watch now! detail...
"shanghai, 1930" "a city of dreams for all chinese people" "if you work hard, you can raise a family" "but if you are willing to sacrifice,a piece of paradise awaits you" "there is only one principle here-" "only the strong survive" "they give up their blood, sweat and tears here" "for a future of wealth and prosperity" "yet many people try to take the easy way out"
"and become gangsters" "the temptation of money and power" "left behind countless dead bodiesby huangpu jiang." "yet-" "young lads are still rushing in by the thousands" "to chase their dreams" finish him. brother ma. my son, this village is no longer a place for you.
you and fritter bring flora toshanghai to find her father. your right fist is way too strong. it will cause immense damage to those around you. from now on, before you hit with your fist, look at this bracelet and remember what mom said. we arrived in shanghai. support us with money if you can.if not, give to our performers. thank you. punks.
we've arrived! dad, dad... so this is what brother niu calls a grandmansion in shanghai bund? what a dump! better than our hometown, though. little punk, who are you looking for? brother niu. what brother niu? niu sanguang, brother niu.
niu sanguang, i should have known you punkswere from the same slum. dinner's ready. excuse me...oh uncle, you're so early? hi, master tie. buddies from your hometown? yes, buddies from my hometown. they look up to me. as their brother, i have to feed them, right?
stop running your business and get a job as a laborer with your buddies. oh. you can't owe rent for too long. fine. you get two more days, okay? fine, fine, fine... brothers, let's dig in.
let's dig in. gals of this quality are everywhere in shanghai bund. well, i think master tie is a good man. good man? good men in shanghai bund always finish last. as your big brother,
i should give you a proper welcome and show you the real shanghai night life. are you that hungry? brother niu, everyone says shanghai is so prosperous. but how come no one's around? that's how it is in shanghai. the strong prey on the weak- only the fittest survive.
that was the old shanghai, prosperous, vibrant, with everything you desire. it's just like a piece of fatty meat. everyone wants a bite, even the japanese are waiting for their opportunity. don't worry. the japanese can't claim this place yet. shanghai bund is dominated
by the four bosses in axe fraternity. each with his own territory. laughing buddha, scruffy chou, baldy bai and chen mou oversee the entire shanghai. but something happened this year. someone called long qi has risenthrough the ranks. he has completely changed the power distribution of shanghai bund. nowadays people walking on the street
are either triad members or japanese officials. when long qi first arrived in shanghai, he was even less fortunate than we are right now. but now, he has everything. how did he do it? with his fists, he conquered the territories one street at a time if you can survive
before this cigarette burns out, i will let you carry on being the bossof peony night club. you are here to negotiate with long qi today. i'm here to enjoy the show. i can't help if you guys want to fight. soldiers die because they're cowards. i was born in shanghai.this is my only way... everyone should enjoy the here and now, especially in shanghai.
from now on, this place belongs to me, long qi. peony night club is over.now, it's the paradise club. any objection? you won't object, right? scruffy chou, why are you still here? well, please take this message back- i now own half of shanghai bund; you three will own the other half. with this street as our boundary,
the side near the bund is mine. you three can decide the rest. agreed? that's it. i'm told you're quite a singer. sing me a song. "can you think of me?" "can i still stay with you" "since you said nothing kept you"
"the road back seemed more gloomy" "i am worried to let you go by yourself" "i think it was because i was not gentle enough" "i could not share your sorrow" "if it is hard to say it out" "then just leave the regret in my heart..." the powerful chen mou you just mentioned- is he the old man lying on the floor? that's what i want to tell you guys.
this is shanghai bund. it's unpredictable. things change every minute. despite the power of the four gang leaders, they can't overthrow long qi. he came fromnowhere, and now has a grip on shanghai he is long qi? right, he is long qi. look at him. his figure is flawless. his is wealthy beyond our means. with his fighting skills,
no one can stand to take ten hits from him. shanghai bund needs him. he belongs to shanghai bund. mr. long, congratulations. even with chen mou's 20 years studying kung fu, long qi took him out in a few strikes. the old bag died instantly. it was too easy. from now on,
north gate and pudong belong to us. he'll get the rest. setting chen's peony night club as boundary,trespassing will result in further conflict. we still dominate half of shanghai, while long qi possesses the other half. why still count? it's half of the revenue we earn. just have someone send long qithe money on the floor. we've tried to get rid of chen moufor three years-
over a hundred people have died as a result. he could still be alive today, but long qi finished himwhen he set foot in shanghai. we should be grateful he's here. you think you've exploited long qi. but don't forget- if you feed the beast, the beast will one day bite your hand. throughout these years,so many young lads have come here
and finally ended upat the bottom of the river, right? bai, do you think we will be just like chen mou one day? remember to cut it this way next time, otherwise your hand is useless. wait till the kid expands his territories. then we will harvest what his hard work has sown. how does that sound? excited?
