![]() ![]() He bounces between extremes so quickly that I nearly got whiplash. I’m no longer surprised by Wang’s acting chops after the masterpiece that was Luoyang, but the duality of his character was so perfect. He comes across as a very calm presence, but he exudes an aura that signals that you would not want to cross him, or meet him in a dark alley. Aside from the fact that it stars Wang Yibo (if you remember, I’m working on watching his entire filmography), his co-star is Tony Leung, so you know that this was going to be an amazing film. I’ve been excited about this movie for ages, and I didn’t even think it would hit theaters in the United States. I don’t think I would have been quite as engaged if I knew from the beginning who was on which side. It was honestly frustrating while I was watching, but once I realized how everything tied together, I appreciated the disjointed narrative more. Only at the end of the film, when you see how and where that scene fits in the timeline, do you truly understand. ![]() We would be shown a scene early in the film and have no context for what we were seeing. You aren’t supposed to know who to trust. It’s an espionage film it’s meant to be confusing. The non-linear narrative made it difficult for me to really follow the story, but I believe that was the point. The film is told in a series of non-chronological vignettes, starting as early as the final bombing of Guangzhou in 1938 and ending approximately year after Japan surrendered. Ye ( Wang Yibo), a subordinate of Director He’s, and Officer Watanabe (Mori Hiroyuki), the Japanese official overseeing the PSD in Shanghai. Our three main characters are He (Tony Leung), the director of the Political Security Department, Mr. Our main protagonists are members of the Political Security Department in Shanghai, a counterespionage division working on behalf of the Japanese puppet government. The great cinematography and engaging story more than make up for the occasional misstep, however.Hidden Blade is a dark and intense espionage thriller set in China during World War II, known in China as the War of Resistance, as China fought against an invading Japan. Though director Er Cheng gets the tone right, there are some awkward moments. ![]() The end result is a spectacle movie with a focus on story. Hidden Blade walks the line between art film and commercial extravaganza. That being said, there are some well shot action sequences. This type of zero to sixty progression can be very effective in the right circumstances, but does not really fit the story being told in Hidden Blade. This is most noticeable during some jarring transitions between high action and heavy melodrama. There is a constant sense of danger for everyone who is involved.Īt times, the non-linear storytelling hinders the pacing. The audience is never sure who can and cannot be trusted. The script does a good job of keeping things straight for the most part, which enables the sense of unease to reach peak levels. There are also a number of flashbacks that can make things even more difficult to follow. Almost every character is a spy – some of them are double agents- which means there are a lot of twists to keep up with. Listen to the latest episode of the AIPT Movies Podcast!Īs with many espionage thrillers, Hidden Blade can get a little confusing. ![]()
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