Opening with fireworks and a beautifully constructed action sequence The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk quickly shifts to a sandy landscape and a Olympic games style contest that introduces the titular hero of the film, Fong Sai-Yuk. Based on a real life legend of Chinese history Fong Sai-Yuk is played here by Jet Li. Coming off the success of the Once Upon a Time in China films, where he portrayed another legendary folk hero Wong Fei-Hung, this period in Jet Li’s career helped put him on the map both in Asia and in the West.

Fong Sai-Yuk is in this film, the first of two films in which Li plays the character, immature, headstrong and cocky. Still young he is finding his way and not yet the legendary figure that led to his heroic status in history. Jeff Lau, who expertly scripted The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk, takes a lot of liberties with history and weaves new elements into the well known legend to create a dramatic and comedic story. He also injects a romantic subplot into the story which helps increase the stakes in certain action scenes.

After meeting and falling in love with Lui Ting-Ting (Michelle Reis) early in the film Fong Sai-Yuk is determined to win her hand in marriage by winning a martial arts contest held by her father. Into this situation walks Fong Sai-Yuk’s mother Miu Chui-Fa, played by the film-stealing Josephine Siao, who pretends to be a man and wins the contest and accidentally the heart of Ting-Ting. This kind of gender swapping and mistaken identity comedy is common in Hong Kong cinema and can often become a little grating but here it is genuinely funny, helps develop the characters and aids in moving the plot forwards. The film is also not strictly a comedy and does contain some very dramatic and occasionally violent moments and these more amusing scenes help take the edge off what could have become portentous. The chemistry between Jet Li and Josephine Siao, who play the mother-son relationship more like they are siblings, is a joy to watch and Li’s performance as Fong Sai-Yuk is one his best.

Running alongside this action/romance/comedy plot is a more dramatic one involving the hunt for a macguffin, a list of the members of the Red Lotus Flower Society, an underground organisation that is committed to a rebellion against the emperor. Fong Sai-Yuk’s father is involved in this orginisation and is he becomes the target of the evil Governor Kau Man who is seeking to destroy the Red Lotus Flower Society. Vincent Zhao plays Kau Man and with the recent Chinese and Hong Kong release of Yuen Woo-Ping’s True Legend and Zhao incredible performance in it, he should get more of the praise and respect he deserved earlier in his career.

Both the comedic and dramatic action sequences in The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk are expertly directed by Corey Yuen and the wire work throughout is there to enhance the action and complement the choreography rather than overshadow it with excess. The direction of the action is exceptional with great use of low angles and wide shots when necessary. Particularly impressive is the fight on people’s heads and the sequence near the end of the film that takes place in a confined space. The latter especially features a very good use of space and also some stunning expressionistic lighting. The editing during the action is also very effective; fast editing builds the pace in the right places but the action is clear and always fluid.

Jet Li is also an impressive physical performer and the film is in many ways a vehicle to show the world his talents (he also co-produced and helped finance the film). The film never feels like a vehicle for Li though and the writing and Siao’s performance are just too good to let the film fall into the trap that other martial arts films have fallen into in this respect.

This UK DVD release of The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk has been a long time coming and in many respects it does not disappoint. One very significant area though that makes it very hard to recommend is the choice of cut for the DVD. The DVD is a direct port of the American Region 1 Dragon Dynasty DVD and therefore features the ‘International Cut’ and not the original ‘Uncut’ version. The differences are quite significant and do not just come down to violence (although the very memorable face-ripping scene is absent). Gone are a couple of subtle character interactions, minor plot points and the soundtrack is changed slightly in places.

The International Cut not terrible though (like the International Cut of Shaolin Soccer for instance) and the changes are actually quite minor but there are noticeable differences. It is likely that the decision to use the International Cut was based on the availability of the English dub for the film that matches the cut and this is probably essential to helping sales in the US and UK but it is a shame it wasn’t possible to perhaps include both cuts (maybe on a Blu-ray?). As far as I am aware the Uncut version is currently only available without English subtitles (the French DVD for example) or in an unremastered form (there are many R3 releases) so this does appear to represent the best version in terms of transfer quality with English subtitles. Although I have reservations about this disc because of the cut I would still recommend it and if this is the only version available to you then you should not be put off checking it out as the film is stunning.

The transfer is excellent with little damage visible and the colours are vibrant and defined. The disc has the original Cantonese audio in Mono which is surprisingly clear but not exactly impressive in terms of quality. The English dub is also present in Dolby 5.1 and although not as egregious as  many English dubs it should definitely be avoided in favour of the original audio and English subtitles, which are clear and seemingly well translated. The DVD comes with only a few extras but they are filled with valuable information. The interviews with Corey Yuen and Jeff Lau are interesting, informative and contain a smattering of nice anecdotes but it is the Bey Logan commentary that is, as it often is, so invaluable. Full of fascinating information pulled from Logan’s encyclopedic knowledge of Hong Kong cinema, even dedicated fans will find new morsels of information that they have not heard before.

