Which Chinese Folk Hero could do with an update?

[Jubilee]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which folk hero you think needs an update? Or just what you would like to see. I'm thinking Batman Begins style rethinking rather than a 20 year late sequel, so a new cast/director would be ideal.

Obviously we do have a new Beggar So one coming up with True Legend. Huo Yuan Jia was done pretty nicely too.

My dream movie would be a new Wing Chun film. It would start with the burning of the Shaolin Temple, and the nun Ng Mui going into hiding, developing the style etc, later in the film we'd have her teaching to Yim Wing Chun, the fight with the bully etc.

I must point out I do love the Wing Chun film we already have, but for what it is, a light period action comedy. Yim deserves more.

Dream cast would be Cheng Pei Pei as Ng, no wait she's done it already, okay I can't cheat, so i'd really like Brigitte Lin to come out of retirement. As for Wing Chun, I wont accept anything less then Lu xia Jiang.

I'd love sammo to choreograph, Tsui Hark to write and produce and Ronny Yu to direct.

[ASaroch]

A proper Wing Chun film would be really good, I'd have to agree with you there. Now there's an emphasis on grounded action, maybe its time for that to happen. i'd also like to see and updated San Te film, but I'm not sure anything can top '36th Chamber Of Shaolin'.

[Jubilee]

San Te 三德

That's another good idea Andrew. Wouldn't mind something of that ilk too. I think people might be afraid to touch it as, as you say, 36th Chamber is almost a household name!

I just want to see a Wing Chun film WITH Wing Chun being used. As much as I love the Yeoh veichle, its a bit odd. You're right though, things are getting a little more grounded of late, so fingers crossed.

[ASaroch]

I suppose 'Ip Man' showed how it could be done so there's no reason not to attempt it. Who'd play Wing Chun? Michelle Yeoh again or someone different?

[econdor]

Agreed Wing Chun without question, against I'm biased as I used to practise Wing Chun and I'd love to see something based on this, I loved Ip Man, Ip Man 2 is coming but to re-tell Wing Chun from its roots would be exciting to watch, maybe have it as an epic with Yim Wing Chun passing her teachings to Leung Bok Chau.

[ASaroch]

I wonder what Benny Chan's 'Shaolin' film will be like. It sounds very promising and has an incredible cast - if he can give us a bit of New Police Story/Invisible Target action in ancient China, it's got to be great.

[Jubilee]

I suppose 'Ip Man' showed how it could be done so there's no reason not to attempt it. Who'd play Wing Chun? Michelle Yeoh again or someone different?

As much as I adore Michelle, she definitely too old for the part. Like I said, Lu Xia Jiang would be my choice because she's juts brilliant, or someone else equally adept at martial arts. If it's in the same vein as Fearless or Ip Man i'd be happy.

Just please no pop stars.

[monkeyboy]

Well, I am kinda new to most of these folk heroes, so I'll work on the theory that some of these have had relatively recent cinematic outings and after my recent Once Upon A Time In China marathon I am a bit Wong Fei Hung'd out.

So I'll go against the voting so far a register a desire for Fong Sai-yuk - seems to have been 15 years since a movie of his story has been made.

As for who - can I cheat and suggest someone new and unknown?

[ASaroch]

Maybe the current popularity of Ip Man might nudge someone towards looking at others. Remember when OUATIC was all the rage, other folk heroes started to get put on film.
Wing Chun deserves one most though. The Yuen Woo Ping one was alright, but nothing like it should've been.

[Phil]

Although Ip Man still seems like a goldmine, I wonder if the disappointing returns from 'True Legend' will put people off looking at other folk heroes.