Little Heroes Lost in China
Reviewed by Jack Sobjack
Of all the Moon Lee movies I have seen, this one
has the most unusual cast. While usually paired with Yukari Oshima, Cynthia
Khan or Sibelle Hu, her co-stars in this film are six children. I had no
idea what to expect when I first watched Little Heroes. But my doubts were
soon put to rest when the movie opened with a spectacular fight scene that
Moon fans will surely treasure.
This 1995 action/adventure film mainly takes
place in the forests of China. An American family is invited to China by
the Biological Research Center but the film never explains why. As soon
as they arrive at the airport their luck takes a turn for the worst. This
is also where we are introduced to the main antagonists -- two brutish
Americans who plan on stealing the Antique Drum from the Scared Land of
the Isolated Valley.
On their way to obtain a forest permit, the family
gets separated from their son, Jack, when he falls down the side of a mountain
while exploring an old abadoned hut. Five children discover a bruised and
weary Jack shortly thereafter. At first the children mistake him for a
monkey, but then make him a member of their group. Some of the funniest
moments are when the children fight with the other village's loggers. The
action is very cartoonish but the kids' display of kung fu is very impressive.
When the two American bad guys take the Little
Heroes hostage, Moon lee comes to their aid. But it will take the help
of her sister and another female from the opposing village to take down
these mammoth thugs. As with the opening fight scene, this final fight
is incredible with everyone taking punishment. Moon fans won't be let down.
My only complaint is that I thought Moon should
have had more screen-time. A lot of the film is spent on the children and
while those scenes are entertaining, I would have rather been watching
Moon. So far this has been her most recent film, but I sure hope it isn't
her last. Hong Kong Cinema needs this Femme Fatale. It just isn't the same
without her. Maybe she could make Angel 4 and have Yukari Oshima return
as the twin sister of Madam Yeung. Just think of what it could do for their
careers, not to mention how much the fans would love to see that reunion.
My rating for this film: 6.5