Despite the lack of innovation in the narrative, Chow has delivered a slick and polished production that holds the attention and satisfies far more convincingly than either of the writer and director's previous collaborations.
Chow and To don't tinker with the lore's DNA too much, but fortunately they have Peng to freshen it up, and even the specter of Li does little to detract from his emerging star power.
Rise of the Legend has some breathtaking action sequences and can boast how strong both Eddie Peng and Sammo Hung are in their roles, but dilutes itself with overacting and long stretches of unbearably emotional theatrics.
Taiwanese heart-throb Peng is certainly well cast as the slicker and more hunky Wong -- his signature bad-boy smirk is always at the ready and his famous abs are, gasp, on full display in several scenes.
The blending of vast sets and digital effects is not quite seamless in Chow Hin Yeung's kung fu period extravaganza "Rise of the Legend," but it's close.
