Incredibly unwieldy Chinese WWII film taking place during the Japanese of Shanghai. The movie works best when moments of biting cynicism cuts through, showing how everyone has left these NRA soldiers for dead with only some lofty notion of patriotism to accompany them. However, there are not enough of them to make the film coherent or worthwhile.

Incredibly unwieldy Chinese WWII film taking place during the Japanese of Shanghai. The movie works best when moments of biting cynicism cuts through, showing how everyone has left these NRA soldiers for dead with only some lofty notion of patriotism to accompany them. However, there are not enough of them to make the film coherent or worthwhile.

Some great cinematography, action choreography and a relatively interesting story bogged down by SOOOO much nothing. This could've been like an hour and a half. There's so many side story arcs that go nowhere. Also, far too many concerningly noticable faults and holes in the movie.

Some great cinematography, action choreography and a relatively interesting story bogged down by SOOOO much nothing. This could've been like an hour and a half. There's so many side story arcs that go nowhere. Also, far too many concerningly noticable faults and holes in the movie.

2020 Ranked: boxd.it/4vhTm

Easily one of the biggest surprises of the year. I literally hadn’t heard anything about this film prior to last week when one of our regulars at our theater said this was playing somewhere else and said it was really good. I gave it a shot and left pleasantly surprised. 

This Chinese military propaganda film has some great action that can get somewhat brutal (I mean I went in expecting a PG-13 rated film but y’know) that never really went too far in a propaganda way but still let you know Chinese>Japanese. I do feel like some of the characters could’ve been fleshed out a little more, but the incredible action and choreography and the story of the war itself was enough for me to enjoy this quite a bit.

2020 Ranked: boxd.it/4vhTm

Easily one of the biggest surprises of the year. I literally hadn’t heard anything about this film prior to last week when one of our regulars at our theater said this was playing somewhere else and said it was really good. I gave it a shot and left pleasantly surprised. 

This Chinese military propaganda film has some great action that can get somewhat brutal (I mean I went in expecting a PG-13 rated film but y’know) that never really went too far in a propaganda way but still let you know Chinese>Japanese. I do feel like some of the characters could’ve been fleshed out a little more, but the incredible action and choreography and the story of the war itself was enough for me to enjoy this quite a bit.