"International action legend Jet Li stars in this gripping martial arts epic set three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was left in ruins. A new gang has taken over the wayward place, using it as their base for uncovering a nearby treasure. But secrets lie within its walls, as a pregnant palace concubine and a swordswoman take refuge from a determined royal eunuch tracking their every move. As an explosive mix of warriors, fugitives and assassins converge in the desert for a deadly showdown, only one man can protect the women, the mysterious Zhao (Li). Filled with spectacular special effects and stunning battle sequences, this martial arts masterpiece delivers knock-out action that has to be seen to be believed." - (Alert)
A freedom fighter opposes corrupt eunuchs who hold power during China's Ming dynasty. - (Baker & Taylor)
An explosive mix of warriors, fugitives and assassins converge in the desert for a deadly showdown in this multi-award winning, martial arts epic reuniting genre master Tsui Hark with Jet Li in an action-packed, visually breathtaking experience. The tale continues at the infamous Dragon Inn three years after it was left in ruins. A new gang has taken control of the inn as they secretly search for the nearby lost city of gold. Threatening to expose their search is the arrival of a beautiful fugitive from the palace accompanied by the swordsman who would die to protect her, and a group of assassins who will stop at nothing to find her. - (Universal Studios Home Entert.)
Video Librarian Reviews
Made by one of the acknowledged masters of stylized swordplay thrillers, Tsui Hark's Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is actually the director's second remake of King Hu's 1967 martial-arts classic Dragon Gate Inn (Tsui produced the 1992 remake New Dragon Gate Inn). It's also the first Chinese film shot in the stereoscopic IMAX 3D format (the Blu-ray release includes both 3D and 2D versions). Although it received a limited theatrical release in the U.S., the film—not surprisingly—failed to catch on at the box office: unlike such global hits as Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and the landmark Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this wanna-be wuxia classic becomes mired down in personal and political clashes between thinly-drawn characters who fail to make much dramatic impression. Global action superstar Jet Li is top-billed as a Ming Dynasty freedom fighter (but he spends most of the film off-screen) in this convoluted tale that focuses on the Dragon Inn, located in a remote desert where a confusing thicket of characters are hoping that hidden treasure will be revealed during a sandstorm that occurs only once every 60 years. In a narrative sense, none of this is very involving, but the film's abundant action scenes are impressive—combining traditional wire-work stunts with all-digital characters who defy gravity as they leap, fly, float, and spin in mid-air. It's too bad there isn't a better story to match the film's extravagant production values. An optional purchase. (J. Shannon)Copyright Video Librarian Reviews 2011.