It has been a while sing I can honestly say that Jackie Chan has made a good film, but he has done so here, and with a much different role. Sure he does some acrobatics and rock throwing, but no real fights here. And this isn’t a happy film either, but how can a serious take on the warring states period in China be? This film is gorgeously shot, well acted and well done.It actually comes down to being a buddy store, and a story about loyalty. An enjoyable film that is well worth checking out.

This takes place during the Warring States period in Chinese history. The kingdom’s of Wei and Liang have a huge battle with 2000 Liang troops and 1000 Wei troops and wipe each other out. One Liang soldier does survive (Jackie Chan Sing Lung). He survived because he has rigged up a gag in his armor, which pops up an arrow on both sides and makes it look like he has already been shot. He is busy looting and getting a wagon ready when a Liang general turns out to be alive, and ends up fighting a surviving Wei General (Wang Lee Hom). The Wei general survives, but it wounded, much to the soldiers happiness. He uses his own mix of herbs to treat his wounds and ties him up to take him to Liang, as a captured General means enough land to farm on, and exemption from military service. Of course the General is being followed by more Wei who also want him dead, the Prince (Steve Yoo Sung Jun) and his general (Gai Chun Wa who I loved in the Seven Swords soap opera) are hunting him for reasons unknown.

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…

The soldier is tricked by a singer (Lin Peng) who steals their horse and drugs them.

A gang of homeless steal the cart, but leave him the general.

The prince and his general follow, slaughtering all those that get in there way, and eventually the general agrees to go with the soldier, if only to die a worthy death, though the two still end up fighting along the way.

The soldier tells his story of how he had 2 brothers and his dad and his whole village were destroyed in the war, and his 2 brothers, and he is all that is left and wants to carry on the family name for his father, who gave him a map of the land. He proves to be a good man, when he finds the girl with his horse he gives her the horse and his map so she can find her way.

He and his general are taken captive by some Barbarians. When the prince and his men come on, the General is able to make trouble and the two sides battle allowing the general and soldier to try and escape.

There is a final battle, where the prince is proved to be the generals brother and the princes general was backing his own horse to be king, but the two end making friends, and finally the prince kills himself instead of letting his brother be killed by the barbarians for killing the clan chief’s woman.

The little soldier takes his big soldier in a boat to head to Liang, but at the shores lets him go, getting him to promise not to invade Liang for 10 years. The little soldier unfurls his hidden package a Liang flag and steps up, but finds that the kingdom of Qin has destroyed Liang as they would not submit. The little soldier refuses to submit and is shot and killed by the Qin soldiers.

We learn in Voice over that the general who is in fact the crown prince returned home to become king, and stopped the military expeditions and when Qin attacked he surrendered, keeping the people from harm and allowing Qin to unite the country.

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A sad movie, and not a complicated story, but is enjoyable, and a perfect role for the aging Chan!