Dao Ma, the “second most wanted fugitive,” who is entrusted by his benefactor, the chief of Mo family clan, to take on a mysterious escort mission-escorting the “most wanted fugitive,” to Chang’an.
When the name Yuen Woo-Ping enters the chat, you listen. He’s arguably the most efficient and greatest martial arts choreographer and director in martial arts film history. His catalog is stacked with all-time greats, and this flick is another to add to the collection for fans of his work in the martial arts arena.
What’s also a highlight is the inclusion of Jet Li. This marks the sixth collaboration between the two, and it can easily be considered one of the top three best projects they’ve worked on together. For those who aren’t patient, the action isn’t immediate. You may have to wait fifteen minutes or so, but once Li shows up, do not blink.
Personally, my favorite martial arts films focus on hand-to-hand fighting with no weapons. However, this is by far one of the best displays of swords clashing that has hit the big screen in a long time. There were so many stakes in the first act that it felt like you were watching the climactic ending. Two fighters versus one, and it was glorious.
However, this beautiful display of art was cut short, unfortunately. The marketing of the film sells Jet Li as potentially one of the main characters. He’s a worldwide known actor, so anyone would be excited about his involvement. Just tailor your expectations, because as soon as he shows up in all his greatness, he disappears shortly after and doesn’t return. To say this was a disappointment is an understatement.
You may want to love this film from the first act, but that’s a tall order given how it opened. The best fight scene is the first, and it does not get any better after that. Now do not get confused. The rest of the fights throughout the film are wildly entertaining, but they still do not hold a candle to the opening scene.
The women involved in this journey are fierce as well. They are grandmasters with the bow and arrow, and if they sense any form of disrespect, you will get an arrow in your mouth to shut you up. It is a real humbling experience for some. The characters all around are welcoming, and you root for them in hopes they will succeed, especially the actual main character, Dao Ma, played by Jing Wu. He is a man trying his best to abandon his old life but always seems to head back to what made him famous in the first place. Sometimes he is the best swordsman in the land, while other times he is just a bounty hunter trying to collect some coin.
A small issue with the film is the subtitles, which usually is not a problem. However, if you decide to see this in theaters, you have the disadvantage of not being able to pause the film to read at times, as the words pop up quickly and disappear just as fast. The antagonists in the final showdown could have been more compelling as well. They appear in the middle of the film, and you are not sure if they are friend or foe until later. Once revealed, there is a quick exposition dump attempting to fill in their backstory. It did not feel earned, and there was not much emotional weight to their involvement.
The story was not the easiest to follow, but it was entertaining, to say the least. If you are looking for great martial arts action, you have won, so be proud. If you enter expecting great effects, you will be even happier. The director was creative with some of the environments used, avoiding what could have felt like just another bland martial arts movie. There are fights in sandstorms, oil pits, and fire that you would not expect. A more grounded approach with fewer sparks would have sufficed, but I still give credit to the director for thinking outside the box.
Having little knowledge of older Chinese culture, it is difficult to comment on authenticity. It can only be compared to other Eastern martial arts films in media, but given what little I know as a fan, the production team passed that bar with flying colors.
As far as the action goes, this is some of the best in a while when it comes to weapons clashing back and forth. As an overall film, it is at the very least decent to good, maybe even great.
Official Teaser:
Official Trailer:
