The Heroic Trio (1992) Also known as "Tong Fong Sam Hop (1992)"
A movie review by David Sunga
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung, Damian Lau, Anthony Wong Paul Chin, James Pak, Shiguan Ren
Directed by: Johnny To Kei-Fung
Action Director: Ching Siu-Tung
Written by: Sandy Shaw
Synopsis: The plot of 'The Heroic Trio' revolves around a trio of costumed superheroines. Police Commander Lau and his wife Tung witness a string of mysterious baby kidnappings. Unknown to Lau and lucky for him Tung (Anita Mui) is a masked vigilante called Wonder Woman. While investigating the kidnappings, Wonder Woman meets a future teammate -- a former badgirl turned bounty hunter named Chat (Maggie Cheung). Meanwhile, the future third member of the Heroic Trio, Ching, (Michelle Yeoh) has been assigned by her evil master, a sorcerer, to steal a robe of invisibility from a dying scientist whom she loves. Like the musketeers and Dartagnan, Tung, Chat, and Ching initially fight each other but eventually unite to battle Ching's evil master, a demented oriental wizard who plans to use invisibility for world domination and also wants to use the kidnapped babies to mutate a demonic royal ruling class. The evil master and his associates are nearly impervious to destruction, a situation which makes for exciting 'Terminator' style battles.
Action Content: Hong Kong action choreography has come a remarkably long way from the days of the old chop sockey flicks with their syncopated and unending forearm thwacks. Flapping robes, whirling blades, spinning bodies and people jumping up into the rafters come standard with kung fu movies, but this movie in particular reminds me how far Hong Kong kung fu choreography has evolved, and of the parallel between early American theater and Hong Kong film.
Back in the old days in American film when people did their own stunts choreography was complex and very highly developed. We were graced with the likes of physical comedian Charlie Chaplin, swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks, and dancer Ginger Rogers. Allowing for different culture, Hong Kong film evolved along a similar path. For example, in Hong Kong today self-effacing comedian Chaplin's influence is reborn in the likes of Jackie Chan, while the spirit of Fairbanks' dazzling swordplay is reborn in the similarly spectacular Hong Kong martial arts choreography championed by the likes of Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li. Suspending our disbelief for campy flying heroes, ‘The Heroic Trio' contains some of the most entertaining, intricate and fast paced weapons battles on film.
Stars: For those unfamiliar with Hong Kong film, The 'Heroic Trio' is a good introduction to 3 of Hong Kong's premier talents.
Malaysian (but ethnic Chinese) martial artial artist Michelle Yeoh does all her own stunts, and is presently Asia's top female action star. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance in London (B.A. in Dance with a minor in drama), and won Miss Malaysia in 1983. She played opposite Jackie Chan in 'Supercop (1992)', was voted one of People Magazine's 50 most beautiful people (1997), and will be starring opposite Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond thriller, 'Tomorrow Never Dies', scheduled for release in December of 1997.
Maggie Cheung played opposite Jackie Chan in ‘Police Story (1985)'. She is a former 1983 Miss World contestant who has won several Best Actress awards, including the 1991 Turin Film Festival ( Best Actress: ‘Farewell China' ), the 1992 Chicago International Film Festival and 1992 Berlin Film Festival ( Best Actress: ‘The Actress' ), and the 1997 Golden Bauhinia Award, ( Best Actress: ‘Comrades - Almost a Love Story' ).
Anita Mui played a bespectacled store employee in Jackie Chan's ‘Rumble in the Bronx (1995)' but by then was already a legendary dancer and singer on the Hong Kong pop scene. On April 8, 1992 the Mayor of San Francisco declared the day to be "Anita Mui Day" to honor Ms. Mui's contributions to a local nursing home. She won a Golden Horse Best Actress award in 1987. The Mayor of San Francisco again declared Anita Mui Day for San Francisco on October 26, 1993.
Opinion: If you're tired of big budget Hollywood and in the mood for an entertaining Hong Kong swashbuckling action fantasy (dubbed), 'The Heroic Trio' has it all: flying bullets; masks; capes; robes; a bounty hunter; a superheroine running along power lines high above the ground; secret underground caverns; poison darts; a reunion of long lost family members; a dying scientist; invisibility; a runaway train; kidnappings, and; a sorcerer with a flesh-eating henchman. The choreography is great, and I was also surprised by the artful cinematography. The camera work not only manages to successfully capture the fast and furious fights, but also includes stunning visuals such butterflies, rain, tears, blood, and lightning in a dark fantasy setting reminiscent of Batman's Gotham City. One note: good guys, bad guys, and objects defy gravity a lot.
Movie reviewed by David Sunga 1997.
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