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Thread: The Lost Bladesman (2011) - Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Alex Fong, Sun Li

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    Senior Member xiaolong's Avatar
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    Default The Lost Bladesman (2011) - Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Alex Fong, Sun Li



    In AD 200 during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao eliminates his political opponents Dong Cheng and others, before turning his attention towards rival warlords Liu Bei and Yuan Shao. To avoid fighting a war on two fronts, Cao Cao decides to attack Liu Bei first, and swiftly defeats Liu in Xu Province. Liu Bei flees north to join Yuan Shao, while his family is captured by the enemy. Liu Bei's sworn brother Guan Yu conditionally surrenders to Cao Cao to uphold his oath of brotherhood and preserve his honour.
    Months later, Yuan Shao leads a large army south to attack Cao Cao and both sides clash at the Battle of Boma. In that battle, Guan Yu slays Yuan Shao's general Yan Liang and receives an honorary title of "Marquis of Hanshou" from Cao Cao for his effort. Cao Cao hopes that Guan Yu will continue serving him and showers him with gifts and rewards, but is rejected by the latter. Guan Yu is secretly in love with his sworn brother's concubine Qilan, but is afraid to express his feelings to her. Qilan reproaches Guan Yu for serving Cao Cao. By then, Guan Yu has also received news of Liu Bei's whereabouts, so he prepares to leave Cao Cao.
    Cao Cao is reluctant to let Guan Yu go, so he tricks Guan into consuming wine spiked with aphrodisiac, in hope that Guan will show his love to Qilan. However, Guan Yu manages to remain rational and did not take his sworn brother's concubine for himself. Eventually, Guan Yu escorts Liu Bei's spouses out of Cao Cao's territory to rejoin his sworn brother. Cao Cao is unable to stop Guan Yu and gives orders for the defending generals at the various passes to let Guan Yu through. Despite so, Cao Cao's followers feel that Guan Yu will become a threat to them if he succeeds in escaping, so they plot to have Guan killed. Guan Yu then embarks on a dangerous long journey through the passes to reunite with Liu Bei.

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    Are you planning on seeing this movie, xiaolong? I'm curious to know what you and others think, as I've read some spoilers that were a major turn-off.

    One of the most iconic parts of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and so of course they have to go and come up with a voguish retelling, complete with
    click to show/hide spoilers
    gay innuendo and pseudo-insights on the political front.


    I'm not opposed to radical reinterpretations of ancient legends, but it's upsetting to think that English speakers will probably take this as the definitive version of the story, due to the cachet the directors got from Infernal Affairs. Like coming out of the Beowulf movie convinced that Beowulf had an affair with Grendel's mom in the original poem, or something.
    Last edited by ailinon; 05-05-11 at 09:59 PM.

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    Senior Member charbydis's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ailinon View Post
    Are you planning on seeing this movie, xiaolong? I'm curious to know what you and others think, as I've read some spoilers that were a major turn-off.

    One of the most iconic parts of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and so of course they have to go and come up with a voguish retelling, complete with
    click to show/hide spoilers
    gay innuendo and pseudo-insights on the political front.


    I'm not opposed to radical reinterpretations of ancient legends, but it's upsetting to think that English speakers will probably take this as the definitive version of the story, due to the cachet the directors got from Infernal Affairs. Like coming out of the Beowulf movie convinced that Beowulf had an affair with Grendel's mom in the original poem, or something.
    I saw it last night! Very disappointed with the storytelling! I admire the different view of the event but the story moves along very painfully in chunks and disjointed in between fights. The action is good but I fail to feel any climax despite all the fights. And some fights are so dark that you can't see what is going on.

    Who on earth put in romance for Guan Yu anyway? Should have left it out and just stuck with the male comradeiry theme instead. Donnie Yen looks so awkward in those scenes with Sun Li who is no more than a vase in here. Donnie can act dejected and sad but he is terrible in romance scenes. So far, only Vicki Zhao seems to be the only female lead who has some sparks with him in 14 Blades. He looks so uncomfortable all the time in romance scenes.

    I was actually surprised to see Chin Siu Ho in here as a cameo and I wonder why he was not casted as one of the 6 warriors Guan Yu had to fight? What a waste of talent! I actually couldn't recognise Andy On until later on!

    Jiang Wen steals the show here as Cao Cao. His delivery of lines and facial expressions are so perfect. His Cao Cao is different to the traditional Cao Cao we are introduced to since young and I enjoyed his portrayal. Edison Wang (the kid from Bodyguards and Assassins) is also refreshing as the Emperor who is more layered than what he is depected in ROTK.

    The cinematography is breathtaking beautiful though the colours are dull. The music themes are also nice. Could have been a great movie but it is hugely let down by the crappy story-telling. I would watch it once but probably never again.
    "Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."
    Cyril Connolly

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    Senior Member xiaolong's Avatar
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    Yeah, I know. Frankly, I've been very disappointed by Donnie Yen's recent post-Ip Man 2 movies. Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen had such a charismatic actor like Anthony Wong as crime boss (what better casting can that be) and of course great opportunity for Donnie to flex his kungfu moves as Chen Zhen. But the only thing inspired about that movie was the fight choreography. Rest of the story was so cliche, recycling every theme you have seen in pre-war Shanghai series and movies, but in the most flat one-dimensional way ever. I don't mind stories rehashing themes done before if they are well written, but Chen Zhen was badly written.

    And I'd still rate Chen Zhen as (slightly) better than The Lost Bladesman. OMG - I actually fell asleep (I'm not exaggerating) through the first part of this boring yarn. And yes, Sun Li was just a vase which I can do without as her chemistry with Donnie tanked. It's like the director thought, hey we should have some love story, and inserted her in.

    I'll stick to downloading the music and fast-forwarding to the fight scenes
    Last edited by xiaolong; 05-11-11 at 10:55 AM.

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