14 Blades - 14 ways of awesomeness

[dangermousie]

We just finished watching 2010 wuxia flick 14 Blades starring Donnie Yen. Never quite seen anything with the same vibe - it's steampunk meet wuxia meet Western meet Arabian Nights.

The story is fairly straightforward - the leader of the Secret Guard, Qianlong (Donnie Yen) has uncovered a sinister plot against the Emperor and must foil it and prevent Civil War, even as he's been branded a traitor and is pursued by enemies. The reason the movie works so well is that, in addition to its arresting visual vibe, the character of Qianlong is so very appealing. He's someone incredibly dedicated but equally weary and tormented, someone who looks like he'd rather be dead than alive except for duty, only he does begin to discover there may be more to life after all.

Loved it to bits.

So, why should you watch it?

Fighting badassery!



Screwed up backstories. Screwed up backstories and tattoos and shippiness and half-nekkid Donnie Yen. I'm just saying.






Wu Zun as a land pirate!



Did I mention the shippy?







He came back to her! I am not even sure how that's physically possible after the last fight, but I don't care!




In conlusion, the N1 lesson I got from this is when the imperial forces come to recruit your kid for that seemingly awesome guard position, just say no. Trust me.

Comments

[jenniquack.livejournal.com]

OHOHOHOHO!!!
I have the DVD for this ^^
It was an enjoyable watch, but not the best
honestly, I only watched it for some badass WU Zun and awesome KAte Tsui...but the other actors were great as well

Wat I loved most about this movie were the fighting scenes...great cinematography ^^
(of course, that's wat's expected from these movies so...)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The fights were awesome. The whole thing was fun. I wish it was a series.

[linfer.livejournal.com]

Second that, I've watched it three or four times now because I love it so much. I checked it out because of Donnie Yen, but the rest f the cast is awesome as well, especially Wu Chun. He was extremely cool in this.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I wish he'd do more of that stuff and less of Absolute Boyfriend. *sigh*

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

Pretty! Wants!

Do you know where I can find it?

I think I recognize the actress that played Mulan in the movie version. I loved her to bits as Mulan and would love to see her in another movie.

[elizabennet69.livejournal.com]

Donnie Yen is a major NO as far as I'm concerned. He is just starring in film because there isn't any other martial actor who would do it (Jackie Chan is too old, Jet Li is at a totally different ball game) and he wouldn't mind big hand of Chinese government petting his head.

And I wouldn't really mind all of the above if he had even a modicum or acting talent and/or on screen charisma.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Awwww, mmv but Donnie Yen really does it to my hormones :P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I'll pm you :)

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

does anyone remember Seven Swords? Another Donnie Yen movie, similar title... I remember enjoying it, but can't remember anything else about it. I googled it before I posted, and discovered that Kim So Yeon starred in it though!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I loooooove Seven Swords. One of my earliest wuxias. That was Kim So Yeon? I wasn'y very familiar with Korean actors when I watched it but I loooooved her character and her doomed love with Donnie Yen. (Also, she was involved in one of the most disturbing movie scenes - where she is being raped by her evil owner but she is not even paying attention because she is so starving and is busy trying to eat).

Also does it mean Donnie Yen's next movie is 28 knives? :P

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

apparently Seven Swords was meant to be the first of six movies, but since it bombed commercially, I don't think the rest will get made...... sigh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

:(

I would have loved 6 movies.

[jennifertyson.livejournal.com]

This is an amazing movie. I love these Chinese actors and actress because the action scene we get to see in movies, are brilliant.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It really was so wonderful. I wish it was a series.

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

Hey! Is that Mulan? Where can I find this? *___*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

PMed you

[stillingfleet.livejournal.com]

LOVED the fight scenes in this! My friend and I were super happy fangirls watching it cos of Donnie Yen and Qi Yuwu (he was the bad guy who betrayed him) - Qi is a Chinese-born Singapore-based actor who was the lead of SG drama The Little Nyonya (IDK if you ever finished it?).

obviously, the plot didn't matter, haha.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

No wonder he looked familiar!

Nope, didn't get around to Little Nyonya yet.