Bodyguards and Assassins
Director: Teddy Chen
Year:
2009
Rating: 8.0
I have my doubts
if this remarkable film could be made today. A lot has happened to Hong Kong
since 2009 and none of it good. The film centers around protecting Sun Yat-sen
on a visit to Hong Kong in 1906. The authoritarian Qing Dynasty has sent
assassins to stop Sun from organizing a revolution. For democracy. To overthrow
the corrupt and oppressive government in Beijing. Sun is considered the Father
of Modern China and is equally revered in both Taiwan and the Mainland for
his role in ending the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912). Beginning in 1895 he organized
uprising after uprising against the government until it finally succeeded.
He was the first President of the Republic of China. And then after he resigned
chaos followed. He attempted to bring the Communists into the government
- which may be why he is so respected - but that fell apart, the Kuomintang
under Chiang Kai-shek was corrupt and incompetent, warlords ruled parts of
China and then the Japanese invaded. Sun missed all that as he died in 1925.
This was partly funded by Mainland film production companies but directed
and written by Hong Kongers. Did the Mainland not see the obvious comparison
to China and Hong Kong today? Hong Kong fighting for democracy and the Mainland
trying to stomp it out. Perhaps back in 2009 it was not so clear.
This is a big film and though as far as
I have been able to find out on the Internet, this incident has no truth
to it - but throwing the viewer into this historical period of revolutionary
foment is an exciting choice. It is serious, it is heroic and at times inspiring.
All the accoutrements are in place - period sets, street scenes, hundreds
of extras and costumes - and are well done. A big fat epic film that knows
it. It is 140-minutes long and for more than half of that it is basically
a set-up for the second half. Be patient. It is worth it. When it finally
comes, when Sun Yat-sen arrives it is like a blowtorch. That first section
introduces us to an ensemble of characters (and some big-time actors) as
it pokes into their lives. The film is in no rush to get to the action. And
I think we are better served by that.
It begins with the assassination of Yang
Qu-yin in 1901, the chairman of the Revive China Society, in Hong Kong by
a Qing killer. This is in fact true. In one of the quickest cameo's ever,
he is played by Jacky Cheung. Cheung got a lot of blowback a few years ago
from the Internet Mainland trolls for saying this in Cantonese "Hong Kong
has experienced a lot of ups and downs in the past 25 years. But because
I was born and grew up here, I still believe in this city and hope that it
will become a better one than before. Add oil, Hong Kong.". Then the film
jumps to 1906 and Sun Yat-sen is due to arrive in Hong Kong in five days
to meet revolutionaries from all over the country to plan uprisings. His
arrival is no secret and the Qing's have sent hordes of assassins under General
Yan (Hu Jun). Professor Chen (Tony Leung Ka-fai - ironically a pro-Beijing
toady) is a strong proponent for democracy and has to organize Sun's protection.
Hong Kong is under the rule of the British and they take on a stance of neutrality
and order their police chief (Eric Tsang with a silly twirling moustache)
to not interfere.
Chen and his financier Li (Wang Xueqi) find
a few good men to help. None of them professionals. The gigantic stinky tofu
seller who tells them he studied kung fu but has never used it (played by
NBA basketball player Mengke Bateer), the rickshaw driver in love with the
daughter of a photographer (Nicholas Tse), the beggar who was a Prince till
he fell in love with his father's wife (Leon Lai - almost unrecognizable
for much of the film), General Fang and his daughter (Simon Yam and Li Yuchun,
the pop singer) and last but not least Donnie Yen as a man who begins on
the side of the Qing's for money but switches for love.
Then Sun arrives and they have to get him
from the port to the meeting place and back and it turns into a slaughterhouse
of death as the assassins are everywhere - on the rooftops with cross-bows,
in the streets with deadly blades, one with an assassin rifle - and one by
one the bodyguards stand up to their moment to shine. It is about an hour
of frayed nerves. Three big fights - the stinky tofu seller against a wolfpack
with blades, Donny in a fabulous chase and one-on-one with an assassin and
Leon with his iron fan holding back an army of them. Fan Bingbing and Michelle
Reis (in a very quick cameo) are in this, but this is all sweaty masculinity
and sacrifice. It is directed by Teddy Chen (Kung Fu Jungle) with the action
choreography from Stephen Tung-wai, Donnie Yen and Lee Tat-chiu.
