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Saving General Yang Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Adam Cheng, Ekin Cheng, Vic Chau, Li Chen, Yu Bo
  • Director: Ronny Yu
  • Format: Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen
  • Language: Cantonese
  • Subtitles: English
  • Dubbed: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: Well Go USA



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            Saving General Yang is a solid film, though it may lack the amount of originality that would set it apart from dozens of other Chinese war epics to be released in the last decade. As engaging as the storyline and action may be, there is trouble relating to any one character or even to properly distinguish each of them from each other. The story and action often take precedence, which lightens the emotional impact of the final sequences.

     

            The film takes place in Northern China during the early Northern Song dynasty, AD 986. The great General Yang Ye (Adam Cheng) long ago killed the leader of a clan in battle, and the surviving son is determined to enact revenge for his father. He kidnaps General Yang in order to carry out the revenge, at the same time that an invading army of thousands approaches the north. Led by his first son (Ekin Cheng), General Yang’s seven sons set out on an impossible mission to bring their father home.

     

             Between the invading army and the vengeful wronged son, there are plenty of obstacles stopping the seven brothers from bringing their father home. This amounts to a lot of action as well, though not all of it is spectacular or particularly memorable. Director Ronny Yu certainly knows how to make a film engaging, but little about the fight choreography stood out amongst the sea of other martial art war epics.

     

            The Blu-ray release includes interviews with director Yu and his cast, as well as a trailer for the film. The high definition presentation of the film is decent, though there is little flashy in the cinematography to make use of the extra detail.

           

    Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

    Historical Significance: 5/10

    Disc Features: 4/10

     

     


     

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