True Legend (2010) Biography, Plot, Production
True Legend (2010)
True Legend is a 2010 Hong Kong-Chinese martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping in his first film as director since 1996. The film stars Vincent Zhao in the lead role, and co-stars Zhou Xun, Jay Chou, and Andy On. Gordon Liu, Leung Kar-yan, Michelle Yeoh, and David Carradine (in his final film role before his death) make cameo appearances. Set in China in the 1860s, the plot follows retired Qing general Su Can (Zhao), whose peaceful life is interrupted when his vengeful brother, Yuan (On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists. Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can learns the Drunken Fist style from the Wushu (Chou). Armed with this new power, he returns home to honor his family through retribution by taking on his brother.
Plot:
Su Can is a general who leads a military force to save a prince from a large fortress of enemies in the mountains. In return, the prince promises that the Emperor will make him governor of Hubei. Su’s step brother Yuan is envious of Su, but Su loves him and asks the prince to make Yuan governor instead. Su wants to leave the military and lead a life pursuing the perfection of wushu, eventually in the hopes of starting his school and teaching his skills. Su gives his great prestigious sword to a comrade Ma, then tells Yuan of his plans. Yuan expresses that he is always in Su’s shadow but accepts the governorship. Early next morning, Su leaves on a horse.
Five years later, Su and his wife Ying (Yuan’s sister) have a child, Feng. Su’s father informs them that Yuan is returning from the military to be a governor. He warns Su that Yuan may not have come back simply to reconcile with family but to seek revenge. This is because years ago, Su’s father killed Yuan’s father when the latter went too far in learning an evil martial arts technique called the Five Venom Fists. Su’s father then took Yuan in, but he harbours concern that Yuan is still vengeful. Su is naive and assures his father that everything will be alright.
Production:
When Yuen Woo Ping was given the script by producer Bill Kong. Bill Kong reportedly recommended Vincent Zhao for the role of Beggar Su. Saying that Zhao has been doing television dramas in recent years and should act more in movies. Yuen Woo Ping after looking through some of Zhao’s old works decided to choose him for the lead role. In order to prepare for the role Zhao had to lose up to nine kilograms’ worth of weight as he explains “Beggar Su can’t be too plump.” Zhao also had to take up to 2 months’ worth of break dancing classes due to the fact Yuen wanted to have a more rhythmic and modern form of the drunken fist.
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