Many have wondered and asked, so no pun intended. And in case you are also thinking of Rush Hour for some reason (my mind is wired a similar way, so I feel you),there is no connection to that either (not really that is). The movie itself - well I really like it. And yes I am known for rating better or higher than others, in this case you can add that I am quite fond of eastern movies too. I guess movies in general, but the fighting in those movies and having grown up with not just Sword and Sandal movies (Hercules and others),but also the Shaw Brothers ... well it gives me an edge I reckon.
All that being said, the action scenes in this are quite well choreographed. And it gets quite violent too. Even our main character does stuff you may not totally agree - he is charismatic and I would say most will like him ... but he has edges ... quite a few of them. Sometimes it would have been better to ... well "chill" a bit (no pun intended)! Especially when it comes to punishment orders, if you can call them that.
This is based on historic events, but I assume the makers took more than a few liberties. And that is more than ok - suspend your disbelief and go with the flow.
Plot summary
In 1161, Wanyan Liang, emperor of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty, planned to invade the Southern Song Dynasty. Owing to the harsh recruitment policy and the Jin's cruelty, people in the Central Plain found it hard to live on. Xin Qiji, aged 21, rose up in arms with villagers to fight against the Jin army and then joined a more influential voluntary army led by Geng Jing, winning victory after victory. In 1162, aiming to expel invaders and recover the lost land to realize the reunification, Xin Qiji went to the south to persuade the Song Emperor to drive the Jurchens out of the north. Successfully accomplishing his mission, Xin Qiji only to find the commander Geng Jing was killed by a traitor and the army had lost morale. Facing with Wanyan Basu's army of 50,000 soldiers, what course would Xin Qiji and his 50 loyal subordinates follow?
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