Released Year: 2011Directed by 陳可辛 Peter Chan
Casted by:
甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 劉金喜 / 唐龙 Xi / Long
湯唯 Tang Wei as 阿玉 Ayu
金城武 Takeshi Kaneshiro as 徐百九 Jiu
王羽 Jimmy Wang as 七十二地煞教主 The Master
惠英紅 Kara Hui as 十三娘 13 Niang / Knife Fighter
Story:
Liu Jinxi and his wife, Ayu are an ordinary couple with two sons, Fang Zheng and Xiaotian, living in the Liu village. One day, two bandits enter the village and attempt to rob a paper shop. Jinxi happens to be in the shop and while trying to save the shopkeeper, kills both of them. During autopsy, constable Xu Baijiu discovers that one of the dead bandits was the Government's top ten most wanted, Yan Dongsheng. The local magistrate was overjoyed and the villagers regarded Jinxi as a hero.
However, Baijiu is suspicious as Dongsheng, a skilled martial fighter, could not be easily killed by Jinxi, a mere paper worker. From evidence in the shop and the events described by Jinxi, in addition to his extensive knowledge on physiology, he is able to deduce that Jinxi is also a highly skilled martial fighter and the actual events during the fight after noting signs of brain hemorrhaging due to injury to the Vagus nerve. From subsequent observation, investigation and tests, and information from his partner, Baijiu discovers that Jinxi is actually the second lord of the 72 Dragons triads, Tang Long. Xu immediately set off to the local province to obtain an arrest warrant for Tang Long.
However, the local magistrate delayed issuing the warrent, citing lack of evidence while actually soliciting for a bribe from Baijiu. Eventually, he is able to obtain the bribe money from his estranged wife, who blames him for the death of her father. After issuing the warrent, the local magistrate informed the Master of the 72 triads, the father of Tang Long, of Tang Long's location for a reward. The Master, offended by the magistrate, kills the local magistrate instead by severing his Vagus nerve.
Throughout the movie, Xu's motives for arresting Tang Long is called into question as it is believed that he has been reformed and poses no harm to anyone. It is revealed that he had once sympathized with a thief as he was a young boy, sending him home instead of reporting him. However, that boy wound up poisoning his parents and nearly killing Baijiu. As a result, Baijiu is forced to suppress the poison via acupuncture. This spawns his objective view that only physiology and the law can be trusted. He had exposed his own father-in-law for selling fake medicine, driving him to suicide. Subsequently, his wife severed all ties with him. Similarly, Tang Long's past is explored, showing how he had fled the 72 Dragons due to the inhumane activities they partook in, particularly the slaughtering of a butcher's family, including his children.
The Master sends his people to Liu Village to kill Tang Long and torch the place. While Baijiu and his constables were on the way to Liu Village, two of the Master's henchmen reach the village and attempt to out and kill Tang Long. They kill a civilian and Jinxi is forced to expose himself, battling with and killing the two assailants. The remaining villagers are forced to hide in a fortress in order to protect themselves from the 72 Dragons, Baijiu and Tang Long staying behind.
Baijiu and Tang Long devise a plan to fake his death in order to get close to the gang, again utilizing Baijiu's extensive knowledge of physiology. It works and Tang Long severs his own left arm, declaring that he severs all ties with the 72 Dragons. The gang declares that Tang Long is dead, but tells him to go home and meet with the Master. Arriving home, he finds the Master had managed to take his family hostage, awaiting his arrival. After a tense encounter, the Master declares that he will let Tang Long go but will take his son Xiaotian with him, enraging him. Tang Long begins attacking the Master with a sword to no avail, the blade unable to penetrate his skin.
Baijiu is able to infiltrate the house through a hatch and during the battle, is able to weaken the Master by piercing his heel with an acupuncture needle from underneath the floor, making his skin less impervious to Tang Long's sword. However, he is soon incapacitated by the Master. Tang Long continues fighting but is quickly overpowered by the Master. As he prepares to kill Tang Long, Baijiu notices the needle still stuck in his heel and takes him by surprise, planting another one in his neck. Unfazed, the Master mortally wounds Baijiu. The top needle acts as a lightning rod and, in combination with the bottom needle acting as an earthing wire, the Master is charred by a lightning strike, killing him for good. Baijiu, in his dying breath, declares the case closed. The last scene of the film shows Tang Long, who's left with one arm, continuing to live an ordinary life with his family.
