Three Kingdoms: Resurrection
of the Dragon
Director: Daniel Lee
Year: 2006
Rating:
6.0
It is surprising
that the Three Kingdom period in Chinese history has received so much attention
in film, TV and literature. It is in truth only a blip in the long history
of China, lasting from 220 to 280. It began with the collapse of the Han
Dynasty and ended with the victory of the Jin Dynasty. After the end of the
Han, China broke into three kingdoms - Cao Wei, Eastern Wu and Shu Han and
for the next few decades they fought numerous battles in an attempt to reunite
China. That is a theme of course that is very close to the heart of China's
current government. One China. In the end all three of these kingdoms were
defeated and a new power rose up - though it too was not to last that long.
The main character in this film played by Andy Lau is Zilong though often
referred to in history as Zhao Yun. He was a true personage in history but
very little is actually known about him. But with the luck of the cards,
he became a central character in the novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms,
written in the 14th century by Luo Guanzhong. It is huge - 120 chapters and
has hundreds of different characters. It is considered one of the four great
Chinese novels. And that is why this period as short as it was takes up so
much space in the imagination of China folklore and pride.
This is an epic film directed by Daniel
Lee (Black Mask, Dragon Squad, Song of the Assassins) with a giant cast of
extras and large battle scenes. It spans 32-years in the life of Zilong from
being a mere foot soldier to one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. But as
is inherent in most epic films that span long periods and the subject is
a heroic legend, there is no room for intimacy or character development.
Zilong is a heroic character with zero faults. Noble, brave, sacrificing.
And Lau plays him like that without an ounce of weakness, doubt, emotion
or subtlety. Perhaps if I was better versed in the lore, this would have
touched me more - but for me there was no more reason to root for the Shu's
than for the Cao's or the Wu. Since there is so little historical information
of Zilong, I would have to guess that much of this comes from the book. Though
Zilong is only a few chapters of the book. Historically, the Shu Kingdom
fell to the Cao Kingdom in 263. Zilong had died in 228.
The film begins with Zilong signing up to
join the Shu army. The man who signs him is Pingan played by Sammo Hung.
He has a strange role here - the narrator at times, good friends at the beginning
with Zilong and then drops out of the narrative for decades only to reappear
for the final battle, A strategist, Zhuge Liang (Pu Cunxin) shows up as the
Shu army is greatly outnumbered by the Cao army. He comes up with a winning
strategy in which Zilong and Pingan kill the Cao commander. Zhuge too was
a real historical figure who was a major figure in the Shu Empire and was
to die in 234. Zilong rises quickly through his bravery to a general and
then never loses a battle. Pingan is left behind. But it speeds by so quickly.
One-minute Zilong is a regular soldier, next he is an old general going out
for his last battle.
For thirty seconds it seems he will have
a romance with a female puppeteer, but she then vanishes from the film. A
needed jolt of energy comes about two-thirds in when the Cao female commander
takes charge with her long nails and playing the pippa. Played unmercifully
by Maggie Q and everybody loves Maggie Q last I took a poll. There are some
solid fight scenes - choreographed by Sammo - though a little bit in his
Ashes of Time style. Lots of edits and playing with the speed. In the cast
as well are a couple veterans that are always welcome - Damian Lau, Yu Rong-guang,
Andy On and Ti Lung. But this is Andy's film from start to finish.
