The Lost Bladesman

This is a traditional Chinese epic and tragedy. It’s also one of the best Donnie Yen films I’ve seen and if you never seen him use weapons, now is your chance.

The film is about General Guan Yunchan, a kind hearted warrior who is described as a “wolf with the heart of a lamb” and whose prowess in the battlefield was unmatched. It was his heart that gave him the strength to fight to defend and protect what he believed him. However, it would also be his greatest weakness. Using his kind hearted, the warlords pit him against each other for their own gain.

Yen makes and very convincing Guan and gets to show off his skills in Chinese weaponry. Fortunately, it’s not only the fight scenes but everything else seems to fit it quite well; the music, the dialogue and photography all present a touching picture of a man who is reluctantly used as pawn.

For any Yen fan, this is a must see.

A very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Although I had anticipated watching this title for several months, when I did view it I found it a bit too soft for my liking. Don’t get me wrong they did manage to offend Russians, virgins, the Catholic Church, even gays but this time it felt different.

The major difference between the last two movies and this one is that the wacky friends have actually drifted apart – a long 7 years. Harold is married to Maria and has a house of his own. Kumar, on the other hand, is still that juvenile and up to his partying ways. It’s actually a sad sight. However, fete still has plans for these two friends and I might take a little smoke screen to make it happen but it will.

A bonus is SPH is back from the dead and gives us an account of his heaven. Hilarious!

Redbelt

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mike Terry

Redbelt is a 2008 martial arts film with a difference, written and directed by David Mamet, and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alice Braga, Emily Mortimer, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Max Martini and Tim Allen with appearances from Dan Inosanto and a few other martial artists.

Mike Terry (Ejiofor) runs South Side Jiu-Jitsu studio and adheres strongly to the warrior code or Budo. However, everyone around him use the art and those in it as a source of income.

Mike and officer Joe

One night when he tries to close the studio Laura Black (Mortimer) approaches him asking if knows the owner of a vehicle she side swiped. However, when off-duty policeman Joe Collins (Martini) approaches to take her coat, a clearly distressed Black accidentally fires his gun and destroys the studio’s front window. Mike and Joe agree to conceal the incident know the implications it could have on Laura. However, things take a turn for the worse when it starts off a chain of events that eventually lead to tragedy.

Chiwetel Ejiofor brings a certain quality of acting to a martial art character that sets it apart. Unlike the masculine types portrayed in most films of this genre, this one emphasises the emotional aspect and takes a serious look at the business of fighting. The fighting takes second place. However, that is not to say the fighting doesn’t look good – it looks great - and a good number of actual martial artists are involved.

Randy Couture, Enson Inoue, John Machado and Dan Inosanto play minor but important roles in the film.

The film is about the fight within and is something most martial artists can relate to. As a martial artist myself, I could sympathise with the main character dilemma and the choices he had to make and it was refreshing to see a film of the martial genre where the outside battle was as interesting as the personal fight. It is also one of, or probably the only film I’ve seen which features Brazillian Jiu-jitsu and grappling arts.

If you are looking for a film with blood and guts and a lot of fighting then this wouldn’t be your cup of tea. However, if you are looking for a good story then it doesn’t get better than this.            

Hanna

Hanna is sweet, young and deadly

Director Joe Wright sets the pace for the screenplay by Seth Lockhead and David Farr in Hanna, a fast action thriller that is uniquely different and gem of an indie film. It stars Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones), Eric Bana (The Incredible Hulk), Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Jessica Barden and Cate Blanchett (Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull).

The film beings with a brunt introduction to Hanna (Ronan) as she hunts down a deer and is attacked by a mystery man who we later find out is her father Erik (Bana) who is teaching her basic survival skills as a warrior. He is preparing her for when she encounters the mysterious and deadly Marissa (Blanchett) – the reason become apparent throughout the film.

I really enjoyed the action and the fight scenes and Ronan and Bana make an amazing father and daughter team. Their relationship portrays a ‘tough love’ relationship as seen in the harsh training Hanna receives from her father. However, he literally put his life on the line for her when she needs him. Cate Blanchett also makes a believable villain.

Cate Blanchett as the mysterious Marissa

Cate’s character is a remarkable image of her other famous villainous role in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. The hairstyle and appearance is almost identical you get the inkling that maybe her character in Indiana was transported through time and space to become this character. Anyway, don’t dwell on it too much as it may cause confusion; which is precisely what you may get if you don’t concentrate.

The timeline in this film is a bit confusing. There is no single pattern of events and the scenes switch between time and location like the blades of a ceiling fan. However, if you are able to keep up without tangling your thoughts then this is definitely a must see.         

The Sorcerer and the White Snake (aka It’s Love or Madame White Snake)

White Snake in human form 

Chin Siu-tung brings the Chinese folklore, The Legend of the White Snake, to life in this 2011 romantic fantasy action adventure which stars an ensemble cast of Asian stars Jet Li, Eva Huang, Raymond Lam, Charlene Choi and Wen Zhang. 

The plot wraps itself around the love story between a young herbalist and scholar, Xu Xian, and the love of his life, the White Snake demon that takes human form. Raymond Lam takes the role of Xu Xian and makes a convincingly love smitten young man who would do anything for his love, played by the beautiful Eva Huang.

Huang appeared in The Race to Witch Mountain as the alien princess and as the mute girl in Kung Fu Hustle. This time she gets to speak volumes as a thousand year old serpent demon who falls in love with Xu Xian and sets off from the safety of her mountain home to pursue him. Unfortunately by doing so she intervenes with the laws of nature which draws the attention of the Abbot Fahai who is believes that all demons are evil and tries to destroy her.

Fahai is played by international kung fu superstar Jet Li plays the mean ass kicking monk intent on sending the serpent back to her domain. The other roles are played by Charlene Choi who glides seamlessly into the form of the Green Snake demon and Wen Zhang as the Abbot’s disciple Neng Ren.

Meeting the parents

This story is almost like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet where the lovers are feted for doom due to their different background. There are also some deviations from the folklore for example the Abbot in the legends is a sorcerer and Xu Xian goes to the demon realm instead of the White Serpent coming to live in the human realm. However, all the elements of making this a great film are present, drama, action, adventure, mystery and love. The only unfortunate thing is probably the graphics.

If you are expecting graphic like in the Lord of the Rings trilogy or other big budget films then you will be disappointed. The graphic is almost computer game like and is not very realistic. However, immerse yourself in the story and you will most definitely love this film.