Review of 14 Blades (2010) by Sergio E — 25 Apr 2010

Yet another one of Donnie Yen's best, I would say. Less meaningful impact than 'Ip Man' and 'Bodyguards and Assassins' in terms of overall storyline but for original ancient MA screenplay, this was a very good one. It's a martial art movie with a non-cheesy love story (I could remember The Myth for MA+cheesy love story).

Character developments were mainly focused on the protagonists (Donnie and Vicky), especially their attraction to each other. What I personally like most about this movie were their love story, creative martial art moves(as usual in most Donnie Yen's movie) and some comical relief from Donnie Yen. A much improved pairing since 'Painted Skin' where they both lack of connection to each other. Just like in recent movies, Donnie Yen never failed his viewers and this time gave even more, by showing off his tattooed six pack torso. And this was by far my favourite character from him, as the anti-hero Green Dragon on his deadly pursue for redemption. And not forgetting his 14 blades, even thought it's the title of the movie but not really the highlight throughout the movie, unlike 'Seven Swords'. Disappointingly, except that we knew the name and functionality of each blade, we never really see them in action, and when they did, I was not sure which blade was being used.

As for the nemesis acted by a promising young TVB star, Kate Tsui, personally I am not a fan of her, and I think she looks too young for a great assassin. I would prefer if they could cast some really talented martial art actor with convincing moves and not just some lifeless and 'pretty' stances from young stars, and heavily CG-ed MA move from Tuo Tuo, especially her disrobing move.

In the beginning, mostly first 30 min, I believed 14 Blades is going to be your usual gong fu flick. Then the bricks started to fall in places as emotions, disguised and shy as usual in good Chinese movies, got out step by step. Donnie Yen let his character's fatigue and pain show more and more, avoiding the old, tired cliché of invincible master of so - many forms. He killed his way inside Jinwey, starting with his brother as young, orphaned children put to test by unforgiven 'official assassins', sponsored by the state. Along the way you meet the Judge of Desert, kind of unidimensional character, but Wei Zhao and Kate Tsui stole most of the scenes they play. Wei, remarkable in Mulan, is here a soon-to-be wife and she uses perfectly her shyness and big eyes to convey more emotions than a sword can do. Not that swords and chains don't mix, as Kate Tsui' Tuo Tuo stealthy killer can prove. The final battle is the best seen in years, especially when Green Dragon and Tuo Tuo die together and HOPE is the real message this movie want to share. Hope, despite loss, pain and solitude.

This genre usually gives rise to somewhat standard expectations, with great action as the top, if not the only, priority. This is particularly so in the case when you have the best, Donnie Yen. And yet, while Yan has never let his loyal followers down, including this time, the climatic duel in this movie is with Kate Tsui (as Tuo Tuo, a deadly Amazon and a daughter of an ambitious warlord), generally recognized as the most promising in the talent department among the crop of young actresses, but not by any stretch of imagination an action star remotely in the league of Yen. Top-notch action direction and earnest effort on the part of the young lady helps, but this is clearly not one of the "exceeds expectation" items in my summary line. But then, almost everything else is.

With the proliferation of martial art action movies in recent years, you need to have new selling points to make a movie of this genre stand out. This one has not just one, but a few. The title devise, the 14 blades, is one. As explained at the very beginning (so don't be late), the arsenals of the Jin Yi Wei ("glamorously apparelled guards" - see below) comprises various gadgets stored in a box not unlike one in which you carry roses on Valentine's Day. The content, however, is like something that Batman would have commissioned Q to design (had he been acquainted with the gentleman). Be rest assured that these gadgets have ample opportunities to entertain your throughout the movie. Tuo Tuo's arsenal is another. Her weapon is a crossover of a whip and a blade, and wickedly clever camera work makes sure that she wields it with equally deadly efficiency. True, this is more like the ultra cool poses that Johnny To used for pistols in his classic "The mission" (1999 ? "Cheung Fo"), but it's just as fun to watch. But topping even that is her layered silk-like garments that she sheds, right in the middle of a fight, as decoys to distract weapons as she circles her opponents like a whirlwind. And she completes the circle by slipping back into these layers of her garments, by which time the opponent is usually dead with his throat slashed. If that is not exotic, I don't know what is. One further addition of these exotic collections is bandit-turned-Robin-Hood, desert bandit chief Judge's joined curved blades that looks like a propeller and works like a boomerang. You can imagine how highly entertaining it is to watch a duel between any pair of these three (and you'll see them all). By the way, I've got to say this: I'm almost certain that the director wrote to Johnny Depp to borrow his costumes from "Pirates of the Caribbean" for his character Judge.

