Guess what? 14 Blades, Hong Kong's latest wuxia actioner, starring Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Kate Tsui, and Wu Chun, is surprisingly and impressively stylish. Not unexpected though.
Let's read the synopsis from 14blades.com:
"Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades. Above the law and with a license to kill, they devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone.
When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch Jia, the best of the Jinyiwei, Qinglong is assigned to steal a list identifying those still loyal to the Emperor. Unbeknownst to Qinglong, the Jinyiwei have fallen under the control of Jia, and during the mission, he's betrayed and barely escapes with his life.
Now, as the most wanted man in the land, Qinglong must seek out and rally the loyalists to rise against Jia and restore the Emperor to power. In his way are the deadliest assassins in the land, his former brethren, the Jinyiwei."
Why 14 Blades? In a nutshell, Qinglong (Donnie Yen), the superior Jinyiwei carries an oblong wooden box that contains eight blades for torturing, five blades for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide when a mission failed. Altogether, there are 14 blades.
Now, let's have a look at the main cast:
Donnie Yen, an international martial artist is well-known for his roles in Painted Skin, Ip Man, and Bodyguards & Assassins. In 14 Blades, he plays the lead character Qinglong, the best of the Jinyiwei.
Zhao Wei (Vicki), one of China's brightest stars at present is best represented by her roles in Red Cliff, Painted Skin, and Mulan. In 14 Blades, she plays Qiao Hua, the daughter of a safe house proprietor who finally fell in love with Qinglong.
An article in The China Post has this to say: "Donnie Yen is a talented actor, and his persona in this flick is both intriguing and admirable, despite being the bad guy. His relationship with the perhaps not so attractive damsel-turned-heroine, Wei Zhao as Qiao Hua, is a memorable one, and the character he plays suits the role perfectly."
Wu Chun, Taiwan's pop sensation plays Judge, a charimastic leader of a desert outlaw gang.
Kate Tsui, 2004 Miss Hong Kong and currently a rising talent plays Tuo Tuo, a beautiful yet deadly enemy who kills anyone who comes across her determination to realize her adoptive father's dream of dethroning the Emperor.
The China Post (same article as provided in the link above) has this to say: "Perhaps his (Qinglong) most interesting foe is Tuo Tuo played by Kate Tsui, whose surreal fighting style is more magical and surprising than any other. Instead of being death defying, brutal and destructive like most assassins, she floats, and dances and twirls."
Still wondering whether you should watch this movie on the big screen? Check out its trailer.
I'd say, watch it. :)
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