come on...line up. wait for me here. brother liu. i am guang. wow, you can drink with the best of them. it tastes like water! brother liu, trust me- that guy i introduced to you
is no ordinary man. he is really strong. he alone can do the work of several men, who could be this strong? he's from my hometown. his name is ma yongzhen. one, two, three! wow, unbelievable! once more, good, let's go. once more,
brother ma, you're terrific. keep it up! this is amazing. damn, you scum. kid, if you can hold on for one minute. i'll hire you. let's go. sir, i have two more friends. if i can hold for three minutes,
can you hire us all? sure. come on... sir, this pocket watch is very expensive.don't break it. interesting! all right, 80 cents a day- with meals, no housing. thank you, sir. generous. isn't brother hei mao generous?
write it here! write nicer. does it look better now? little flora, little flora. what, dad? see what dad bought you. fireworks! let's play after dinner. just us. sister ju, look, dad just bought me fireworks.
sister ju, sister ju... brother ma, come. have a seat, my brother. what is this? brother ma, you know what? the japanese tea in the warehouse today is actually opium.
brother ma, this is worth between sixand seven hundred silver dollars. put that back. brother ma, you're still young. but look at me. i'm useless. i could work the rest of my life,and still have nothing. dad, dad, let's go, let's light up the fireworks. i'll be with you in a second. go down first. brother ma, i know you're a nice guy.
dinner's ready! dinner's ready! little flora, we won't be apart again. our lives will get better. come, let's have dinner. let's eat. little flora, you're on your own to shanghai. you're so young. you're just super. before mom left, she said she could no longer take care of you.
it must be hard to make a living away from home. i will take care of you from now on. dad, it's okay. little flora, dad's bringing youto study in hong kong? great, let's bring mom too. of course. dad, i saved this big piece for you you can have it. i have some here. let's eat.
it's all right. you can eat it later. okay, let's eat. ma yongzhen, listen. i apologize. you... well, i was wrong. i thought you were a punk like niu sanguang. but you're nothing like that. you even found jobs for your friends. i had you all wrong. i'm sorry.
no need to apologize. i must. don't be lame. aren't you a man? fine. you can apologize. didn't i just apologize? i accept, then. i will treat you better from now on. how much better? i won't scold you anymore.
that's better. what are you thinking? it's only an apology. you bunch of dock workers, show yourselves. some stock went missing today. can't believe you bastards would dare to steal from the axe fraternity. my dad is a good man. he doesn't steal. i'll count to three.
show yourself. otherwise, i will wipe out your entire complex. one, two... damn it! bullying women and kids? are you a man? i don't care. i've gotta getmy stock back tonight. we're just peasants. we don't understand your violent world.
when we say we didn't steal it, we mean it. now, leave. i will be back. i will be back. dad! drunken chun. is this little packet worth someone's life? way more than one. more than the lives of the entire village. inspector wong, how will you handle the opium?
yes, how will you handle it? inspector wong... inspector, look at this. mr. tong, please relate this messageto shinji tsutsumi- our police office will not return his stock. sorry, shinji-san, inspector said the stock cannot be reclaimed. what if we have to take it back? you interfered with the traffickingbetween the japanese and axe fraternity. they will come back for you.
what's all this? smuggling opium, disregard for human life. i'm not scared of them. shanghai is not a place for you simple-minded laborers. it's prosperous yet complicated place,with people from all walks of life. young people can easily go astrayin a place like this... i promised my mom before coming to shanghai that i'd never be a gangster.
i've heard that too many times. and every time i have to host the funeral. the only person who still survives is long qi. i am different from long qi. of course you are different from him. he's big around here, and knows the rules of the game. but how long can he survive?
