Wolf Warrior Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jacky Wu, Scott Adkins, Kevin Lee

Director: Jacky Wu

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

 

         Wolf Warrior is the Chinese equivalent of the American military action film, Act of Valor; it is well shot, filled with exciting action, with a plot so simplistic it is nearly nonexistent, and a tone so patriotic that it borders on propaganda. If you can excuse the silliness of the story or the transparency of the movie’s national pride, there is still some above average action to enjoy. In fact, I would say that this is one of the more exciting Chinese action films I have seen recently, though the emphasis remains on firepower rather than martial arts.

 

        Sergeant Leng Feng (Wu Jing) is a top marksman chosen to join an elite Chinese Special Forces group known as the Wolf Warriors after he disobeys orders in order to take down an international drug lord. While on a training exercise with his new team of soldiers, Feng and his men are attacked by a group of mercenaries sent by the brother of the drug lord killed. Even though the point of the Wolf Warriors is that they fight in a pack, Feng takes the responsibility of warding off the attacks, becoming something of a lone wolf.

 

        Scott Adkins heads up the cast of mercenaries, though the story barely slows down enough to give these bad guys a few scenes of dialogue, much less character development. This is a film that focuses nearly entirely on the action, pausing only momentarily for the patriotic dribble. Fortunately, the fast pace along with some truly visceral action sequences serve the film well, never pausing long enough for the audience to contemplate the ridiculousness of the content. This is a film meant to inspire emotions, either for country or enjoyment of the spectacle, but nothing in the 90-minutes of entertainment is improved with intelligent analysis. Even the fast pace can’t hide some of the more obvious flaws, such as an unnecessary CGI-laden battle between the Wolf Warrior soldiers and a pack of real wild wolves.

 

        The brisk pace and well choreographed sequences of unrealistic military action make this an enjoyable, albeit flawed, viewing experience. Shut your brain off and ignore communist propaganda, and this is one of the more exciting gun-centric action films to come out of China recently. The Blu-ray is a welcome format, with the high definition presentation helping with the spectacle at the forefront of the film, though there are no special features to speak of.

 

Entertainment Value: 8/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 5/10

Historical Significance:  3.5/10

Special Features: 0/10




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