hero. Lohan tells them of his meeting with Hero while they were on board the ship for America and their experiences as labourers in Steel Bull Canyon. They travel to Jade's grave later and Sheng tells Sword of how he and Jade travelled to America 16 years ago in search of Hero, as well as their reunion and the subsequent marriage of Hero and Jade in America.
Sheng and Sword meet Hero's senior, Shadow, who tells them of their skirmish with some Japanese ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
s and the story behind Sword's birth. Sword and his twin sister were born in China House amidst a blaze set by the ninjas. Sword's sister was taken away shortly after her birth by a traitor named Bigot and no news have been heard of her since then. Shadow also tells them of Hero's encounter with a fortune teller, who told Hero that he was born under the Star of Death and will be condemned to a life of loneliness. Lastly, Shadow tells them of their teacher Pride's duel with Invincible in Japan for the rightful possession of the martial arts manual "China Secret". Pride transferred all of his powers to Hero before his death.
At China House, the Boss, along with Sword, Shadow and the others, plan to liberate the labourers at Steel Bull Canyon. They disguise themselves as an opera troupe and infiltrate the canyon. They catch the American supervisors off guard with their surprise attack and succeed in freeing the Chinese labourers there. Lohan is killed in action and Sword is threatened at gunpoint by Bigot when he confronted Bigot on the whereabouts of his twin sister. The long-lost Hero appears at the critical moment and joins in the battle, defeating the villains eventually. However, his daughter's whereabouts are still unknown.
Sword is happy to see his father for the first time after hearing the various stories about his father. However, Hero maintains a cold attitude towards his son and constantly keeps a distance away from him. Hero persistently believes that he was born under the Star of Death and he would lose his loved ones and spend the rest of his life in solitude. Just then, Invincible arrives in America to finish the duel with Pride and since Pride had died, Invincible turns on Hero, Pride's successor. Hero and Invincible have a spectacular duel atop the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
and eventually Hero defeats Invincible. Before the film ends, Sword and Sheng prepare to leave America while Hero observes them from a distance.
Cast
- Ekin ChengEkin ChengEkin Cheng is a Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer. Early in his career he used the name Dior as a first name. He has also been referred to as Noodle Cheng, after a popular noodle product with a similar name...
as Hero Hua - Shu QiShu QiShu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi or Shu Kei . Her name is sometimes seen in the Western order as Qi Shu.-Early life:...
as Mu - Kristy YangKristy YangKristy Yang , also known as Kristy Yeung, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese Canadian actress.-Biography:Yang was born in Shanghai, China, to a Chinese father and a British Chinese mother...
as Jade - Nicholas TseNicholas TseNicholas Tse is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, actor and musician, and son of actor Patrick Tse. He is a member of the Emperor Entertainment Group...
as Sword Hua - Jerry LambJerry LambJerry Lamb Hiu Fong is a Hong Kong actor. He is also known as Lamb Hiu Fung.He was born in Hong Kong. He is the younger brother of popular DJ, pop singer, and actor, Jan and radio personality-turned-singer Sandy. Jerry is best known to hardcore movie fans as the young lackey Pou-pan in the Young...
as Sheng - Anthony Wong as Pride
- Francis NgFrancis Ng-Career:Like so many of Hong Kong's actors, Ng has his roots in television. He graduated from TVB's training classes in 1985. He acted in minor roles working gradually upwards in the television hierarchy, but his looks did not fit in the conventional leading man role...
as Invincible - Yuen BiaoYuen BiaoYuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
as Boss - Dion LamDion LamDion Lam Dik-On is a Hong Kong action choreographer and actor.- Filmography :*The Hangman *Energetic 21 *Crazy Blood *Mistaken Identity *The Killer *Ghost Ballroom *Angel Enforcers...
as Shadow- Jordan ChanJordan ChanJordan Chan Siu-Chun is a Chinese actor and musician from Hong Kong.Chan got his start by enrolling in the TVB Dancers' Training Class in 1985. Soon after graduation, he joined a few of the studio's troupes that would accompany popular singers during their live performances...
as Shadow (voice)
- Jordan Chan
- Grace Yip as Kate
- Elvis TsuiElvis TsuiElvis Tsui , also known as Tsui Kam-kong, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese film and television actor.-Biography:...
as Bigot - Ken LoKen LoKen Low Wai-kwong is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist and a ex-member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.-Early life:...
as Monk Luohan - Mark ChengMark ChengMark Cheng Ho-nam is a Hong Kong actor and martial artist. Cheng is perhaps best known as Lam Wing in 1996 film Tai Chi Boxer.-Film career:...
as Gold - Sam Lee as Fire
- Benjamin YuenBenjamin YuenBenjamin Yuen, also known as Benjamin Yuen Wai Ho he became the winner of Hong Kong's Mr. Hong Kong beauty contest in 2007...
as Water - Yu Ka-ho as Earth
- Jude Poyer as Bull
- Cheng Pei-peiCheng Pei-peiCheng Pei-pei is an actress best known for her performance in the seminal 1966 King Hu wuxia film Come Drink with Me. She continued to play expert swordswomen in a number of films throughout the 1960s...
as Hero's mother - Norman Wong
- Frankie Ng as Moon
- Hon San as Big Stone
- Thomas James Hudak, Jr as Black Dragon commander
Awards
- Golden Horse Film AwardGolden Horse Film Festival and AwardsThe Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China...
- Best Visual Effects - Centro Digital Pictures LimitedCentro Digital Pictures LimitedCentro Digital Pictures Limited is a visual special effects and animations company based in Hong Kong that provides visual effects for film, interactive media and video games.-History:...
- Best Visual Effects - Centro Digital Pictures Limited
Nominations
- Golden Horse Film AwardGolden Horse Film Festival and AwardsThe Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China...
- Best Film Editing - Danny Pang
- Best Action Choreography - Dion LamDion LamDion Lam Dik-On is a Hong Kong action choreographer and actor.- Filmography :*The Hangman *Energetic 21 *Crazy Blood *Mistaken Identity *The Killer *Ghost Ballroom *Angel Enforcers...
- Hong Kong Film Award
- Best Action Choreography - Dion Lam
- Best Costume Make Up Design - Lee Pik-kwan
- Best Original Film Score - Chan Kwong-wingChan Kwong-WingComfort Chan Kwong-wing is a music composer for Hong Kong films. Some of his well-known works in films include the Infernal Affairs trilogy, SPL: Sha Po Lang, Initial D and Daisy....
- Best Original Film Song - Albert LeungAlbert Leung-Education:He was educated at the boys school Chan Sui Ki College and La Salle College, and graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1984.-Songwriting career:He has been a cantopop lyricist since 1985, using the pen name Lin Xi...
, Chan Kwong-wing - Best Sound Design - Zeng Jingxiang
See also
- Ma Wing-shing
- Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword
- The Legend of HeroThe Legend of HeroThe Legend of Hero is a 2005 Taiwanese television series adapted from the Hong Kong manhua series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by Ma Wing-shing. The series was produced by Yang Pei-pei and starred Peter Ho and Ady An in the leading roles....
- Fung WanFung WanFung Wan is a Hong Kong wuxia manhua series. It is the first manhua released by Ma Wing-shing in 1989 with the help of his assistant Siu Kit under his own company, Jonesky Publishing. The title translates to "Wind and Cloud"...