| Saving General Yang (2013) |
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| Director: | Ronnie Yu |
| Writers: | Edmond Wong, Liu Shijia, and Ronny Yu |
| Starring: | Adam Cheng, Ekin Cheng, Vic Zhou, Wu Chunm, and Raymond Lam |
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The Plot: Our film begins with a brief lovestory unfurling between Yang Yansi, the sixth of seven sons within the prestigious Yang family, and the lovely Princess Chai. Yansi wants to pursue his love and earn Princess Chai’s hand in marriage via a local martial arts competition. Unfortunately, this contest is a sham, and the winner has already been predetermined. When Yansi’s younger brother steps in during the contest and accidentally kills the man who was SUPPOSED to take Chai as his wife, the entire Yang family is expected to fall. Their father, a powerful politician, is demoted back to a general at the frontlines of the war. This means the senior Yang must head off to the front in a battle with the invading Kithan army. While General Yang is a genius when it comes to warfare, he is unfortunately marched right into a trap, and the majority of his men are slaughtered. Yang is backed into a mountain where he and his men await further support. Unfortunately, that support will not be coming, and the only people he can depend on are his own seven sons who must suit up and head off for battle. |
| The Review |
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In comparison to many of the modern Chinese epics that are being released today, Saving General Yang keeps things relatively simple. The story put forth is told in simplistic terms that don’t require the film become inundated with minutia. Although we have seven leads in the form of this table of brothers, you can sit through this movie without worrying about remembering each of their names. Like in something similar to Lord of the Rings, each characters has their own distinct element that sets them apart. The brothers all have tiny little character traits that keep them memorable in the eyes of the audience. Whether its a special bond that is shared between two of the brothers, or whether its the gimmickry of the one brother who can shoot his bow and arrow faster than a machine gun. The characters are distinct, interesting, and we aren’t required to remember a multitude of details about their backstory. Only the sixth brother actually stands out in this regard, due to his lovestory that is very prevalent to the plot. While this love story might seem forced, and it absolutely is because it’s a made up fact tacked onto a “real” story, but it comes across as being very human and it manages to work within the context of the movie. All of this and I haven’t even mentioned the villain, who is a definite standout within the movie. A metrosexual looking man here in the first century of the common era, this character looks different from everyone and he hides a dark secret that makes him far more interesting than just about every other character in the movie. Also, he chops off a guy’s head without thinking twice. That makes him a pretty cool villain here on Varied Celluloid.
| The Conclusion |
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