Review for The Lost Bladesman

Introduction

Is it just I, or is Donnie Yen becoming ubiquitous when it comes to period action movies from Chinese cinema? In recent months there have been the Ip Man movies, 14 Blades, and now we have the Lost Bladesman, films that bring historical and mythical characters to life in well-budgeted movies with high production values. For an actor whose understated style didn't initially impress me, it's a good thing then that he's really stepping up to the mark in these films. Either that or he's grown on me with repeated exposure. All of this is useful, as Donnie Yen is the one genuine, action movie superstar in Chinese and Hong Kong cinema who is in his prime, at the peak of his powers, and who is still prolific in making domestic movies of the sort that we in the West love to import.


The Lost Bladesman is another film based on The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the epic historical novel that has inspired so many media down the years, and about which I know criminally little. It's a story that was written in the 14th century, itself based on real events that occurred in China around the 2nd century AD, when the Han dynasty weakened, and the country fractured into the three kingdoms, battling each other for power. History inspired literature, and just as we in the West tend to see figures like Julius Caesar through the eyes of William Shakespeare, so it is that cinematic recounting of this period of Chinese history is invariably tinged with the 14th century historical novel. The Lost Bladesman is somewhat unique in that it gives its characters realistic, human faces, as opposed to the novel's stereotypes that have almost rewritten history.


The general Guan Yunchang is the sworn brother of warlord Liu Bei. A skilled warrior and feared force on the battlefield, he is remarkable because he is a 'wolf with the soul of a lamb' as rival warlord Cao Cao remarks. It's how Cao Cao convinces Guan to fight for him after he is taken prisoner. To bring a swift end to a battle, and reduce the bloodshed, Guan acquiesces, but seeing Guan's skill as a warrior, Cao Cao becomes determined to have Guan join him permanently, and he tries all means to convince him to switch sides, including rewarding him with a title and lands. This gives Guan the freedom to escort Liu Bei's concubine Qilan, currently held hostage by Cao Cao, back to Liu Bei, but there are those among Cao Cao's advisers who believe that allowing a tiger like Guan Yunchang to roam free invites disaster.

Picture

The Lost Bladesman gets a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer that is really quite pleasant. It's clear, sharp, with consistent colours throughout, and a native Film to PAL transfer too. It's a film with glorious production design, great location filming, rich in period detail, and with high-end production values. The action direction from Donnie Yen looks amazing on screen, and the DVD brings across all the aesthetic high points of the film to the best of the technology's ability. The only real issue I had was with some macro-blocking in areas of darkness or in the blacks. It happened rarely enough not to be a bother, but you should be aware that there is a Blu-ray of The Lost Bladesman released on the same day as this DVD, and that should be the obvious choice if you are set up for high definition.

Sound

You have the choice between Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and DD 2.0 Stereo Mandarin soundtracks. The major annoyance here is that the subtitles are burnt in, not player generated, and on a couple of occasions the text was lost against brighter background colours. Speaking of the subtitles, there were one or two typos, imminent spelt as immanent, while on screen text lacks translation.


The sound itself is thunderous. As an action film, The Lost Bladesman gets a really good surround treatment, great placement of effects, and a really immersive sound design. You can close your eyes and just listen to the action sequences, and you will have a grin on your face, although you would be missing all the good bits.

Extras

On inserting the disc, you'll get trailers off the bat for 14 Blades, and Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.

The disc offers animated menus, and there is the trailer for the film.

The sole, substantial offering is the Making Of, which comes to 16 minutes. It's actually a compilation of four smaller featurettes, which offer behind the scenes clips, and interviews with the cast and crew. This is soundbite promo stuff, there's not a lot of consequence here, a little bit of repetition across the featurettes, but there are some interesting informational nuggets, if you're willing to pan for them.

Conclusion

If you like your historical epic action romances, then The Lost Bladesman is just what the acupuncturist ordered. It's a solid piece of entertainment, just under two hours of action and excitement, an engaging story, skilfully told. It's about testing one man's honour and loyalty, Guan Yunchang, whose sworn oath to Liu Bei holds him above any other consideration. It's because he's an honourable man, that he knows right from wrong, that he helps Cao Cao's forces in battle, even though they are technically enemies. And that sets into motion all the difficulties that pursue him through this story.


Cao Cao sees his strength, and his loyalty, and decides that he wants Guan on his side. When it becomes clear that Cao Cao's forces are made up of defectors and turncoats, those who were disaffected with their previous lot, you can see how there would be a place for a former enemy like Guan, but the very nature of Cao's alliance, however benevolent it appears, repels Guan, makes him ever more determined to return to Liu Bei. Cao Cao isn't above using underhand method to convince Guan, including his captive Qilan, Liu Bei's concubine. Drugging Guan, and paralysing Qilan, and putting them in the same bedroom together doesn't have the desired effect, but Guan does have a past with Qilan, they grew up in the same village, and it isn't long before she becomes yet another temptation.


But Guan does earn enough goodwill, and more importantly Cao Cao's promise of safe passage to allow him to leave with Qilan and return to Liu Bei. But it's here that the nature of Cao Cao's alliance returns to haunt him, as while he hopes that his goodwill will eventually convince Guan that his benevolence is preferable to Liu Bei's warlike nature, his advisers think otherwise. They believe that letting someone like Guan Yunchang loose invites disaster, and they issue a few orders of their own. This is why Guan and Qilan face enmity wherever they go, and why this film is replete with outstanding action sequences, showcasing Donnie Yen's talents as action director and action movie star at their best. The spear fight in a narrow alleyway at the start of their journey is one of the most exciting bits of action cinema I have seen in a long time.


Yet in this action packed, exciting, and entertaining Donnie Yen film, it's Wen Jiang as Cao Cao who steals the film. His portrayal of the duplicitous, conniving, charming, and charismatic warlord owns the screen. It's a rich, engaging, and nuanced characterisation, utterly captivating, as he tries to charm Guan into shifting sides, shows implacable steel to his enemies, munificence to his subjects, elevated statesmanship, as well as his ability to be a man of the people. He is the ultimate politician, and it is the best performance in the film. It's all the more amazing when you see in the featurette that Cao Cao has traditionally been cast as an out and out villain, a supernatural demon even. He even gets the last line of the film, and it is a zinger.


The Lost Bladesman is a very well put together period action film, fast paced and exciting, with top-notch action choreography, walking the perfect line between comic book excess and realism. But the action isn't even the best thing about the film. The DVD would be ideal if it weren't for those pesky burnt in subtitles. Hopefully the Blu-ray doesn't suffer from those.