Despite my reservations about the choice of cut for the UK DVD The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk is a wonderful film and a great example of early nineties Hong Kong martial arts cinema well served by good quality DVD.

The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk is released on DVD today.

Set in 1905 Bodyguards and Assassins takes place during an interesting time in Chinese history. The film’s events occur before the revolution of 1911 which was given birth to by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. In this film Dr. Sun Yat-Sen has to escape a series of assassination attempts and the film builds to a sequence where he must race across thirteen blocks surviving the various attacks against him, defended by only a handful of men.

One of these men is Donnie Yen who helps fight off the various assassins in the finale. It is the action moments seen in the finale that help sold the film to me in the trailers I saw. Sadly watching the film is a wholly underwhelming experience following any exposure to the teasers and trailers. Bodyguards and Assassins is no Ip Man when it comes to action and the half-hearted history lessons that the story provides do little to help it either.

The film is made up of two lackluster halves. The first is the history lesson where we are told the set up of the plot and introduced to all the characters and conflicts and the second half resolves this with extended action sequences. The two halves don’t really mix particularly well and the editing leaves one feeling that Teddy Chen made two films and that they were just stitched together afterwards. This would not be such a huge issue if the two halves worked better but unfortunately they both fall a bit flat.

The historical drama of the first half is slow to build and Chen doesn’t manage to infuse the plot with any emotion making the drama somewhat lifeless and undramatic. As the action ramps up in the final sequences there are some fantastic martial arts stunts but these are let down as they do not feel that dramatic as their importance has not been effectively set up. For any audience aware of the history there is also little doubt about the outcome of the assassination attempts and without Chen providing any other plot threads to hang onto there is almost no tension to anything in the film.

If you are a die hard martial arts fan you will find brief moments to enjoy in the action set pieces but aside from these and the impressive sets/CGI, Bodyguards and Assassins is unfortunately a pretty big let-down, especially considering the caliber of cast and crew involved and the plaudits it has received around the world.

The film has actually already received a UK DVD/Blu-Ray release and you can check out the UK trailer for this below.

Back in April we showed you 10 minutes from Ip Man 2, the sequel to the wonderful 2008 martial arts film starring Donnie Yen that told the first stage in a three part story of legendary martial arts teacher, Ip Man.

In yet another example of Asian films taking far too long to reach Western shores, the first Ip Man film is only now (well, July the 27th) seeing a release on DVD and Blu-Ray in the US. You can actually already buy the film on UK Blu-Ray for just £7.99 at Amazon.co.uk and Play.com so there’s no excuse not to check this film out if you haven’t already.

Just in case you need a bit more persuading, you can check out the trailer for the US release of the film embedded below. The trailer is definitely worth watching as it is a well edited and action packed trailer but I warn you it has one of the worst voice-overs I’ve ever heard. So, enjoy but maybe turn the sound off.

Source: Twitch

Coming to the UK on DVD and Blu-Ray on May the 31st, Teddy Chen’s Bodyguards and Assassins stars Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Simon Yam.

The film has been out in other regions for a while and I recently checked it out. Although I enjoyed the film it is a little disjointed and poorly paced. There was some enjoyable action as you can see from the trailer but the film is a little lacking emotionally and the plot is a little underdeveloped. That said the film is worth watching as it is still enjoyable and features some excellent performances.

With the recent releases of Ip Man and True Legend and the forthcoming Ip Man 2, Reign of Assassins and Ong Bak 3, there are some great martial arts films to see at the moment.

If you’re in London you can check out the UK theatrical première of Bodyguards and Assassins as part of the Terracotta Film Festival at the mighty Prince Charles Cinema, where there will also be a Q&A with Teddy Chen.

Check out the synopis and trailer below

1905, City of Victoria (British Colony of Hong Kong). Before Dr. Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that overturns the Qing Dynasty, his life is almost cut short when he arrives at Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front. In the distance of thirteen blocks, the one man Dr. Sun Yat-Sen who holds a nation’s fate must survive relentless attempts on his life with only five bodyguards, a group of ordinary men and women who actually possess extraordinary fighting skills. Against hundreds of assassins, these men must put their courage to the test in order to protect the hope of millions even if it means fighting to the death…

2008 saw the release of Wilson Yip’s Ip Man, the semi-true story of  Ip Man (or Yip Man) who was a master of the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun and who famously taught Bruce Lee.

The first film was incredibly enjoyable and it was wonderful to see Donnie Yen in some awesome action scenes.

