The Legend

A comparison of the Hong Kong and American versions of Fong Sai-yuk illustrates the impact of Miramax's tinkering and its effect on the viewing experience. Directed by Corey Yuen Kuei and starring Jet Li, Fong Sai-yuk involves the youthful adventures of the titular hero, a legendary Cantonese martial artist who was trained by his mother and inspired several series of films. Miramax released its version on DVD through its Dimension label, re-titling it The Legend, cutting approximately ten minutes, and adding a new score and a English dubbed dialogue. An analysis of two sample scenes - one involving changes in music and dialogue, the other also featuring excised material - suggests that the American version is not only more taut, inoffensive, and consistent in tone than the Hong Kong original, but also offers a substantially different interpretation of character motivations and relationships. It is also simply not as funny.

In the original Hong Kong cut, the final scene has Tiger throwing the Red Flower scroll into the air where it unfurls. The closing credits then roll down a parchment labeled "Red Flower Society Name List", as if the entire cast and crew were members of it.

UK version was cut by 1 sec. for sight of real animal cruelty (horse tripped so that it falls forward onto head) due to BBFC policy and the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937.

Featured in The Art of Action: Martial Arts in Motion Picture (2002)