However, Baijiu is suspicious as Dongsheng, a skilled martial fighter, could not be easily killed by Jinxi, a mere paper worker. From evidence in the shop and the events described by Jinxi, in addition to his extensive knowledge on physiology, he is able to deduce that Jinxi is also a highly skilled martial fighter and the actual events during the fight after noting signs of brain hemorrhaging due to injury to the Vagus nerve. From subsequent observation, investigation and tests, and information from his partner, Baijiu discovers that Jinxi is actually the second lord of the 72 Dragons triads, Tang Long. Xu immediately set off to the local province to obtain an arrest warrant for Tang Long.
However, the local magistrate delayed issuing the warrent, citing lack of evidence while actually soliciting for a bribe from Baijiu. Eventually, he is able to obtain the bribe money from his estranged wife, who blames him for the death of her father. After issuing the warrent, the local magistrate informed the Master of the 72 triads, the father of Tang Long, of Tang Long's location for a reward. The Master, offended by the magistrate, kills the local magistrate instead by severing his Vagus nerve.
Throughout the movie, Xu's motives for arresting Tang Long is called into question as it is believed that he has been reformed and poses no harm to anyone. It is revealed that he had once sympathized with a thief as he was a young boy, sending him home instead of reporting him. However, that boy wound up poisoning his parents and nearly killing Baijiu. As a result, Baijiu is forced to suppress the poison via acupuncture. This spawns his objective view that only physiology and the law can be trusted. He had exposed his own father-in-law for selling fake medicine, driving him to suicide. Subsequently, his wife severed all ties with him. Similarly, Tang Long's past is explored, showing how he had fled the 72 Dragons due to the inhumane activities they partook in, particularly the slaughtering of a butcher's family, including his children.
The Master sends his people to Liu Village to kill Tang Long and torch the place. While Baijiu and his constables were on the way to Liu Village, two of the Master's henchmen reach the village and attempt to out and kill Tang Long. They kill a civilian and Jinxi is forced to expose himself, battling with and killing the two assailants. The remaining villagers are forced to hide in a fortress in order to protect themselves from the 72 Dragons, Baijiu and Tang Long staying behind.
Baijiu and Tang Long devise a plan to fake his death in order to get close to the gang, again utilizing Baijiu's extensive knowledge of physiology. It works and Tang Long severs his own left arm, declaring that he severs all ties with the 72 Dragons. The gang declares that Tang Long is dead, but tells him to go home and meet with the Master. Arriving home, he finds the Master had managed to take his family hostage, awaiting his arrival. After a tense encounter, the Master declares that he will let Tang Long go but will take his son Xiaotian with him, enraging him. Tang Long begins attacking the Master with a sword to no avail, the blade unable to penetrate his skin.
Baijiu is able to infiltrate the house through a hatch and during the battle, is able to weaken the Master by piercing his heel with an acupuncture needle from underneath the floor, making his skin less impervious to Tang Long's sword. However, he is soon incapacitated by the Master. Tang Long continues fighting but is quickly overpowered by the Master. As he prepares to kill Tang Long, Baijiu notices the needle still stuck in his heel and takes him by surprise, planting another one in his neck. Unfazed, the Master mortally wounds Baijiu. The top needle acts as a lightning rod and, in combination with the bottom needle acting as an earthing wire, the Master is charred by a lightning strike, killing him for good. Baijiu, in his dying breath, declares the case closed. The last scene of the film shows Tang Long, who's left with one arm, continuing to live an ordinary life with his family.
L² Scored: 8/10 L² Comment:
Well, its been a long time i didn't watch a good martial arts movie. Donnie Yen + Peter Chan is a blast~ a bit of comedy of here and there fresh up the whole movie, and make it not so boring if only martial arts are presented.
I really adore Jimmy Wang who is a 68 years old & Kara Hui who is 51 years old. Both of them are born from the martial arts family and they really show how good they are although they are old now. The way they fight and expression is really superb, especially when Donnie Yen is the director of martial arts in this movie.
As for Kaneshiro & Tang Wei, both of them really do show they are a good actor/actress though they do not involve in any fighting scene. This is really a movie you should never miss :)
I really adore Jimmy Wang who is a 68 years old & Kara Hui who is 51 years old. Both of them are born from the martial arts family and they really show how good they are although they are old now. The way they fight and expression is really superb, especially when Donnie Yen is the director of martial arts in this movie.
As for Kaneshiro & Tang Wei, both of them really do show they are a good actor/actress though they do not involve in any fighting scene. This is really a movie you should never miss :)
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