Dragon Blade

This is one of the worst films ever made. Not only is it a bore, but it infests its screenplay with shameful Chinese propaganda. Jackie Chan has sunk to a new low in his ass-kissing of the Chinese. Daniel Lee and Jackie Chan (funded by AliBaba, no less) must have made it their aim to show the Chinese people in such a good light compared to their foreign counterparts. It being a Chinese New Year release would also support this notion. In Dragon Blade, the Chinese are presented as wholly good, skilful, and heroic soldiers, whereas the foreigners are portrayed as generally bad and incompetent. This was so apparent to me that it contributed more to making it a crap-fest than its bad script, awful cinematography, and amateur performances. Jackie Chan is the one with all of the heroic and winning ideas. John Cusack is relegated to a tired Roman leader that only knows how to build walls, not fight or do anything ingenious. This Chinese historical "epic" is just the worst in movie-making.

There were gags thrown in to satisfy the personality-free target audience of Chinese people, with fight scenes that are laden with all the don't-dos of action film-making (washy slow-motion etc.), and Jackie Chan playing a Chinese soldier from 2000 years ago that can speak fluent English. Logic and common sense weren't present when idea for the film was conceived. But its the technical side that is most embarrassing. The film has about 3 beginnings and 5 endings. It drags incessantly, and the score is as generic as they come.

Adrien Brody is at least respectable in his role as a Roman emperor in the search for his younger (and blinded) brother. He at least tries to act as his character, whereas Chan is acting as Chan, as he always does, and Cusack is fairly unmemorable too. The rest of the Chinese and expat cast are, as you would expect, cheesy and out of their depth. On top of this shit-fest in movie-making, the film presents itself as a 3D experience, to which it doesn't use the benefits of this medium in the slightest. This cash grab is just another reason to loathe this entire project.

F

It isn't good by any means, Algren puts a lot of good points on the board. But I also didn't feel like it was such a bad experience. I enjoyed watching the story develop enough, and liked both Cusack and Brody in it.

C-