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Film: True Legend
Release date: 25th October 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 115 mins
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Starring: Chiu Man-cheuk, Zhou Xun, Michelle Yeoh, Feng Xiaogang, Andy On
Genre: Action/Drama/History/Martial Arts
Studio: Optimum
Format: DVD & Blu-ray
Country: China
Considering some of the classic films Yuen Woo-ping has made over the years, and the sudden and bizarre death of David Carradine following his role in the film, the box office failure of martial arts film True Legend would have come as something of a surprise. Now that the film seems to have signalled something of a resurrection in the career of Vincent Zhao, Woo-ping will be hoping that the film can prove more successful on its DVD release.
True Legend tells the story of Su Can (Zhao), a general of the Qing Dynasty who leads a military group to save their prince from death at the hands of his enemies. To show his gratitude, the prince offers to make Su Can Governor of Hu Bei. Su, however, refuses, saying that he would prefer to live peacefully with his wife and start a family, suggesting instead that his brother in law Yuan Lie (Andy On) be made governor.
Years later, Yuan returns to their home, kills Su Can’s father who has raised him as his own, and kidnaps his sister, Su’s wife Ying (Zhou Xun) and their son, Feng. Su battles with Yuan, but is not strong enough to compete with his new Five Venom Fist technique, and is thrown into a river and left for dead.
When he eventually recovers, he and Ying, who leapt into the river after him, realise that if they ever want to see their son again, Su must train harder than ever and become strong enough to defeat his former friend…
There is a lot to like about the premise of True Legend, featuring as it does many of the ingredients of a classic martial arts film. Yuan’s increased skill upon his homecoming has suggestions of the student out-learning the master; Su Can’s thirst for revenge fits well with the genre’s recent penchant for vengeance films; and the idea of a friend and brother turned bitter enemy seems to never grow old. However, with its Freudian overtones and questions of morality, True Legend seems to bring more ingredients to the recipe than many other similar films. Unfortunately, while these elements are brought up, they are rarely elaborated on, and fade away in favour of a new fight scene, which can prove irritating, at times - just when the story is beginning to become interesting, it veers off in another direction.
The most glaring example of the film’s poor structure is that it reaches its logical and highly effective conclusion while there is still half an hour left, meaning almost a third of it seems as though it has been stuck on to make up screen time. If more time had been taken in looking at the emotional and physical journey undergone by Su Can, in order to reach the climactic battle with Yuan, then the film could have been far more powerful.
Visually, True Legend could best be described as inconsistent. While Woo-ping does make good use of some glorious scenery, the film’s CGI looks cheap and laughably unrealistic. During fight scenes, the editing is jerky and annoying, which is surprising as the rest of the film is fairly polished visually. The fight scenes are difficult to assess, as they do provide some exciting, fast-paced action, yet are not as artistically innovative as the director clearly intends. Woo-ping has clearly been influenced by the gravity defying action of recent successful martial arts films, but while he aims for Crouching Tiger, it comes out looking more Mortal Kombat. This needn’t necessarily have been a bad thing - as the fight sequences are intense and violent - if Woo-ping had kept the action rooted in a more realistic format.
The standard of the fight scenes, and indeed much of the film, is raised considerably by the performances of the two male leads. As Su Can, Vincent Zhao brings emotion, heartache and a real sense of physical prowess to the role. He does an excellent job of displaying the conflicted nature of Su Can’s character, making him believable both as the decorated military leader he begins as, and the pathetic drunk he eventually becomes. Andy On, too, deserves high praise for his portrayal of Yuan Lie, providing a genuinely threatening and disturbing villain, even if he does look a bit like the grim reaper from Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. Indeed, at times, the performances of both men are so good that they seem out of place amongst all the silliness that is going on around them - this surely is an indication that, with a little more careful plotting and less extravagant ideas, True Legend could have been a far better film.
A frustrating film that never quite becomes as ridiculous as it sometimes threatens, but fails to deliver the promise that its strong cast and interesting premise provide. True Legend is an enjoyable enough watch, but fails to join the ranks of the genre’s recent classics. PK
Film: Confucius
Release date: 4th October 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 119 mins
Director: Mei Hu
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Zhou Xun, Chen Jianbin, Yao Lu, Zhang Xingzhe
Genre: Action/Biography/Drama/History/War
Studio: Cine Asia
Format: DVD & Blu-ray
Country: China
The first film about the life of the Chinese philosopher in seventy years is a lavish biopic starring one of the region’s most charismatic actors. We can expect a worthy effort from director Hu Mei, but does Confucius have anything more to offer?
As Kong Qiu - the man who would come to be known the world over as Confucius - nears the end of his time, he remembers the two major eras of his life. Firstly, his time as a minister in the court of the Kingdom of Lu, where he helps an uncertain leader navigate potentially deadly political waters (only for fates and people to conspire against him).
