Review Bodyguards And Assassins

Bodyguards and assassins centers around a period in china's revolution in history when the Tang Dynasty collapsed and China was in a movement to tear down feodalism. Sun yat sen was one politician figure involved much in such movement. The movie was about protecting him by creating a diversion in order to protect his secret meeting in British occupied Hongkong in 1905. Then the movie gives us some fictional tale of ordinary people who live in the era surrounding that historical event.

It's been a while since i watch a mandarin film (The last one is in 2004, Kung Fu Hustle). When i saw that this film was playing in the cinema, with no further hesitation, i went to check it out. Turn out to be a very funny movie as i laugh several time on some scenes. That said, the movie is suppossed to be serious because of the nature of its subtle dark tone that involves history of revolution in china. It is indeed a serious action drama. So what to laugh about?

Ok. Here is the list of scenes i thought hillarious:

1. when Donnie yuen's character recklessly went on one-to-one collision with an ample horse.
2. when the tallest man character was able to resurrect himself despite of having been stabbed with knives several times from many directions in his body.
3. The appearance of actor Leon Lai as the beggar. I thought this was so extremely funny, because when i was little with friends and brothers, i persistently said things about Leon that he might just be the poorest (financially)actor in Hong kong due to his underappreciated style and appearance. So this scene is sentimental for me .
4. The main villain's character exposing his dreadful vengeful yet tickling face when he is about to summon his throwback to his enemy.
5. and many more

There were several things which i though to be ridiculous in our world nowadays but might be so common back then. One of them is when the businessman "buy" his collie a woman to marry. All and all, i think the movie is ridiculous despite of its serious intention to chronicle back an important historical event. It did make me laugh, however i was not supposed to, because this is indeed a serious drama. So , it's a mild thumbs down from me for the movie.

"Bodyguards And Assassins", a Media Asia releasing is unrated by MPAA, but containing gory action violence. Running time: 105 minutes. Two and a half stars out of Four (C+).

-Mulyadi Tjoa, MIS Officer @ P.T. Freeport Indonesia-