I’m not sure how
much historical accuracy there is in the weapons at the center of The
Guillotines, but the special effects used to show what they are capable makes
them seem more fantasy than fact. This is fine had director Andrew Lau committed
to a film of spectacle, but instead The Guillotines attempts to balance between
historical accuracy and fantastical action sequences. In the end, both suffer
as a result, resulting in a moderately entertaining and modestly realistic
historical epic with a rather typical storyline.
The Guillotines
were a secret brotherhood of assassins utilized by Emperor Yong Zheng during
the Manchurian-ruled Qing Dynasty. When Emperor Qian Long took the throne, he
brought Western ideas and technology with him, making the Guillotines
unnecessary and expendable. While fighting against the Han Chinese rebels, The
Guillotines must also worry about the new army of artillery brought by the new
emperor, which could easily be turned on them.
Though The
Guillotines is not an action-packed film, and has less hand-to-hand martial
arts than many might have hoped for, what action the film has is incredibly
violent. The decapitations from the aptly named weapon and subsequent crew of
assassins using them are the obvious source of many violence sequences, though
there are many others involving more traditional weapons as well. There are a
few good sequences here, though some of the action is a bit of a let down
considering the buildup and emphasis that is placed on the title weapons.
The Blu-ray
includes a making-of featurette, as well as interviews with the cast and the
crew. There is also a trailer which shows how much importance is placed on the
film’s central weapons.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Disc Features: 5/10
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