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DVD Review: Bodyguards and Assassins
Rating: Unrated
Starring: Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi
Written By: Various
Directed By: Teddy Chan
Distributor: Vivendi Entertainment
Original Year of Release: 2009
Extras: See Below
Series:

Bodyguards and Assassins DVD Review

An elegant and thoughtful Martial Arts Drama

By Tim Janson July 26, 2011

Calling Bodyguards and Assassins just a martial arts film is like calling the Super Bowl just a football game. The film received the most nominations in the history of the Hong Kong Film Awards, winning for Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Action Choreography, and Best Original Film Score.

Bodyguards and Assassins has a depth of characterization and complexity of plot that is unparalleled. Set in 1905 Hong Kong it centers on Chinese dissidents planning a rebellion against the oppressive Qing Dynasty, China’s last dynasty before it became the Republic of China. Sun Wen, a Chines doctor and leader of the revolution, comes out of exile to travel to Hong Kong to meet with other rebellion leaders. The Qing Dynasty sends an army of assassins led by General Yan Xiaoguo to try and kill Sun. In Hong Kong, Chen Shaobai publishes a newspaper that is aiding in the rebellion. He enlists the aid of wealthy businessman Li Yutang to try and protect Sun Wen during his trip.

Li uses his considerable resources to recruit several diverse characters to be Sun’s bodyguards. These include a gentle giant (played by former NBA basketball player Mengke Bateer) who was a former Shaolin monk; Deng Sidi, a faithful servant to Li’s family; Master Liu, a skilled martial artist who’s tragic life has led him to living as a beggar; Fang Hong the daughter of an exiled Chinese general who is killed by the assassins; and Shen Chongyang, a gambling addicted Hong Kong police officer who is trying to make amends with the woman he loves and the daughter he never knew he had. Shen Chongyang is played by the great Donnie Yen, Hon Kong’s #1 action star who lit up the screen in the brilliant Ip Man.

For a film featuring such a large cast, Director Teddy Chan does a spectacular job of giving each of the supporting characters ample time to tell their stories. We also meet Li’s 17-yeard old son who is desperate to join the cause. While his father orders him to stay at home until the battle is over, he instead will play perhaps the most key role of all, as the stand-in for Sun Wen and bait of the assassins.

This isn’t a fight-a-minute film. The build-up is slow and many layered. The first hour of the film is spent meeting the characters and setting up the main plot. But it escapes being slow as we are drawn into this desperate plot. These rebellious figures are not unlike our own founding fathers. They are using whatever means at their disposal to gain their freedom. Even the film’s main villain, General Yan Xiaoguo escapes being a stereotype role. He doesn’t necessarily like having to kill Sun Wen or those that fight to protect him. But as he sees it, he is being loyal to his emperor and fulfilling his duty. However, once the action gets going it barely lets up, highlighted by the fight between Donnie Yen’s character and an assassin played by former MMA fighter Cung Lee. This fight features no CGI, no wire stunts, no sped up action…it is just two guys beating the hell out of each other and one of the most brutal martial arts fights you’re ever likely to see on film.

Bodyguards and Assassins features a dynamic and moving score by Chan Kwong Wing and Peter Kam that hits both triumphant notes and tearful dirges when a main character is killed. Add that to dazzling period-accurate costumes and set design and it all adds up to one fantastic film.

DVD Extras

Five part Making of Documentary (33:26) The making of documentary is told in five parts covering characters, set, design, make-up, and action. By far the longest piece at 20 plus minutes is on the films characters and Director Teddy Chan takes us through each part.

Interviews (10:24) Short interviews with each of the films main characters as they discuss their roles.

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