Secondly, moving away from court life, Kong Qiu and those who follow him will put their beliefs and philosophies to the test, travelling across the land to spread their teachings to the people. It is the ultimate trial of their conviction and faith…
For better or worse, the name Confucius conjures up certain words in one’s mind - philosophy, wisdom, humanity… While lacking nothing in the grace and reverence department, this film treatment of the great man’s legend lacks the vital qualities of his enduring lessons - it is light on philosophy, with only muddled wisdom to offer. And while Chow Yun-fat has the superstar quality to convince as a giant of Chinese history, the characters orbiting him are slight and merely functional. Confucius the film is a cold experience when it should be a life-affirming one.
Right from the off, the film tries too hard to ground itself in a recognisably cinematic scenario, presumably aimed at making Confucius the man ‘accessible’ to viewers. Its opening sequence is one of scattered focus, juxtaposing the stately conversation between Confucius (or Kong Qiu, as he is referred to in the film) and the Lu Kingdom’s ruler, with harrowing scenes of mass burial and slaughter. The latter scenes are starkly shot and played, with minimal melodrama, and the effect is genuinely unsettling. But the intended effect of the juxtaposed opening is unclear. Is this a hard-hitting life-as-it-was historical drama, or a more worthy affair about an early, crucial era in China’s development? The viewer never really knows.
On the historical front, the film has a lot of history to cover. The filmmakers throw up helpful subtitles, explaining characters’ names and ranks, as well as relationships with each other - but this is a distractingly modern device that undermines the film’s ‘epicness’. Even characters appearing in fantasy/hallucinatory sequences have subtitled name-tags, and the overall effect is to create the sense of an unconventional history lesson more than anything else.
But, while the film has a vast canvas on which to paint a vivid picture, too often that picture resembles the random sloshing of paint flicked in any direction. An introduction of a new ‘kingdom’ and new characters, with new political agendas, approximately forty minutes into the film is typical of the type of awkward gear-shifts director Hu Mei regularly makes throughout the near two-hour running time. The political and territorial wrangling might over-stretch the foreign audience who cannot fill in the historical gaps in the film’s first half.
And Confucius the film is one of two halves. The second half begins with a fantasy sequence - which opens with a stunning tracking/effects shot that changes the scenery around the protagonist - that sees Kong Qiu discuss his dilemma with Laozi, the sage of Daoism, the film shifts gears again, with Hu Mei taking us out of the stately courts and putting us on tour with Confucius and his disciples (for reasons that are never entirely clear). It may be that the film’s treatment of the great man - as every bit the giant - is designed to prompt the viewer to take his motivations as almost unknowable. And while the respect and reverence is understandable, one is often left wishing the film was the equal to the sum of its parts.
Without being so, the film leaves too many questions, all focussed on what could have prompted this production, beyond merely being the first movie to offer up a mythologized account of Confucius’s life and times? Are we to read contemporary messages in the protagonist’s railing against the tradition of burying slaves with their dead masters? It’s possible, but a viewer can just as easily ignore the messages.
Chow - his Mandaring dialogue dubbed - has the necessary charisma and presence to inhabit the giant of Chinese history that is Confucius, and holds the film together when it seems to over-stretch itself. Confucius’s moral oppositions to brutal court customs is powerful, while the political wrangling between the kingdoms of Lu and Qi borders on the tedious - but Chow sells everything with conviction. It is a testament to his innate cinematic intensity and charisma that, when his character does spout ‘Confucian’ sayings, they somewhat jar, seeming out of step with the man Chow has created elsewhere in the film.
Where the film is an unqualified success is in its visuals - Peter Pau’s cinematography rivals his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; the costuming by Yee Chung-man is peerless. The film also plays host to exemplary effects with - with very convincing 360-degree tracking shots around arrows in flight, and eye-catching pans and zooms across a mountain at approaching armies. Indeed, such is the high level of CGI in the film that one is left rather angry that they could not use the same techniques to render images of cock-fighting and tumbling horses. As the Chinese film industry continues its exciting expansion, it is hoped that such casual animal cruelty will fall away.
An earnest and solidly crafted biopic of an historical figure who has long deserved the big budget treatment. While somewhat forgettable, the film is a pleasing diversion - though one hopes Confucius will get the better film he deserves in the future. JN
Film: Confucius
Release date: 24th September 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 110 mins
Director: Mei Hu
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Zhou Xun, Chen Jianbin, Yao Lu, Zhang Xingzhe
Genre: Action/Biography/Drama/History/War
Studio: Cine Asia
Format: Cinema
Country: China
Confucius is set during China’s renowned ‘Spring and Autumn Period’, and tells the story of the most loved and respected figure in Chinese history. It has caused much controversy in its homeland, before and after its release, and has even led to the threat of a law suit by one of Confucius’ descendents. Hong Kong legend Chow Yun-Fat plays the title role.
