Tsui fulfills his primary goal here of making a classic newly relevant-not just to younger Chinese viewers, but to anyone who likes action.

In an ironic twist worthy of an opera, the very same young people who are being criticized are the ones who have bought the tickets that made this film a hit.

[It] has quite a lot to recommend it. But it also has a few glaring flaws that detract from it being stellar action fare.

More boy's own adventure than patriotic anthem, Tsui Hark directs one hell of an enjoyable action yarn...