The Taking of Tiger Mountain uses
history as its starting off point, and then switches to the realism of a
superhero film for the action sequences. Laws of gravity and what the human
body is actually capable of are dismissed in favor of spectacularly stylized
fight scenes that are far more fun than the plot demands. However, somehow
seasoned filmmaker Hark Tsui manages to do this without losing any of the
emotional resonance in the film’s non-fiction material.
Tsui was born in
Vietnam, went to film school in the United States, before returning to Hong
Kong to build a respectable resume of action epics (Once Upon a Time in China, Seven
Swords, Detective Dee), giving
him an well-rounded understanding of what makes an internationally entertaining
movie. The energy from Tsui’s action choreography alone makes The Taking of Tiger Mountain worth
viewing, and it moves fast enough from each sequence to prevent thinking too
much about the flaws in-between the fighting. Based on the popular adventure
novel by Qu Bo, Tsui is able to make the narrative his own with the visual
style, without losing what made the adventure story popular in the first place.
The film follows
a small outgunned squad of the People’s Liberation Army going up against a
powerful gang of bandits in northeast China
Despite being
somewhat of a war movie and based on actual historical events, much of the
film’s action is filled with slow motion shots and CGI that makes it look more
like the opening scene of the latest Avengers movie. As the plot moves forward
there are even villainous bandits with gadgets and tactics that resemble
something out of an early James Bond film, providing some levity and fun to the
narrative. The head of the bandits is hardly ever much more than a caricature,
which may detract some of the historical resonance while keeping The Taking of
Tiger Mountain fun to watch. If you would like realism with your war epics,
this is probably not the film for you. But all of those who appreciate Tsui’s
signature style will rejoice in the grand scale of his spectacle.
The Blu-ray
release provides the best presentation of the film, especially with the high
level of CGI used in some of the sequences. Special features include interviews
with the director and select cast members, as well as a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
8.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
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