14 Blades (2010)

Masterful Movie

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Set in Ming dynasty China, this film follows Qinglong; a member of the Jinyiwei or secret service. This elite force, made up entirely of orphans is dedicated to the service of the emperor but an attempted takeover at the royal court leaves Qinglong fighting to return a stolen royal seal. On his journey he travels with Qiao Hua the beautiful daughter of a man he employed to help him. Before the task is complete they will have to face many enemies but they will also make new friends.The plot to this film is fairly simple but that doesn't matter; this is a film about action and it delivers that in spades with one spectacular fight after another. As one might expect this includes a fair amount of impossibly athletic martial arts as fighters leap through the air, slice through large wooden building supports and dodge arrows… all part of the fun in this sort of film. While their moves may be impossible the protagonists are far from immortal and many will die bloody deaths before the end. Donnie Yen does a fine job as protagonist Qinglong and is ably supported by Wei Zhao who plays Qiao Hua… although I was a little disappointed that she wasn't in more of the action scenes… perhaps because I'd recently watched the playing Mulan! There is a fighting woman in the film; Kate Tsui who plays the most dangerous of the bad guys Tuo Tuo… a woman who wields a weapon that seems to be a cross between a sword and a whip! Chun Wu who plays 'The Judge of the Desert' is also entertaining. Everything looks good and the desert setting and characters on horseback makes it feel much like a western. Overall it might not be the best example but fans of the genre should enjoy it.These comments are based on watching the film in Mandarin with English subtitles.

From all the reviews that I read above me seems like no one knows that 14 Blades is a Shaw Brothers remake of the 1984 movie Secret Service of Imperial Court directed by Tony Liu Jun Guk. Now that I got that out of the way the modern version 14 blades is directed by mostly hit or miss Daniel Lee.His credits include Black Mask,What Price Survival,Three Kingdoms Resurrection of the Dragon,Star Runner Aka Kumite,Dragon Squad aka Dragon Heat and the upcoming Wuxia White Vengeance.As you can see from those credits most people that have seen his movies only Black Mask and What Price Survival were their favorites. The cast includes both new actors old school Kung Fu actors from the Shaw Brothers era like Chen Kwan Tai,Wu Ma,Lam Chi Tai,Fung Hak On.From Golden Harves of course Sammo Hung which has only a supporting part and does not lay a finger on nobody,Duel to the Death's Damian Lau (if you blinked you missed him because i don't even remember him being in it).Wu Chun who looks like a pretty boy Asian Jack Sparrow,Vicky Zhao Whei,and Donnie Yen filling up for Leung Kar Yan aka Beardy. The Cinematography is nice too look at as well as the special effects.Donnie Yen barely saves this movie and the supporting cast seems to be weak and not backing him up at all.There is both some wire fu and some good fighting scenes in this movie but unless you're a Donnie Yen fan this one is an OK movie better than Three Kingdoms but not better than its rivals like Ip Man movies and True Legend by Yuen Woo Ping.Watch the Original it is 10 times better and did not need wire fu or GGI to make it a good movie.

At first glance "14 blades" seem like one of those kung – fu movies that tell an ancient story of the Chinese dynasty, how a hero with awesome moves kick butt and all. But out of all the movies with the same kind of background story, this one seems kind of special coz this one is kind of new age-y. I bet everyone has seen cool hypnotic movies like Evil Cult starring Jet li and the once upon a time in china series. Compared to those legendary masterpieces, has the modernization been that good an effect. I have to say no.Watched IP man recently and was really impressed by it. (It's in my best movies list too ) And it gave me the feeling that the kung fu movie industry won't die after Jackie Chan or jet li. Coz there's a new guy in town, Dannie Yen. Doesn't seem like a hot shot action star but as far as moves go he is as good as any. Dannie yen stars in this one too and I gotta say I'm back where I was. Coz this movie certainly seems like a big budget movie than IP man but this one SUCKS A**. First of all the story is just a little bit effed up. Eventually you can figure out what the heck is happening and all, but initially, it's all just a big puddle of goo. You can't tell who's who and what's what. Like they expect us to know everything about the ancient Chinese history. Duh! Then again if I say that this is totally based on Chinese history I would give the wrong idea again. Because to me this seems like more of a fantasy flick. You know like something out of Final fantasy series. Coz the characters certainly doesn't seem like ancient Chinese to me with their more than modern clothes, funny mechanical contraptions and, get this, rocket launchers, for crying out loud!. When I say modern clothes you'll see how much the wardrobe of this resembles like something out of a manga. Overall this movie resembles a bollywood piece of crap than an actual Chinese masterpiece, (except from the little bit of kung fu it got of course) That's another thing that bummed me most, the lack of martial arts. I could see the potential of Dannie Yen in Ip man but here, they seem to have totally lost it. It's just a bunch of swords and stuff flying around. You can hardly pick out any actual thrilling kung fu. I thought people can do lot more these days when it comes to fight scenes but this Is disappointing. But please don't lose all your hopes. Compared to any other Hollywood action flick this is GOOD as far as the fighting goes. But in comparing with legendary kung fu movie like the Drunken Master this just . bites the dust.By now If you are really up to still try this movie out I say go for it because of Wai zhao. Her sweet and innocent face always is something to behold. And Don't forget to see the old Sammo Hung in action. You know, the fatso from martial law. But when i say action, basically all he does is stand up and just keep staring!!!XD

The film started rather promising, but it ended by being a fiasco. The characters and fights look like coming directly from a game like Final Fantasy - with fancy looks, supernatural powers and exotic weapons - but unfortunately out of time and place. While some fights are entertaining and Donnie Yen is good during the short display of kung fu, the most part of the fights consist in a display of CG scenes and wire fu. All that would have been a little entertaining movie to enjoy and forget at the end of the week, but it's culminating with another tragic ending in the purest Asian style (in the same vein of Tiger and Dragon, Hero, etc...)