Summary -

最佳拍檔電影公司成功地把不少著名漫畫改篇為電 影，繼《古蠱仔》和《風雲》之後，他們最新開拍 的是漫畫家馬榮成成名傑作《中華英雄》！電影已 在上海拍攝得如火如荼，電影公司把上海街道佈置 成美國紐約唐人街，在導演劉偉強一聲令下，一群 外藉演員衝入唐人街佈景內大肆破壞，扮演華英雄 和元武的鄭伊健和元彪從天以降，把這群匪徒打得 落花流水。 由於時間緊逼，本來肥肥白白的劉偉強為搶拍捱到 金晴火眼，變得又黑又瘦。「這是動作電影，所以 動作絕對是最重要的原素！」劉偉強說，「上次 《風雲》的特技搞到出色入化，今次原班人馬再接 再勵，希望為觀眾的視覺官能帶來新刺激。但是特 技並非無限制地胡亂使用的，它只是配合劇情的需 要，加強動作場面的效果。例如無量神掌和赤劍的 威力等，不能再用傳統方法來拍攝吧。像無敵和華 英雄在自由神像大戰一幕，便是讓我們到美國實景 拍攝也沒用，要解決的問題太多太多了，沒有特技 協助根本拍不成的。」 至於為何最佳拍檔電影公司的作品差不多全是改篇 自漫畫？「這是市場問題而已。」劉偉強解釋， 「我想漫畫包含了許多現代神話，上一代的人愛看 武俠小說，今天的人不論年紀都只看漫畫。改篇漫 畫可以吸引這批基本觀眾，改篇漫畫的電影也是他 們所期待的。」

English Summary -

Turn-of-the-century New York comes to Shanghai in 'Hero From China', the latest comic book inspired special effects actioner from 'Young And Dangerous' helmer Andrew Lau. Where his 1998 hit 'Storm Riders' was set in a China of long ago and far away, 'Hero From China' takes place in more recent times, and downplays the sfx in favour of more familiar Hong Kong kung fu fisticuffs. The titular character, Hero, is played by Ekin Cheng, the popular local actor/singer who played Wind in 'Storm Riders'. After his family is wiped out, Hero takes up his fearsome weapon, Red Sword, and goes on a bloody trail of vengeance. His journey takes him to this Big Apple, which is where Coolala went on location. A surprisingly faithful recreation of New York circa 1913 provides the backdrop for an action sequence involving a character named Yuen Mo. He is a martial arts master played by veteran kung fu movie actor Yuen Biao, who is dressed in the kind of outfit sported by Bruce Lee in the film 'Fist Of Fury'. 'Hero From China' marks something of a comeback for Yuen, who has been absent from the screen of late. "I've been dividing my time between Hong Kong and Canada," he reveals. "I've got some other business interests, as well as making films. Its good to be back at Golden Harvest, though, and in such a big production." Yuen Biao's last major project was a t.v series produced by China Star, to be seen on Hong Kong screens later this year. The scene being shot takes place during a Chinese New Year celebration. When a mob of western bad guys try to disrupt the proceedings, Yuen Mo leaps into the fray, dispatching the heavies before finally going toe-to-toe with British martial arts actor Jude Poyer. Poyer notes that there are risks aplenty for foreigners looking for a few days work on a Chinese film. "One long-haired extra forgot to react when Yuen Biao was throwing a spinning kick at him," he remembers. "There was a loud crack, and he was left with the imprint of a plimsole on his cheek!" The action is being choreographed by Hong Kong fight choreographer Dion Lam, who has a reputation for demanding the best his actors have to offer. Where the fights in 'Storm Riders' were shot using MTV style camera tricks, those in 'Hero From China' are being filmed 'straight'. The participants are called upon to execute long sequences of movements in one take, just like they did in the good old days of 1980s kung fu cinema. "This is where you need movie experience," says Biao. "No matter how good you are at real kung fu, can you remember the movements? Can you act while you're fighting? It's a completely different kind of thing." After several days of non-stop slam and bang, the scene is in the can to the satisfaction of director Andrew Lau. Lau's inspiration, local comic books, previously served him will on both 'Young And Dangerous' and 'Storm Riders'. "I think (Chinese) comics contain our modern myths," he observes. "Earlier generations of youngsters read swordplay novels, and today you see people of all ages reading comics, and following these long story-lines with hundreds of characters. It's like (the Chinese classic) 'The Water Margin'. The good thing is that you have this established audience for the film before it opens. The bad thing is that you have to live up to your audience's expectations."