To be sure, Peng is hardly the start of 'Rise's' problems, which, though absorbing in parts, has its obvious flaws. The fact that the fight sequences aren't as exciting as they should be isn't Peng's fault alone no doubt, but, unfortunate as it may be, it still is too clear Peng isn't a natural performer the way other luminaries like Li, Jackie Chan or Gordon Liu were. framing – that sees Peng look rather than truly impress and in more expansive locations relies too heavily on the use of wirework to augment Peng's moves (or lack thereof). Indeed, that is too ostensible in the action sequences directed by veteran choreographer Corey Yuen, which in narrower high-walled alleyway settings is filmed with the sort of artistic distractions emulating last year's 'The Grandmasters' – complete with rainwater, (plenty of) slo-mo shots and p.o.v. Though he may have the athleticism and physique (we're talking oiled-up pecs and rippling abs here) to boot, Peng lacks the physicality of someone who's trained in the martial arts. Only when he gets the occasional reprieve to hang out with his childhood buddies Fiery (Jing Boran) and Chun (Wang Luodan) do we see a more sincere and earnest performance from Peng, but these scenes – given the covert nature of his character's personal mission – are sadly few and far in-between. A lot of Peng's performance doesn't go much further than posturing, alternating between a smug self-confident demeanour when with the members of the villainous Black Tiger gang whom he infiltrates to dismantle from within and a spirited show of grit (not unlike that which he displayed in 'Unbeatable' as an MMA-fighter) when taking on his opponents fist-to-fist. While he may project enough confidence and fresh- faced charm to convince as a younger and brasher Wong Fei Hung, Peng simply lacks his predecessor's poise and nuance to make his portrayal as dignified and compelling. The comparison, unfair as it may be, is inevitable, because Li had so completely inhabited the character that the very first impression which comes to mind when one thinks of the character is Li himself. We're sad to disappoint fans of Peng, but the actor is simply no substitute for Li. Until now of course – 'Rise of the Legend' sees Hong Kong director Roy Chow Hin-Yeung step up to the challenge of re-making a legend by way of an origin story, casting rising Taiwanese actor Eddie Peng as the titular protagonist.
No less than two decades have passed since Jet Li took up the iconic role of Wong Fei Hung in Tsui Hark's classic 'Once Upon A Time in China' series, and for good reason, no filmmaker for that matter has dared mount a similar big-screen version of the renowned folk hero. A moderately entertaining, if uninspired, prequel that is more gangland thriller than origin story on Wong Fei Hung – not least for its lack of any thrilling fight sequences