Along with the otherwise disappointing Sons of the Neon Night, the long-awaited Back to the Past, another high-profile Hong Kong film that earned its infamous "urban legend" reputation due to its extensive post-production process, has finally been released to the public. It has been a long wait for this passion project of Louis Koo, which he originally conceived between 2013 and 2014, before his company One Cool Film Production acquired the rights in 2017.
Presented as a sequel to the 2001 40-episode TVB television series A Step into the Past, which marked the last time Koo acted on television before deciding to focus primarily on boosting his film career, the film takes place nearly two decades after the events of the series. Having recently revisited the series, here's a summary of what happened: Hong Siu-Lung (Louis Koo) is a Hong Kong G4 unit inspector in the present day who agrees to travel back in time via a specially constructed time machine under the supervision of a wealthy businessman (Lee Siu-Chiu, played by John Tang) and the inventor/scientist Dr. Wu Yau (Liu Kai-Chi).
Directors: Jack Lai, Yuen Fai Ng
Writer: Xin He
Stars: Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hester Hsuan
His task? To photograph the coronation of the Qin emperor, Ying Zheng. And in exchange for his efforts, he is allowed to use the time machine to return to the past and salvage his failing relationship with his long-time girlfriend, Chun Ching (Sonija Kwok). Originally, they intended to send him to the Qin Dynasty era, but due to a technical malfunction, he ended up three years earlier than planned, becoming trapped in the Warring States period.
Hong, who is not supposed to interfere with anything or anyone that could jeopardize history, becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures that lead to further complications throughout the 40 episodes of the series. The final episode ends with an open ending after Hong and his wives—Kam Ching (also played by Sonija Kwok) and Wu Ting-Fong (Jessica Hsuan)—live in solitude with the latter's young son, Hong Yu. Ying Zheng (Raymond Lam Fung), the emperor who wants to execute Hong and the others, decrees that all records and books related to Hong Siu-Lung be completely destroyed, officially erasing his existence from history. Thus, the sequel continues with Hong, now retired and older, and his family enjoying a peaceful life in the countryside.
Things get complicated when Ken (Michael Miu) leads a group of heavily armed mercenaries—including those played by Wu Yue and Chris Collins—who arrive from the future to attack Ying Zheng with the goal of rewriting history by seizing the Qin kingdom, leaving the emperor with no choice but to seek help from his former mentor, Hong.
Given the immense popularity of the TVB series, expectations are very high for the film sequel. And this raises the crucial question: Is Return to the Past worth the 25-year wait after the series left us hanging at the end of episode 40? Undoubtedly, co-directors Ng Yuen-Fai (Warriors of Future) and Jack Lai have a difficult task in continuing the story.
Based on the screenplay by Lily He Xin, which in turn is based on Huang Yi's novel The Chronicles of the Search for Qin, the film begins promisingly with a brief recap of the series to refresh viewers' memories. The lighthearted and humorous opening effectively captures the style and essence of the series, blending irreverent Stephen Chow-style comedy with sarcastic humor, largely thanks to Koo's hilarious deadpan performance, reprising his iconic role as Hong Siu-Lung. The chemistry with his co-stars from the series, from Jessica Hsuan and Sonija Kwok playing the wives to a smaller role like that of Wong Man-Piu as Hong's blood brother, Tang Yik, remains intact.
Not to mention the strong sense of nostalgia that will bring a smile to your face upon seeing the reunion of the original cast, especially if you're a fan of the series. Just like in the series, the ambivalent relationship between Hong and Ying Zheng continues to dominate the story in this sequel, expanding on their conflicting dynamic with Koo and Lam interacting seamlessly. Fai and Lai did a good job maintaining a steady pace, alternating between well-timed comedy and exciting action and adventure. The latter is especially true with the arrival of Ken and his mercenaries, whom we first see during an ambush where they use bombs, firearms, and motorcycles against Ying and his imperial convoy. The action choreography by Sammo Hung and Wong Wai-Leung is well-executed, though far from their best work.
The only thing that bothers me about the action sequences in this film is the sci-fi aesthetic, which feels strange and out of place.
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