It’s 500 B.C., and China has yet to be unified. The country is a mélange of feudal kingdoms and warring states, each competing for domination.
A commoner by the name of Confucius (Chow Yun-Fat) is given recognition for his supreme knowledge and wisdom by being made Minister of Law in the Kingdom of Lu. He soon proves invaluable to the ruler (Chen Jianbin) for his understanding of leadership, and becomes a great influence on the leader’s decision making.
The ruler of Lu’s increased power and growing respect from the people aggravates the aggressive leader of the neighbouring state Qi, who aims to destroy the Kingdom of Lu. In desperation, Confucius is called upon to lead the Lu army to fight against the mighty Qi. Victory is won and peace is restored to the Kingdom of Lu.
But victory has come at a price for Confucius; his skills in leadership and winning battles is seen as a threat among an envious aristocracy who now see him as a rival to the ruler of the Kingdom of Lu. He is forced into exile and, accompanied by some of his students, he wanders throughout the land hoping to share his ideas with local rulers who might appoint him for his political ideas. However, he is rejected by one after another.
Confucius and his students battle the elements and face horrendous conditions of poverty and starvation as their political ideas and moral views are put to the test…
Without a doubt, Confucius is a visually pleasing film, but with giants like director of photography Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and costume designer Yee Chung-Man (Curse Of The Golden Flower) weaving their magic within the film world, audiences have come to expect nothing less from such talent. However, the script, to what could have been a major epic and important film, has been tampered with so much, and with four writers, including Hu, putting their monies worth in, it really is a case of too many cooks. The end result has the appeal of nothing more than a made-for-television film. This is hardly surprising when one realises that the aforementioned medium is where Hu Mei has excelled as a director. Perhaps it’s a case of Mei having bitten off more than she could chew. It’s quite preposterous to think that a film depicting the greatness of an influential giant like Confucius could be condensed into just 110 minutes. Its failings are many, including its aim to please so many people yet evidently pleasing no-one.
But in all fairness, Mei should receive our sympathy to some extent, as she was stuck between a rock and a hard place when having to make difficult decisions, such as removing controversial scenes between Confucius and Nanzi, which ultimately led to Xun having less than ten minutes of screen time - a great shame considering her portrayal as Nanzi is one of the most memorable things about the film. Perhaps Mei’s lack of experience as a cinematic director was the reason she decided not to go with her gut instinct.
Chow Yun-Fat’s depiction of Confucius also deserves a worthy mention; he plays the charismatic teacher with much honesty and integrity, although, his good looks are a far cry from the reality that Confucius was, apparently, rather ugly with a crown-shaped head, and at 6-foot tall, his stature in ancient China would have been deemed quite odd.
The film would have fared much better had it tried to reveal a little about Confucius’ upbringing and how his mother was to be the biggest influence on his life. The fact that Confucius had faced hardship throughout his early life and yet still excelled as a scholar is a true testament to his character - unfortunately, this wasn’t touched upon in the film.
History shows that Confucius failed in his pursuit of a political career but he exceeded triumphantly as a teacher and educator. His teachings are held in high esteem and are still being taught today, which has led to a legacy that is worldwide. Unfortunately, the film struggles to infuse any interest for those who know little about this great man and his teachings, and fails to make them want to learn more about him. And for those who are already familiar with his life and work, they will gain nothing new. SLP
True Legend is the extraordinary journey of a man, a martial arts hero, whose greatest dream is to create a unique school of martial arts.
All his life, Su Can has been pursuing the summit of martial arts. There are two things he holds dearest to his heart: the dream of creating a unique kind of martial art that will pass on to generations; and his beloved wife. Su has a happy family and his wife is the joy of his life. But owing to a twist of fate and his own stubbornness, Su’s perfect life begins to fall desperately apart.
On the surface, Su now appears as a crazy beggar getting drunk every day. He wanders from town to town, becoming a man without any purpose in the eyes of others. But all through his spiritual exile, his dream for the highest peak in martial arts is still alive. The harsh conditions of life have not dampened his determination to perfect his skills. He conjures up scenes where he combats the legendary God of Wushu, with whom he refines his skills and achieves a peace of mind.
Meanwhile, the Heilongjiang Province, where Su resides, falls under foreigners’ rule. One day a crisis happens that threatens the life of his young son – the only person Su still cares about, and his last remnant of human hope. At the critical moment, the flame of life is re-ignited in Su. He lets out the utmost strength that has lay dormant in him during his devastated time, and it becomes the strongest school of fists that the martial arts world has ever known.
Film: True Legend
Release date: 24th September 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 115 mins
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Starring: Chiu Man-cheuk, Zhou Xun, Michelle Yeoh, Feng Xiaogang, Andy On
Genre: Action/Drama/History/Martial Arts
Studio: Optimum
Format: Cinema
Country: China