Apparently Ip Man was conceived by Wilson Yip to be the first in a trilogy and the second film is released this week in Hong Kong. Donnie Yen returns in the title role and is joined by equally legendary martial arts star Sammo Hung.

You can check out a ten minute preview of the Ip Man sequel embedded below. Unfortunately there are no English subtitles but there is a lot of action to feast your eyes on.

Synopsis: After relocating to Hong Kong, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) chooses to open up a Wing Chun school. However, it isn’t long before his peaceful lifestyle is interupted by the challenges of a local Hung Fist master named Hung Jan-nam (Sammo Hung). Meanwhile, the British who occupy the territory are displeased about the presence of his school and hire a handful of fighters to try and chase him out of the country.

Source:  Twitch.

Ten years ago, the Wachowski brothers, little known at the time, released their second movie as directors, The Matrix. A product of their love of Hong Kong action movies and Manga, it became huge. The mix of stylish action and spiritual introspection struck a chord, particularly with teenage boys searching for an identity. Two inferior sequels followed, but they did’nt diminish the cultural impact the first movie made, and the Wachowskis were set – they could write their own cheques.

 Their follow up movie, Speed Racer, got very mixed reviews. They did, however, unearth a very talented young martial arts actor, Rain. Another young man, by the name of James McTeigue, had worked as a second unit director on all three Matrix movies. Having learnt his trade from the talented brothers, McTeigue made his directorial debut with 2006′s V for Vendetta. The Wachowski, along with their Matrix producer Joel Silver, brought these two talented men together for a project, Ninja Assassin.

 Rain plays Raizo, one of the world’s deadliest assassins. He learnt his trade from the shadowy Ozunu Clan, having been abducted by them as a small boy. Rain, from South Korea, is better known as a singer than an actor. Also a talented dancer and designer, his only movie credit before Speed Racer was 2006 Korean film I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK. A friend of Raizo is executed by his clan, causing him to question his loyalty to them. He decides he can no longer work for them, and disappears. In hiding, he awaits the right time to wreak revenge on his former ‘family’.

 Actress Naomie Harris plays Mika Coretti, a Europol agent. She is following a money trail picked up during an investigation into a chain of political assassinations. Harris is probably best known for the part of Tia Dalma in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and is something of an up and coming star. Coretti’s investigation leads her too close to the Ozunu Clan, and she becomes a mark.

 The clan’s team of killers is led by Takeshi, played by Rick Yune. Yune is an actor and writer. He featured in 2002′s Tomorrow Never Dies, and more recently in 2008′s The Fifth Commandment, which he also wrote, and Alone in the Dark II. Inevitably, Raizo and Coretti join forces after the former assassin saves the agent’s life, and together they hatch a plan to shut down the Clan’s operations for good.

 Australian director James McTeigue is well positioned to helm this action thriller, having learnt the art of stylistic martial arts and gun play from the two brothers, working alongside them during filming of their revolutionary trilogy. In the past he also worked as second assistant director on the Street Fighter movie. Like the Wachowskis, McTeigue too has an interest in manga and anime. His debut V for Vendetta, also produced by the Wachowskis, featured just a little of their favoured martial arts action. Though containing some good ideas, the story unfortunately was a bit of a mess. V had been called ‘unfilmable’ in the past, and that assertion was proven correct. To hear what McTeigue has to say about Ninja Assassin go here.

 The script for Ninja Assassin however should be good, despite the cliched synopsis. Legendary screenwriter J Michael Straczynski re-drafted the script at the producers’ request, as they were not completely happy with it. Stracynski is best known for his ground breaking TV series Babylon 5, highly regarded as one of the best space-set television series of all time by science fiction fans. He worked as show runner on that series. He is also responsible for writing the adaptation of the Max Brooks novel World War Z for Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B, along with a screenplay for a potential Silver Surfer movie.

 Based on the trailer (which you can see here), the fight scenes in Ninja Assassin are awesome. The kung fu is fast, the gun play well choreographed. With the influence of The Matrix looming large, the movie is bound to be stylish, possibly to the detriment of it’s substance. Unlike The Matrix, the scenes on show are very darkly lit. Partly a product of it’s shadowy subject matter, but also presumably indicative of it’s lower budget.

 With 2012 still at the beginning of it’s run, and Twilight: New Moon having just opened yesterday, Ninja Assassin may struggle at the box office. An unknown star and director mean there is little name value attached, other than the Wachowskis as producers. This movie’s audience is going to be young men, teens and early twenties, searching for a remedy to Twilight fever. Nevertheless, with some great, talented people involved, Ninja Assassin could be one of the best kung fu action movies produced in the west.

 Ninja Assassin opens in the US next Friday 27th November. It does not reach the UK until 8th January.

Bazmann - You can now follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/baz_mann