Once Upon a Time in China (film series)
The first two films in the franchise were among the most popular of the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema (usually dated from 1986 to 1993)[citation needed] and were known for their depiction of Chinese nationalism as well as action choreography.[citation needed] With Chinese folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, as the main character, the films deal with the positive and negative effects of Western imperialism in China during the late Qing Dynasty.[citation needed] However, even with its clear showcase of Chinese nationalism, it also displays the inevitable nature of accepting western cultures, and the progression of China into the "modern" century.His last words, said to Wong Fei-Hung, are "Martial arts cannot win against guns..." His character represents the dying of old traditions, and the begrudging abandonment of hand-to-hand combat.As imitation was relatively common in the Hong Kong film industry,[citation needed] Once Upon a Time in China quickly gained mimics.