This is the best action-adventure-comedy that Tsui has ever made, hence one of the year's most exhilarating entertainments.

A splendid if frankly fake-looking spectacle.

More concentrated and svelte than its precursor, Once Upon a Time II also has the benefit of fights staged by Master Yuen Wo-Ping that show Jet Li-another camera-age hero-to even greater advantage.

Tsui Hark enhanced the sociopolitical aspect of the film even more in this film, with him dealing with xenophobia and the reaction of the Chinese towards the British rule, in contrast to the first part, which focused on the "villainy" of the Empire.