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RATING:   
SINGAPORE : Everyone knows that the ingredients in making the perfect wuxia movie for today's insatiable audiences is made up of three things: Impeccable fight scenes; a multi-faceted story that blends fantastical fiction with historical fact; and Donnie Yen.
Who else can better perform superhuman feats, get seriously injured and yet still fight till the end in a jiang hu (martial arts) world than the broody hot-bod stuntman-turned-actor? Cleverly, director Daniel Lee ("Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon") enlists the help of Yen (fresh from his success with "Ip Man" and "Bodyguards And Assassins") with "14 Blades".
Set in Ming Dynasty China, it tells the story of the jingyi wei (literally meaning brocade-clad guard), the elite Imperial guards/assassins.
Recruited from the street and trained in clandestine combat, these guards devote their entire lives to the service of the Emperor.
Of course, there has to be an evil eunuch plotting to seize power. So, it's up to Imperial Guards Qing Long (Yen) and Xuanwu (Qi Yu Wu) to steal a list identifying people still loyal to the throne. But Qing Long is betrayed by Xuanwu and becomes a wanted man forced to fight his former comrades to protect the empire and restore the Emperor to power.
While this isn't Asia's answer to "The Bourne Identity", this actioner is a valiant effort. There is enough hard action, longing romance, silly humour and the obligatory life values and morality spiels to engage everyone across the board.
Yet, one would have hoped to see more of the titular weapon and its full use in action, seeing as we're told in detail at the start how special this tool is (eight blades for torture, five for killing and the last one reserved for suicide upon failure of a mission). But the disappointment of not seeing this fabled weapon and all its intricacies is more than made up for with the relentless and well-choreographed fight sequences in deserts, forests, temples and tea-houses.
Yen manages to make his fights look like a spirited walk in the park as he oozes masculinity and charisma. But his acting still leaves much to be desired, so Vicky Zhao (in yet another period role) amps up the emotion with more than just a "flower vase" thespian turn as feisty love interest Qiao Hua.
Pretty boy Wu Zun surprisingly shines as the leader of the bandits, holding his own with slick moves and a beguiling presence. The same however, cannot be said for Yu Wu. Although he tries courageously hard to play the villain, he fades into the background against his heavyweight counterparts.
It may not be the ultimate wuxia picture, with its occasional cheesy sentimental lapse and gaping plot holes, but "14 Blades" has enough sharp elements to keep fans and non-fans intrigued.
- TODAY/il
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