Yi dan qun ying (1989)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

John Woo
Ma Wu

Writers:

Tommy Hau (writer)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

14 September 1989 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

A respected and well liked gang-boss is betrayed and killed. One of his three adopted sons are to take his place. One of them is the traitor. |

Cast

Kang-Yeh Cheng
Lei Cheng
Kuan Tai Chen	...	Leung Jang Lung
John Cheung
David Chiang	...	Cheung Pak Wai
Tao Chiang
Tina Fei Chin
Stephen Chow	...	'Jacky' Yuen Kei-hao
Paul Chun	...	Tsou
Hark-On Fung	...	Informant
Tsan Hsi Hsia
Phillip Ko	...	Thug
Feng Ku	...	Tsou's Man
Cally Kwong
Danny Lee	...	Sou
Chia Yung Liu	...	Tsou's Man
Lieh Lo	...	Law
Joe Nieh
Fui-On Shing	...	Wah
Chia Tang
Ching Tien
Niu Tien	...	Annie
Lung Ti	...	Loon
Bill Tung	...	Uncle Gwai
James Wong	...	Solicitor Wong
Parkman Wong	...	Officer Lee
Ma Wu	...	Ma
Shao Hung Wu
Tse Lin Yang
Fan Wei Yee	...	Triad
Hua Yueh
Woo-ping Yuen	...	Triad
Lei Zhao

Also Known As:

Just Heroes (Hong Kong: English title)
Tragic Heroes
Yee daam kwan ying (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

Germany:97 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | France:U | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Magnum Films

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Ying hung boon sik (1986)

Minor Woo Classic

Yi Dan Qun Ying/Just Heroes(1987) is a very good action flick with tones of King Lear. Just Heroes(1987) was done between A Better Tomorrow 2(1987) and The Killer(1989). The film is really a parody of A Better Tomorrow 1&2. There is a character in the film who likes to recite lines by Mark of A Better Tomorrow(1986). John Woo even pokes fun at the famous guns in the flower pot scene by using it again.

This was one of two films that Danny Lee did not appear as a Police Officer(the other being City on Fire). The film opens and ends with some excellent gun play. Its about members of a Mob gang who scamble for control after the head is assassinated. Danny Lee is very good in the role of the confused Sou. John Chiang is good as the idealistic Wai.

Although not as brilliant as the best of John Woo, its still superior to three out of four films that he has done in the USA. Just Heroes is notable for the early appearence of Comedian Stephen Chow in a dramatic role. Deals with the themes of honor and loyalty. The movie shows that there are differences between the fantasied and reality of life as a Triad. Ti Lung has a short cameo that ties Just Heroes(1987) to the two A Better Tomorrow films.

Just Heroes(1987) has a lot in common with the similarly themed epic Tragic Hero(1987). Woman have a much bigger role here that is unusual in a John Woo film. More than one person directed this feature film. One of my favorite scenes is the flashback sequence with the gun battle. Another favorite scene is the shoot out at the deserted mine.