"lights are up for the night," "everything is ready for us at the ball." "come, look at me in the eyes." "they'll open your heart." "a kiss is not enough for me," "i want to fly high with you." "we can fly to the edge of the world together." "let's do it tonight!"""" brother long.
when will the japanese stock be taken out? tonight. you beat up all those guys in back? yes. you want a cut of the stock, i assume? and you are? ma yongzhen. ma yongzhen, do you know who you're talking to? i've seen you before.
you're long qi. i heard that no onecan stand ten hits from you, but i think i could. i don't know what you mean by ten hits. put it this way, if you don't lose before the cigarette burns out,the stock is yours. someone's gonna get hurt over this. the cigarette is almost out. hurry up, it's burning out! why did you stop?
i'm afraid i'll kill you by accident. dpn't you hear your people screaming? the cigarette burned out. the stock is mine. do you have matches? you can't destroy opium with fire. use lime next time. long qi, lighter. keep it. find me if anything happens. who said the cigarette went out?
come on. damn it. the whole lot got wrecked. now i've gotta explain when they come back. you're lucky you survived. just leave. be the hero. don't get me into trouble. leave. brother ma? the next timeyou're gonna hit something- think of your mother.
that bracelet she gave you isn't for decoration. brother ma. we'll quit, too. from now on, let us work for you. yes. let us work for you. brother ma, we are quitting too. we will be your followers. i am not here to fight. you're not here to fight? you want to have a drink?you should have told me earlier...
long qi, are you hiring? what do you know other than fighting? sweeping, dish washing, heavy lifting...anything, except hitting others for you. these are your followers? wow. impressive. you have followers already? how many? six, including myself.
who's the one with the hat? he is a businessman, not a laborer. we can work for 80 cents a day.does that work for you? i'll give you guys two dollars. come on. from now on, ma yongzhen is my friend. let's welcome ma yongzhen andhis buddies to the paradise club. great! no man lights cigarettes for this lady, except me.
music! does it hurt? when i first came to shanghai, i fought every day and got injured every day. got so used to pain i stopped feeling it. then why do you have to be like this? everything i have, i got by fighting. so what? even if you own all of shanghai,
you're still all by yourself. don't tell a lonely person how lonesome he is. i don't flirt, i don't sweet talk people, and i don't play tricks. what do you like about me? your arrogance. "dirty triad boss long qi &clean ma yongzhen collaborate" the girl dances very well. not bad.
but doesn't she look a little like you? what are you doing here? we are starving. starving. you haven't eaten yet? excuse me, soy milk for everyone. let's play a bit. ma yongzhen- take it. have it when you feel hungry.
hot dog. you're sick. don't you know anything? try it. it's good.i'll tell you a story. in 1904, a german immigrantwent to st. louis in the united states, selling wieners... are you listening? you want one?
but they were hot and salty and not easy to hold, so... is it good? really? haha cool. ma yongzhen, why did you come to shanghai? i am penniless. everyone says shanghai is a land of opportunities. that's why i am here, to get a piece of paradise.
ma yongzhen, you shouldn't be like this. you live in a shabby complex. you know what, if you know kung fu but refuse to follow a gangg, you will just become their enemy. let me take you under my wing. my dream is to defeat the three wolves of axe fraternity
and drive away the japanese. sometimes people just need to be taught a lesson. i can't do that. i can't join the triad. but don't worry- we are brothers forever and ever. why are you wearing a jade bracelet? i can kill a cow with one strike from my fist. that's why my mom gave me this bracelet.
punching cows is meaningless. do you know how many people i have killed? old men, i have killed countless. do you know how old chen mou was? he was older than my dad. you've killed lots of people,but have you killed a cow before? of course i have. i eat steak every day. i slaughter them myself.
i've even eaten a tiger. i tell you... do you know what time is it?why are you back so late? that's me. lowlife. i think it was because i was not gentle enough i could not share your sorrow if it is hard to say aloud then i will just keep the regret in my heart leave my sorrow to myself
you can bring your beauty with you will you think of me occasionally? will you? will you? "i want to see you. i will waitfor you at the fountain." don't stay out too late. what are you looking at? how's it taste? is it good?
not bad. what is it? it's a hot dog. what? you're sick and cruel. just listen. in 1904, there was a german immigrantin the united states... fine. fine. fine. who told you all this? long qi. long qi, the one who always fights and kills...
he isn't a fighter or a killer. he just likes challenging others. i think long qi is a righteous man. challenge? what challenge? you guys like fighting. sometimes, people just got to be taught a lesson. what are you talking about? just stop fighting, will you? my dad hates people who fight. all right.
you look pretty today. punk! what's on your mind? i promised hashimoto to sing at the annual dinner for thejapanese chamber of commerce. are you scared of them? i'm just a singer. i don't know much. my voice is my life.
i'm lucky enough to earn a living by singing. you're here with me. you don't need to be scared. why do you keep a tiger at home? cause i'm a beast myself. you were a beast, because you need a beast's instinctto sense danger but after you met ma yongzhen, your human side appeared.
