Dragon Blade is only semi-sharp!
I was given a chance to see the advance premier of Jackie Chan’s (JC) Dragon Blade, but had to turn it down as I was tied up for the evening. So I went and watched the movie today. I wish I hadn’t.
Jackie Chan isn’t the Jackie Chan I knew anymore. The evergreen, humble martial artist from Hong Kong is definitely showing his age. Although Dragon Blade is a better example of his recent attempts at an East-West crossover (Golden Medallion being another that immediately comes to mind), the movie, touted as China’s most expensive to date, just doesn’t cut it.
JC plays the role of Huo An, who commandeers the protection squad of the western regions of the Han Dynasty. Wrongly accused of treason, he’s banished to a city in the middle of the Gobi desert.
Lucius, a Roman general played by John Cusack, comes to the city with a small army. They fight, and then become fast friends. Meanwhile, Lucius is protecting a young prince from the clutches of an evil Roman general Tiberius (played by Adrian Brody).
How the duo join hands and defeat the evil overlord forms the rest of the story. Though individual skirmishes are well shot, the epic battle scenes doesn’t feel all that epic.
It pains me to say this of an actor I grew up watching, but JC is a bit too old for this. He needs to join hands with Sylvester Stallone for Expendables 4 ASAP.
The film has its moments, but they are far and few in between.
VERDICT: Jackie Chan fans, please give this a miss. Instead, go down memory lane and watch the Armour of God or Police Story 1 to 3. Four out of 10 stars.
The Trailer made me laugh so much CGI, to carry the story along. And what is up with the casting too? I'll give this a miss.