Film Review: Donnie Yen Kicks Harry Potter's Ass
Peter Chan’s latest, Wuxia, was picked for an Out of Competition screening at Cannes, and it’s also been picked up by the Weinstein Company for broad release in the US. Buzz was inevitable, but as the martial arts film starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and the sweet but (previously?) scandalous Tang Wei just opened in Beijing yesterday, we thought we’d see if the buzz is worth it.
Originally meant to be a remake of 1969’s “One Armed Swordsman,” the new incarnation takes a slightly different turn, focusing on a delightful psychological battle between Yen’s Liu Jinxi, a papermaker with too-quick fists and a mysterious past, and Takeshi’s Xu Baijiu, a dogged detective determined to never show mercy to killers.
Though the ending (which I won’t reveal, don't worry) was a little disappointing, just a little deus ex machina, the film overall was thoroughly enjoyable. My favorite things: Raindrops on roses, and – oh sorry, wrong list.
My favorite things about this film:
1. The hyper-stylized cinematography. The film’s first action piece features a hapless Liu Jinxi as he bumbles around and causes the seemingly accidental deaths of two dangerous criminals who try to rob the village store. From there, Detective Baijiu replays the scene over and over in his mind, examining the details and working out the clandestine kung fu Yen’s character was pulling off. Loads of fun. Also some really dark autopsy scenes.
2. The animated sequences. Interspliced with those fight scenes are House, M.D.-esque visuals of the physiology behind fatal blows as well as acupuncture. Yes, acupuncture. These vignettes make sticking needles deep into your body seem sexy. And the fact that the acupuncture is practiced by Takeshi’s character … well, that doesn’t hurt.
3. Seeing Donnie Yen actually act. He’s no Russell Crowe as Maximus Meridius by any means, but it’s much better than his usual wooden performances. In this one, he’s like Pinocchio. Still a little wooden, but a real live boy nonetheless.
4. The subtle philosophizing on law, justice and mercy. Detective Baijiu is a fascinating character in his own right, and as the story plays out, we find that it's his own experiences with misjudging criminals in the past that drives his relentlessness. For most of the film, he seems to be the villain, until other revelations occur to redirect our attention. By then, the well-crafted script and essay-like shots bring into focus bigger questions about the two evils in criminal law: condemning the innocent and acquitting the guilty.
5. Seeing Tang Wei back on the big screen, without anything even resembling a sex scene that could get her banished again from the Chinese film world.
Ok, so the movie’s not perfect. Some in the audience would have preferred much more fighting and much more action (and maybe much more sex?). But I appreciated that there was enough invested in the story and characters that when they did fight, I actually cared what became of it.
Also, the ending really was a bit lame. What a shame. Who’s to blame? (OK, I’ll stop.)
Some have said this is going to be the next Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. I’d say it’s much less epic but much more hip and fun. Come to think of it, I don't really see the CTHD connection at all, besides it being a martial arts film that's going to get some attention abroad. But that's kinda like saying your two Chinese friends are so much alike, because they both have cell phones and hang out with lots of Americans. Not helpful.
Anyway, see Wuxia here before it hits theaters in the West, and pretend that its early release yesterday somehow makes up for Harry Potter's delayed one (Aug 4).
(Ok, so as an HP-loving muggle myself, I have to admit that doesn’t really make up for it, but I'm trying to put on a brave face here. Any guesses as to who would actually win if Donnie Yen went up against the boy wizard?)
Photos from twitchfilm.com and bruceleeisdead.co.uk