Bodyguards and Assassins – DVD Review

The Film:

After receiving more Hong Kong Film Awards than any other film in China’s history, plus co-starring Donnie Yen, who seems to be making a movie a minute, Bodyguards and Assassins has a campy title that for the misinformed will highlight disappoint. Any notions of pure adrenaline fighting are wrong, as the film is a history drama, another Nationalist film that seems like it’s getting played out after such films as Red Cliff, the Ip Man films, and Jackie Chan’s upcoming 1908. The film is ambitious and solid, yet like many Oscar-nominated films often over-hyped, Bodyguards and Assassins is too.

Despite being placed on the DVD cover kicking a couple of dudes asses, Donnie Yen isn’t the star, and features a rare turn that involves something we never see from such a star: death. Sure that’s a spoiler, and I’m a little late to announcing that, but the action fans of Donnie Yen need to know this isn’t Killzone or Ip Man. Instead, it’s a long dramatic film set in 1905, where the Chinese dissidents are planning a rebellion against the Qing Dynasty. Known as the last Dynasty in China, before the Republic came about, you can see where the film slants its goals, yet despite the oodles of characters which they clearly subtitle for us, it’s hard to really rally behind the cause because of the lack of who’s who and what’s what in the film.

At least John Woo spaced out the drama enough for us to get roped into the battle and the characters in Red Cliff (international cut), but within two hours it’s really hard to get emotionally involved, which might be a case of being lost in translation, as again, the film is one of China’s most decorated films. Director Teddy Chen does craft a beautiful looking film, with some kick-ass action in the third act. But for those Donnie Yen fans, he has a brutal fight with MMA Cung Le (Fighting). Bodyguards and Assassins is a decent film, probably over-hyped by the Chinese as a pro-Republic film, but it’s a little emotionally distant for Western audiences. Hero this is not.

The DVD:

Audio/Video: Vivendi Entertainment delivers a solid looking standard def disc. Colors are good, details are fine, and clarity is high, so there should be little complaints. The audio is kicking. Deep bass, solid rear channel music and action, without over-powering the dialogue.

Behind-the-Scenes: This is a five-part making of, which runs 35 minutes and covers the parts of the film that were Hong Kong Film Awards nominated like sets, costumes, action choreography. Good stuff.

Interviews: Running ten minutes, we get the cast talking about their roles.

Trailers and a QR Code for additional features are included.

The Film: Rating:

The DVD: Rating: