Reign Of Assassins (2010) directed by Su Chau Bin and John Woo, 15th February

Plot

Set in China, the Dark Stone gang steals half of a mummified Indian Buddhist monk which once whole has mystical powers restoring health and allowing one to be the most powerful martial artist too. One of the gang members steals the mummy from the others and runs away changing her appearance too. Looking to start anew, change her ways and sink into anonymity.

Review

Made in 2010 this film has only finally reached these shores. Starring Michelle Yeoh  and Jung Woo-Sung. This is a martial arts film in the vein of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of the Flying Daggers with lots of balletic wire-kung fu.

The film follows a star pupil/assassin Drizzle played by Michelle Yeoh who along with her gang members steal one half of a mummy for their master Wheel King head of the Dark Stone Gang. In the process of stealing the body from the prime minister Zhang they kill him and his son. Drizzle then decides to take the body for herself abandoning her colleagues and former life.

Whilst on the run she meets a monk who tries to change her and teach her the error of her ways. He does and she decides to change her life and appearance in the hope of fading into obscurity. Becoming a cloth seller and she allows herself to fall in love too with a messenger who is inextricably linked to her past. Having a price on her head from her old gang, her old life catches up with her sooner than she ever wanted.

The film has some great fight scenes and great choreography too.  There is romance and plenty of good humour. Some intentional and some not so but this does not detract from the film. There are twists and turns in the plot with some predictable and some not.

It is not as epic in scale or as philosophical to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but this is a fun fast paced film and a little more light weight.

8/10