JustVim Movie Review: Bodyguards and Assassins

Movie Review

Synopsis: 1905, City of Victoria (British Colony of Hong Kong). Before Dr. Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that overturns the Qing Dynasty, his life is almost cut short when he arrives at Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front. In the distance of thirteen blocks, the one man Dr. Sun Yat-Sen who holds a nation’s fate must survive relentless attempts on his life with only five bodyguards, a group of ordinary men and women who actually possess extraordinary fighting skills. Against hundreds of assassins, these men must put their courage to the test in order to protect the hope of millions even if it means fighting to the death...

There’s really nothing more to say for this epic roller-coaster ride movie, cruising the tracks of post-modernising China, riddled with Patriotic bloodlines and deep feelings running through the film. The JustVim Crew won’t say it’s an epic fail, but it was one long movie before any real action came into the picture.

Audiences teased by footage of Donnie Yen doing parkour through a crowded marketplace and unleashing holy hell on Le Cung have a long wait ahead of them. Only once outspoken revolutionary and assassination target Dr. Sun Yat Sen arrives in Hong Kong, a good hour into the film, does the action really begin. When it does, however, it does so in spades. The second half of the film unfolds more or less in real time and basically consists of one long chase/scuffle through the centre of turn-of-the-century Hong Kong. The Resistance must protect Dr. Sun from Quo (Hu Jun) and his Qing assassins, so he can meet with the leaders of the 13 rebel factions and plot the uprising that will bring about the end of the Qing Dynasty.

There were definitely some exciting fighting scenes, however, if you were thinking Flashpoint or Jacky Chan’s flying dragon kicks, we hope you aren’t too disappointed with this film’s depiction of short but effective Parkour moves by Donnie Yen and some small fighting scenes by the big man.

We were impressed with the Tycoon and mastermind, Wang XueQi, for his benevolence to his followers, genrousity towards others and his patriotism and loyalty to his friends. He was a key player in this film, showing the stoic nature of a bull when faced with troubles and woes and also a warm, gentlemen when his followers are in dire straits. For the Crew, we felt that Donnie Yen was casted out of the limelight with his strange ethics and loose morals perfectly portraying his stylish gait and nifty street moves. I mean, find me a street thug who can flip and do KungFu like this Fighter here, and you might have a Bodyguards and Assassin 2 coming right up.

For most parts of this film, fighting and love was explored on a secondary basis, what was focused on was actually on the remaining few casualties fighting for Dr Sun’s survival, what’s left of his big aspirations for the unification of modern China, and his ultimate legacy that would soon morph Post-war, discombobulated, semi-colonial China into a new era of power and equality.

The pick-up was a little slow, unlike Rain’s Ninja Assassin, which starts on a delicately footnote, by slicing a Gansgster’s head, but it was definitely worth the wait seeing how the Behemoth fought the little street Assassins (they required 2 separate scenes of constant, heart-squeezing stabbing, whacking, poking and slicing to show the giant was finally dead, and yea, he survived the first horrific slashing by at least a dozen bloodied, unforgiving Assassins hell-bent on ripping him up!).

Then there was the totally laughable scene where the clean-shaven Leon Lai delayed the Assassins’ entry into Dr Sun’s House, with nothing more than an iron fan (which wasn’t even sharp to begin with!). that was a little dampening on the film’s remarkable tempo and excitement level, as it was not creative nor was it stimulating at all. We swore we heard the fella behind us yawn!

All in all, this is one hell of a film I won’t say you’d waste dough on, but if you want more action and fighting, drop it and find Avatar instead.


The JustVim Crew
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