This is Jet Li's final action film as I understand it and instead of going into Chinese myth and legend, he delivers an biographical movie based on the story of a man who created an international fighting academy, which has branches in existence too this very day.
So for once, the wire work which is a trademark of Chinese cinema is absent and what's left are some truly stunning fight scenes and a fairly emotional story.
From a troubled beginning, the hero becomes a respected fighter around the world, and is also fiercely proud of his country which is under the influence of the foreign powers. It's more than a tale of someone who was fiercely proud and patriotic, it's a story about a man that wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in and stand up too his opponents in and out of the arena.
To say he upset people is an understatement and indeed the main characters end is indeed tragic.
An exciting film but don't expect another House of Flying Daggers or Hero. A good film indeed, not his best but never the less, worth a look.
If yoou like house of Flying Daggers or Crouching Tiger etc, AVOID this. Dull, dull and dull with a capital DULL. Yawn.
Well acted and directed, beautifully cinematographic. Set design and execution fantastic. The action scenes are outstanding. Just unable to them seriously. For all its magic, it is still a classical mess.