Wu Xia (2011)
THE SCOOP
Director: Peter Chan
Cast: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tang Wei, Wang Yu
Plot: A sinful martial arts expert wants to start a new tranquil life, only to be hunted by a determined detective and his former master.
Plot: A sinful martial arts expert wants to start a new tranquil life, only to be hunted by a determined detective and his former master.
Genre: Action / Drama
Awards: -
Runtime: 115min
Rating: NC16 for violence.
IN RETROSPECT (Spoilers: NO)
IN RETROSPECT (Spoilers: NO)
Wu
Xia, also known as Dragon in
certain regions, premiered at Cannes recently but was not an official
selection. It is directed by Peter Chan,
who has made films such as Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996)
and The Warlords (2007), and stars a strong cast including
Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tang Wei.
Thankfully,
it is not “one of those films” from that worn-out Asian martial arts genre that
gained worldwide popularity eleven years ago with Lee Ang’s Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000),
but has fallen short of the high standards as seen from some of the mediocre
output in recent years.
The
story follows Liu Jin Xi (Yen), a down-to-earth villager who has two young sons
and a beautiful wife, Ayu (Tang). After
an attempted robbery by two vicious bandits ended in their deaths at the hands
of Liu, a smart but nosy detective Xu Bai Jiu (Kaneshiro), who comes to
investigate, suspects that Liu may not be what he seems to be. Evidence points that he could be one of the
most feared and cruel killers who had escaped justice ten years ago. As the plot thickens, a new subplot emerges
that would pave the way for a tense, exciting climax.
Director
Chan’s take on this uniquely Chinese brand of cinema is fresh and intriguing. First, the strong focus on storytelling and
development of the characters is obvious. Second, there are considerably fewer action set-pieces
in this film than any other contemporary martial arts flick in recent years. Third, the incorporation of ideas from CSI
episodes and traditional Chinese acupuncture give the filmmakers an interesting
approach to tackle a story that explores the tension between justice and
humanity.
Except
for a kinetic action set piece early on, the first hour moves quite slowly as
the mystery unfolds and unlocks itself.
The whole film may be
dissatisfying to those who crave non-stop action, but those demanding substance
to go with the cinematic experience will be well-rewarded. The art direction and cinematography are
excellent, with much attention paid to its period detail. It seems all-natural and not staged like a
built set.
Perhaps
the film’s major flaw lies in its uneven narrative structure. While separated cleanly into acts, it is not
until quite late in the film then do we see the main antagonist, who is played
by a fearsome-looking Wang Yu. Wang’s arrival, while keenly
awaited, seems short-lived. As a result, Wu
Xia feels unbalanced with too much exposition in the first half, and a
second half that appears unfulfilled.
But this
structural flaw could be forgiven because ultimately Chan’s film remains
engrossing, and this is mostly due to its revitalized treatment of a tired
genre and a cast that show good acting chops. Yes, even Donnie Yen himself can act.
GRADE: B+
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