somehow i didn't feel as secure as before, being with you. i want to be your woman forever, but you can't be the king ofshanghai bund forever. let's leave shanghai together. you and me. i'm the chairman of thejapanese chamber of commerce, hashimoto hiroichi. nice to meet you. chairman of the chamber of commerce?
so, you're the head of the secret agents, right? are you engaging in war or business? we always admire chinese culture. of course, we hope to collaboratewith china in business. but you'll steal if you can't get it, right? speaking of robbery, mr. long qi, you have robbed our japanese tea leaves. if they were really tea leaves, i wouldn't have taken them from you.
yes, dozens of cartons of opium. priceless. why did you burn them? well, i didn't know why. but it felt good doing it. just like you and the chinese massacredin the northeast territories. mr. long qi, that is war. once there is war, it is inevitableto cause injury to the innocent. that's not war.
that's blatant invasion. mr. long qi, we deeply admire your character. i sincerely hope that we cancollaborate closely one day. you have to read between the lines when negotiating with the japanese. admire my character and look forward to close collaboration... can these be translated as: i am an influential man-
bribe me so that i can betray my country? the chinese are no longer"sick men of east asia." please get out of here. mr. long qi, if you have to say it this way, then there is only one way for this to end. by the way, sheng xiangjun won't be singingat your chamber's annual dinner because the paradise club will be celebrating our 100th daythat same evening.
long qi, you really thinkyou're the king of shanghai. he is almost the king of shanghai. so, who will be the king of shanghai? all of us sitting here today are friends. that is, we share the same enemy. that's why we should work together... how? finish long qi. find ma yongzhen.we can make good use of this guy.
i found him already. he is with tie at north gate. i knew this would happen one day. get in the car. brother tie, how have you been all these years? could be better. that's not good, then. are you planning another uprising? that's not my intention. tie,
ma yongzhen from north gate robbed our shipment and formed a secret partnership with long qi. their alliance is obvious. i'm only a lowly acrobat. i can't get involved in any of your deals. brother tie, you have trained ma yongzhen so well and his relationship with long qi is good. he has nothing to do with long qi.he only works for him.
tie, i will be honest with you. we would like to use him to getrid of long qi for us. other than that, we will leave it toour friend, ma. there is an old chinese saying:smart people do the right thing at the right time. the power of great japan isexpanding in shanghai. we shouldn't disregard them. we should work with them to gain some advantage. what do you think, my friend? you collude with the japanese toinvade your own country;
you betray our people's dignity toyour own advantages. i will be a bastard if i work for you. i will be a traitor if i collude with you. i am neither of those things. do you know how many lives you'vejust endangered, saying that? ruining others' families is your way of life. i am by myself. i won't be threatened. so you decided to take it all up by yourself?
his problem is my problem. tie, we've given you much respect today. don't think that you are still our big brother. you have been hiding for over ten years after your wife's death. you silly old bag, you're going to get killed for guardingthis young chap. ma yongzhen is my son-in-law. he is my youngest daughter's fiancm.he is here to marry her.
he will leave shanghai beforethe last ferry tonight, and will not get involved withyour business ever again. i apologize for what he has done. please forgive him. does it mean we won't see him again? i guarantee he will not get involvedin your business ever again. master tie, why do we need to be scared of them? it's no longer your problem.
you have to leave shanghai right away! what's wrong? brother long, brother long, please sign here. let's go...let's pack up and hurry. long qi! get rid of him. dad... sis. mr. hashimoto wasted money on you.
yes. i regret what i have done. why? you will never understand. leave shanghai quickly. live long, my brother. long qi, long qi. we can be brothers again in our next life. long qi...i...admire you. i fear being an ordinary man,
forced to live under the rule ofwesterners and the japanese. master tie... stop fighting. just stand by your beloved. let her live peacefully. that's a man's responsibility. no more fighting... from now on, long qi has ceasedto exist in shanghai! it's our world now. no, shanghai,
and the great east asia as well,will be under japanese rule. it will be our world. the territories occupied bythe axe fraternity will fall under the chamber of commerce of japan. the annual levy is 80%. we will guarantee the prosperityand security of your businesses. you have no other options. though you have great manpower, you're totally disorganized.
i'll finish off anyone you can't handle anyway. is this yours? ma yongzhen... some people just need to get a beating! ma yongzhen, as you can see, my plan has brought us this far... get the hell out of china! ma yongzhen, listen.
i want you to come back in one piece. you're my only family now. i will wait for you, no matter how long it takes.
