Typical Chinese martial arts movie mixed with some Chinese history.

What set this picture apart for me from other films in this vein is the first half half where they introduce the main characters and show you there motivations.The second half was a nicely done running street battle that was engaging to watch.

Just a bit slow for the topic. A longer, faster paced film would have done better justice to the struggle of these heroes of the Great nation and their fight against western-nonsense-capitalist-imperialism. A fight that continues to this day.

High-budget combination of historical drama on the last days of the Chinese Empire and the build-up to the 1911 revolution, and martial arts action movie. The combo promises entertainment and entertainment is what we get - but the film drags on and on with half-baked drama before the very long climax scene everyone in the audience are waiting for finally arrives. In its Hong Kong awesomeness, it makes up for a lot of the dullness and melodrama.

This is almost an updated nod to the Shaw Bros period films but the wire-work in the martial arts is still ever present which is disappointing. Donnie Yen is decent and takes a bit of a backseat for other actors until the final fight sequences. The acting in this is pretty melodramatic (and corny) though. Overall it's decent if you like this sort of thing and it is pretty to look at with fantastic locations, sets, and costume design which makes it worth seeing.