Still on the "hardware" aspects of the movie, the exotic set pieces and desert landscape are something that you may perhaps see in similar movies, but not as meticulously designed and beautifully shot. On the "software" side, there is a serviceable plot, essentially surrounding an imperial seal which will cause tragic bloodsheds if fell into the hands of an ambitious warlord. The middle section of the movie on the chase and hunt, tracking and dodging looks very much like a retro western, and is equally enjoyable.

The woe of the Jin Yi Wei is well depicted: imperial effective killing machines recruited from orphans, following orders without any moral qualms. Donnie, whose acting ability is beginning to catch up with his top-notch action skills, portrays such a one, who finds himself in an agonizing dilemma when his conscience is awaken. Lovely Vicki Zhao is perfect as the determined daughter trying to be the son of a father whose business of express delivery of treasured items is declining. The movie takes attentive pain if developing these two main characters and the romance between them. It pays off as a convincing story, with due credit to good acting from Yan and Zhao.

All told, this movie offers exciting action, rich details, interesting characters and appealing visuals and, something that I haven't mentioned, excellent sound editing and mixing. Can't remember in my recent cinematic experience of this genre that has quite kept my attention continuously for 2 full hours.

It's about time Donnie Yen made an impact yet again in the fantasy wuxia-pian genre, given the rather recent dismal films with Painted Skin (where he only had a supporting role), An Empress and the Warriors, and Tsui Hark's Seven Swords back in 2005. Most of us went ballistic with his more modern action roles ranging from SPL to Ip Man, and his 14 Blades character of Qing Long (Green Dragon, thanks to those mean looking tattoos adorned all over his upper torso) here looks quite set to become yet another memorable role similar to his morally ambiguous one in Bodyguards and Assassins.

Here, Yen's Qing Long is the General-in-chief bodyguard to, and assassin for a Ming Dynasty king, who had set up the Jin Yi Wei (the Mandarin title), or the Brocaded Robe Guards, a special army known for its dogmatic principles in fulfilling mission objectives, whose loyalty is to the king only, and are at his beck and call to do just about anything the king commands. That of course leaves room for evil eunuchs to manipulate, especially when they can get the king easily distracted with wine, song and plenty of nubile women.

The first few minutes of the film introduces us to the background of Qing Long and his army of bodyguards and assassins, the evil that lurks within the royal family and palace from eunuchs to an exiled prince (an extremely short cameo by Sammo Hung), and of course, the fabled 14 Blades. Unfortunately, we are told of the uniqueness and names of each blade, but never see all of them in action, coupled by the fact that they look quite generic. Only Qing Long is assigned this utility box containing the swords and lugs it everywhere ala El Mariachi's guitar case, and at his will can throw up the appropriate weapon to battle adversaries, including a set of grappling hooks!

Writer-director Daniel Lee managed to create a film consisting of a successful amalgamation of wuxia-pian elements, with iconic fight action sequences set in tea houses, desert duels, forest brawls with abandoned temples and exotic cities enhanced by CG to play host to a film complete with double crosses, a prized possession that everyone is after, and had time to sneak in unrequited romance. In some ways the film plays out like a Cowboy Western with its one man sheriff and an escort agency up against various bands of outlaws in endless desert filled land, with that theme of hope that they'll make it unscathed against changing odds, save the day and to ride off into the sunset with the damsel.

The story though gave way at the midway mark, where it clearly became nothing more than a stringing together of battles and one on one duels, which thankfully were still exciting to sit through, with none of the fast cut edits or crazy closeups that will make you cringe. With the introduction of Wu Chun as Judge, the leader of a brigade of bandits who has this cool boomerang double blade, and Kate Tsui in a role where she only grunts as loud as Maria Sharapova in a return volley, ample time got dedicated for one to mirror QIng Long's transformation and road to redemption, while the other, well, just serves to grunt a lot, in a get up that looks inspired by Medusa, and armed with a serpent sword-like-whip, and powers of CG stealth.

But underneath the fights, the flimsy storyline and gorgeous costumes, 14 Blades turns out to have an incredibly strong romance instead, with Vicky Zhao (her umpteenth period role straight) starring as Qiao Hua, daughter of the Justice Escort agency founder (played by veteran Wu Ma), enamoured by the manliness of the legendary leader of the Jin Yi Wei, since she grew up on fairy tales and harbouring the hopes that a fabled swordsman would one day save society from its evils. In a way her Qiao Hua exhibits the Stockholm Syndrome, being held captive against her wishes, but slowly being drawn romantically to her captive, even endangering herself (in a scene to provide comic relief) by willingly becoming his aide and pawn.

A kung fu thriller set during the Ming Dynasty and centered on a secret service agent (Donnie Yen) in the emperor's court who is betrayed and then hunted by his colleagues.