Cast
Jackie Chan – Huo An
John Cusack – Lucius
Adrien Brody – Tiberius
Choi Si Won – Yin Po
Lin Peng – Cold Moon
Mika Wang – Xiu Qing
Encore Films
Gist
Huo An (Jackie Chan) is the Commander of the Silk Road Protection Squad and leads a troop of soldiers to safeguard China’s borders. They settle petty skirmishes and strives to maintain peace amongst the 36 warring tribes, who eke a living in the harsh dessert.
During one such dispute, he met the beautiful and fierce female warrior, Cold Moon (Lin Peng). He defeated her in the fight and won her respect, love as well as her hand in marriage (not by his choice ^^).
Taken by surprise, Huo An rushed home to his wife in a panic. His wife, Xiu Qing (Mika Wang) is a virtuous woman, who teaches children of different ethnicity.
In the midst of their reunion, Huo An’s trusted lieutenant Yin Po (Choi Si-won) arrives, with news that their men have been arrested by the Prefecture Chief. The Protection Squad is found guilty of treason and exiled as slave laborers to Wild Geese Gate, which is situated in a war zone between the Han Chinese and the Huns.
Shortly after their arrival at the Wild Geese Gate, Huo An encounters Lucius (John Cusack) and his legion of Roman soldiers, who wanted to take over the fort as their base. The 2 men fought a fierce duel but as a sandstorm approached, Huo An opened the gate and gave them refuge.
Lucius was protecting Publius, the son of a Roman consul, from his own brother Tiberius (Adrien Brody). Huo An and Lucius became good, trusted friends, with the former providing protection to Lucius’ men to seek help from ally country in the east. In return, Lucius provided labour and expertise to help Huo An and his men rebuild Wild Geese Gate within one month, as ordered by the emperor.
But a bigger problem was approaching. Tiberius was in hot pursuit of Publius, Lucius and his troop. His aim was not just to kill them, but also to expand his power by conquering the Silk Road.
The movie climaxed with a big battle as Huo An, his men and friends fight to survive.
Overview
When I was growing up, a Hong Kong comedy movie would be released every Lunar New Year and would star every conceivable well known actors. There were the famous Hui brothers, Tung Bill and Lydia Sum, Raymond Wong, Stephen Chow, Sandra Ng and of course Jackie Chan. Though not necessarily all in the same movie. ^^ The movies would have some pretty madcap scenes and actions but almost always with a loosely underlying moral to it.
Jackie Chan has continued to direct and produce his signature movie released in time for the Lunar New Year. But with a little change in the tone and theme in recent years.
In his own words during the press conference, where as his previous movies were about all about box office (hence plenty of comedy action), now he just wants to do movies that carries a message. And this movie has one big message, 为和共存， 化敌为友 (to live in peace together and turn your enemies into friends).
It certainly tried hard, showing how the different tribes at the Wild Geese Gate stood united and helped each other and Roman soldiers fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese soldiers.
It is an impressive film, with the number of people involved (700), the production cost (US$65 million). I especially love the reconstruction of the Wild Geese Gate, built from scratch (without CGI). The three-story high cogwheel is the most impressive. It consists of four large cogwheels and eight small ones, and all of them rotate like in a real machine and needed twenty men to set the cogwheels in motion.
John Cusack and Adrien Brody are excellent actors and bring much of their charisma and experiences to the movie. It was a joy to watch them, which is why it was a shame they didn’t quite reach full potential in the movie. Both claimed that it was their dream to work with Jackie Chan. Adrien Brody was especially good as the evil Tiberius and I’m thinking he had a great time doing the role.
Many K Pop fans would be watching the movie because of Choi Si Won. There wasn’t much chance to see him in action, though there was a pretty spectacular fight scene towards the end. BUT, I was pleased to see him not typecast as a loyal, goody, handsome soldier. I could actually watch him and not think of him as part of the K Pop band, Super Junior, dancing away. Kudos to him.
Despite there being 2 female leads, the characters are not fully developed, although Lin Peng’s role as a warrior, chasing after Jackie Chan is a little more meaty. By the way, she had a nude scene in the movie, though except for Jackie Chan, none of the cast and the audience would see anything much.
During the press conference, Jackie Chan mentioned that it was his desire that this movie would help to spread the message that we could all live in harmony and peace, especially given the current violent and warring situations in the world today. I definitely got the message and am glad he’s doing such movies. But perhaps the message could have been conveyed a little less strongly.
Watching Jackie Chan’s movie is almost like a tradition for Lunar New Year, like queuing for Bak Kwa and changing brand new notes for the red packets. You feel you have to do it. It is a family movie, with action, some fun (yes, there were still some of Jackie Chan’s signature action moves) and spectacular sets and scenery. The cast is faultless.
But I hope he will do a comedy action next time, and it can come complete with the moral message. After all, it is the festive season, and I really want to laugh and be merry.
Dragon Blade is now showing in the cinemas.
Check out the trailer here. For more photos, please check out Seoul Rhythms’s FB.
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