“We have no reason to initiate this fight.”
Though it’s envisioned as a grand, sweeping period action-adventure epic, Dragon Blade only succeeds when it owns up to its campiness.
Whether it may be an army of hawks peaking at the faces of Roman soldiers and their horses, or a villainous Adrien Brody licking the blood of the man he stabbed to death from his palm, Daniel Lee’s high-scale odyssey is a goofy tailspin of a historical fable under the false pretense of stone-faced grandeur, only aware of its silliness by the last act. Though, subsequently, upon relishing in its absurdity when it finally catches up with itself, the change-in-tone isn’t necessarily unwelcomed despite entering in way too late. Because, frankly, it turns this disastrously dull look at racial compassion and tolerance among nations in 50 B.C. — surveyed through an “unexpected” bond formed between Huo An (Jackie Chan), a Chinese commanding guard, and Lucius (John Cusack), an English-speaking Roman renegade — into a delirious rampage of blood and warfare. Its “peace over war” message ultimately gets lost in a sea of respectably choreographed carnage, but, if it’s not going to provide the story or characters worth investing in, seeing Chan knock some people around serves as a serviceable-enough consolation prize.
[wp_ad_camp_1]
Admittedly, between the hacky writing, the formless editing and the despairing uneven cinematography, Lee’s film barely stood a chance beyond some extravagantly-designed set pieces. The action is consistent, but can’t serve the story well. Most of the time, these beats are merely flimsy excuses to see Chan and Cusack interact in a surprisingly rousing sword fight or to have the martial arts-expert prove he still knows how to pack a blow to those unsuspecting foes who get in his way (in addition to leading the blockbuster, he’s also billed as an action director here, in addition to being a producer and executive producer). For as much time as Huo An spends talking about his peaceful desires, and stresses upon how war engages only the ugliest side of humanity, he very rarely gets to live up to his mantra. Well, beyond his quickly formed bromance with Lucius and his gang of fugitive alleys, also including Publius (Jozef Waite), the young blinded heir to the throne he’s protecting from the royalty’s nefarious brother, Consul Tiberius (Brody). Then again, with seemingly everyone and their mother’s army wanting to engage in battle with him, it’s hard to live up to such codes of honor.
For the most part, Dragon Blade is simply as bloated and haggard as Cusack looks these days. Between uncomfortably forced comedy beats and operatic monologues restating the movie’s well-minded message, it’s an ambitious-but-tiresome high-scale production mimicking, instead of replicating, those before it. Lacking a concrete center and a firm grip on the massive story, its sloppy and presumptuous execution isn’t by any means as harrowing as it wants to be. Though, as the professionals they are, Chan tackles the material with serious convictions, which makes the insanity of the climax earn its goofiness, and Cusack does as well as he can, even though he looks as if he’s going to convulse any second under his metal periodic wear. And despite their terribly on-the-nose dialogue, their oddball pairing does resonate on the mildest of levels. Granted, the ridiculous lengths it goes to near the end doesn’t command the same impact, but there’s a fine attention to their growth and mutual affirmation for one another. It’s well nurtured enough to succeed, and their scenes together alleviate the boredom felt when they’re separated from one another. Though such concerns are relinquished when Brody graces his presence.
Brody astoundingly transcends Dragon Blade into feverishly batshit territory. His fluctuating accent, seething eyes and joyful maliciousness almost puts Eddie Redmayne’s rambunctiousness in Jupiter Ascending to shame. Granted, one should doubt how much genuine sincerity was meant to go into lines like “No one felt the pain more than I did when I had to blind my own brother,” but Brody’s committed as ever to leaving an impression. It’s a near tour-de-force in hamminess and, accelerated by the sheer craziness surrounding him in the last 30 minutes, nearly makes up for the treacherous dullness that preceded. It’s the kind of silliness one shouldn’t dare spoil, and yet not quite worthy enough to sit through what came before to experience. For those already squandering through this ordeal, this ludicrousness is very much appreciated.
Dragon Blade is a battle-axe disguising itself as a dainty rose. Its ambiguity comes from asserting itself in the ways it tries not to. One assumes that’s the case, at least. It’s hard to figure where exactly Lee wants to take his movie at a certain point, but in losing itself in the shuffle does it find some unintentional (and occasionally intentional) satisfaction. It’s a mostly limp and feeble picture brought to serenity (at times) by its unclouded desire to go ballistic whenever it sees fit. Its woe-begotten results often create some entertainment despite itself, and sometimes this helps the film stumble back into the battlefield when you expected it to be down for the count. Though its blade may never be sharp, it pierces you in the final cry just enough to let you know it’s not quite as dull as you think.
5/10
No comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.