FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE

China, 2011.
Jet Li, Chen Kun.
Directed by Tsui Hark.

A film beyond review! And, for most audiences, a film beyond easy synopsis.

This means that potential audiences must make their decisions on the technical qualities of the film – they are so strong so that the plot does not really matter.

What matters is the spectacular photography of a Chinese landscape that evokes Chinese history, dynasties, power struggles, warriors, despots. It is not meant to be realistic. This is a fantasy story – especially when a golden palace emerges from desert sands at the end. A pregnant servant flees from the overlord and his scheming mistress. The power behind the throne goes in pursuit with a retinue of soldiers. In the meantime, a legendary hero (Jet Li) has attacked the palace eunuch and brought down his rule. Meanwhile, out in the countryside, another warrior comes to the rescue of the servant. Soon there are more warriors, more battles, heroes versus military. Eventually, all arrive at the Dragon Inn – battles galore. And then the golden palace.

At least, that was an attempt to try to say something about the plot. Obviously, it is a lot more than that.

But, the main thing to say is that the colour photography has been done with 3D, and some of the most vivid 3D you ever hope to see is up there all the time on the screen. And, when it comes to the frequent action sequences, the 3D enhances them beyond expectations. A lot of it is excitingly ‘in your face’. For those who feel they may have got over all the flying that was so amazing for the first time in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but here it is again, more spectacular and acrobatic than before. And so on...

If that doesn’t appeal, then forget it.

If you have a fondness for films of Chinese history (and those directed by Tsui Hark), for political intrigue, for action beyond action, then make sure you see it in the 3D version.