The Master was shot by Tsui Hark in LA and featured American kickboxer, Jerry Trimble. Jerry and Jet didn't get along and the film remained unreleased for several years. Despite this initial disappointment, Harvest saw merit in the combination of Tsui and Li. When the maverick director announced his intention of reviving the Wong Fei Hung series, Jet Li was an obvious choice to play the young version of the martial arts legend. Critics carped about Li's youth and that he was a Wu Shu player and not a `real' kung fu man. The finished film, Once Upon a Time in China, proved that Jet was just as effective in a classy period piece as he was miscast in a modern-day actioner. Once Upon a Time in China was the first kung fu film to receive serious critical attention, benefitting from Jet's subtle performance, as well as the martial arts pyrotechnics. Though set at the turn of the century, the film was very much a Wong Fei Hung for the 1990s. Both this film and its sequel explored the issues of Chinese national identity and the relationship between the colonial powers and Hong Kong. An ankle injury sustained on the first film meant Li was doubled extensively for the more intricate action scenes. This was less important than his sheer presence in the role he was born to play.

Conflicts between Lee, Tsui and Harvest during the third Wong Fei Hung film led to Jet leaving the series. Although he returned for the latest sequel Once upon a time in China and America. The films he has made since vary in quality wildly. The best is undoubtedly the Wong Ching-directed modernization of another martial arts movie folk hero, Fong Sai Yuk, although its sequel, which started shooting without a complete script, was a disappointment. Li made another Wong Fei Hung film, Last Hero in China, and also films about the founders of Tai Chi (Tai Chi Master) and Hung Gar (New Legend of Shaolin [1994]). His career and the kung fu boom hit a low ebb with Shaolin Cult Master (1993), which failed to use either Li or co-star Samo Hung to good effect. Jet's place as the dominant figure in the 1990-94 martial arts movie cycle is assured. And his star in Hong Kong is utterly strengthen by his great role in the remake of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, the Fist of Legend. He then made a series of smashing hits. Like My Father's a hero, High Risk and Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words, although the last was not grated as well as the others. The Jet got asked to play the role as a bad-ass in Richard Donners, Lethal Weapon. Jet said yes, and was therefore introduced to the western cinema audience as the man, who kicked Mel Gibson's ass. There has also been a lot of excitement around his lates movie, Romeo Must Die. A film who really lifted Jet Li's name to Hollywood stardom. The fact that Hong Kong action GOD, Corey Yuen Kwai did the action scenes, was also a joy to me. Nobody in the world can do it better. I am also pleased that Jet Li older movies have been released all over the western world, it gives the audience a chance to see some of the movies that made him who he is. A bit of a bad news was that Jet Li will not appear in Matrix 2 and 3. Other news is that he is currently filming a film co written by Luc Besson (Nikita, Leon, Le Grand Bleu), named "Kiss of the Dragon" alongside Bridget Fonda. This film will be released in the USA 6 July. He will also be appearing in a James Wong film, called "The One"