Reign of Assassins
Encyclopedia
Reign of Assassins is a 2010 wuxia
film directed by Su Chao-pin and co-directed by John Woo
. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty
. The film stars Michelle Yeoh
, who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after being counseled by a priest. After saving her husband and herself from a gang, she attracts the attention of her former assassin gang.
The film began production on October 30 and was shot in China and Taiwan. While shooting, John Woo was on set continually advising director Su Chao-pin, which led to Woo being credited as a co-director. Reign of Assassins had its premiere on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival
, where it met acclaim from critics. It premiered in China on September 28, 2010 and has been purchased by The Weinstein Company
for North American release rights and by Lions Gate Pictures for United Kingdom release rights.
Later, Zeng Jing and Ah-sheng are in the bank when robbers enter. As the gang draws their swords, Zeng Jing fights them and saves both her and her husband's lives. This act reveals her whereabouts to Dark Stone. The Wheel King summons three assassins in his gang - Lei Bin, the Magician, and Turquoise - to hunt Drizzle down. They locate Drizzle despite her changed appearance. However, Drizzle / Zeng states she just wants to live a normal life, and the Wheel King promises her freedom for Ah-sheng and her in exchange for her half of the remains and her help in collecting the other half. After the Dark Stone secure the remains, Drizzle hands over her half. The gang decides to not let her off easily, and despite infighting that kills the Magician, she comes home wounded and collapses. Lei Bin and Turquoise follow her but are stopped by Ah-sheng, who surprises them by producing a pair of Cen-Ci swords, which Lei Bin recognizes as Renfeng's weapon. The two assassins are defeated and Ah-sheng takes Drizzle to the surgeon. The surgeon treats Drizzle's wounds and tells Renfeng everything is pre-destined. Flashbacks reveal that Ah-sheng's true identify is Renfeng, who did not die from Drizzle's sword because he has situs inversus
. He has also changed his appearance to avenge his father's death. Drizzle finds out the truth and asks Renfeng if he has ever loved her. An emotional Renfeng tells her that is impossible because of what she and Dark Stone have done to his family, but he cannot bring himself to kill her and tells her to leave.
The Wheel King, having obtained the remains, attempts to use the power to restore his bodily "defect": he was castrated as a boy and became a eunuch years ago. Turquoise discovers this as she seduces him and mocks him in anger and disappointment. The Wheel King is infuriated and buries her alive under a bridge. He sees the firework signal released by Drizzle, who has decided to engage him in a final battle. The Wheel King comes to a graveyard and finds Renfeng dead. Drizzle then battles him and wounds him fatally, using what Wisdom had taught her. Renfeng revives the next morning, since he was just given a pill by Drizzle to appear lifeless so he could witness Drizzle avenge his family with her life. He approaches her body to touch her and finds her still alive. Renfeng is overcome with joy and carries her in his arms. Drizzle whispers to him "divorce me after we get home." Renfeng laughs and tells her they have a long life ahead.
was looking for an action film to star Michelle Yeoh
. After several meetings with Su Chao-pin and developed a wuxia
styled film. Yeoh had initial doubts about the role as she had doubted her martial arts skills which were not put to use since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
. The rest of the film's cast includes actors from Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and China. John Woo
stated that "It is a challenge for all. We selected various talented actors for this film and the language seemed to be the main obstacle...But we solved that."
Terence Chang and Su Chao-pin said that they wanted to take wuxia writer Gu Long
's approach of "having many characters, and add mystery and suspense to the plot". The Chinese title of the film is Jianyu Jianghu, which translates as "swords and rain, rivers and lakes". The term jianghu
refers to an imaginary world that is a parallel martial arts universe. Half of the film's budget was funded by Galloping Horse Films who agreed to supporting the film after being impressed with Su's script. To complete the financing, Chang had two Taiwanese investors: the online gaming company Gamania Digital Entertainment and film and television production house Lumiere Motion Picture Company to help fund the film.
, China, and then moved to Hengdian World Studios
. Part of the film was shot in Shanghai on October 30.
The film was then set to be shot at the Shanghai Song Jiang Shen Qiang studio, then to move to the Hengdian World Studios outside the city, then over to Taiwan, where a quarter of the film was set to be made.
Principal photography was completed on February 27, 2010. After being impressed with the script, John Woo was reportedly on set the whole time offering advice to Su Chao-pin.
Terrence Chang who stated that Woo spent "more than a week" directing a fight scene featuring his daughter Angeles as an assassin. Angeles took the role to experience film-making from an actor's perspective. The official English credits read "Directed by Su Chao-pin. Co-directed by John Woo". Woo has stated that he "didn't want to impose my style on Su...I only gave advice and shared my experience." Production started in Shanghai and then moved to the World Studios complex at Hengdian in the second month. Heavy rains made production go over-schedule and that a huge outdoor temple set had to be moved indoors to avoid further delays. Terence Chang applied for a Taiwanese government subsidy as the writer-director Su Chao-pin, as well as two investors, four executive producers and six major actors in the film are Taiwanese. Post-production was also done in Taiwan. John Woo worked with the editor during post-production on the film.
bought from Fortissimo Films the right for a North American release of Reign of Assassins while Lions Gate Pictures UK received licensed for the United Kingdom. Reign of Assassins had its premiere on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival
where it was shown out of competition. The film was released in China on September 28, 2010. The film premiered in Hong Kong on October 7 and in Taiwan on October 10. Reign of Assassins was shown on October 8 at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival
. In China, Reign of Assassins made 30 million RMB
(US$4.5 million) on its opening week.
praised the sword-fighting scenes in the film. Il Sole 24 Ore
referred to the film as "a breath of fresh air" at the festival, noting the fighting scenes and the film's humor. The Hollywood Reporter wrote "the beautifully balanced story finds time for humor and a piercingly romantic finale. This lush visual treat should have no trouble finding kung fu audiences, with crossover potential to the Western art circuit." Variety
gave the film a positive review, referring to it as "A delightful martial-arts romp that makes up in wit and exuberance what it occasionally lacks in clarity and finesse". Screen International
wrote that "It might lack the sheer visual poetry of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
, but its scenes of sword-play are wonderful and once the story gathers momentum it is absorbing and entertaining." and went on to praise the acting of Michelle Yeoh calling her a "wonderfully charismatic talent, aging gracefully but still retains a poise and style that really sets her apart." Derek Elley of Film Business Asia gave the film 9 stars out of 10 and wrote that "without heavy resort to visual effects, and without going too far down any one stylistic road, the film gives new life to a genre that's been pulled every which way in the past 20 years in search of new thrills."
The film received positive reception in Asia on its premiere. The Xinhua News Agency
stated that the film "ushers in a new era of the kungfu genre" and that the film "spends a bit too much time unfolding the romance between Zeng and her husband, and some lines sound funny when they are not supposed to be. But when many recent martial arts films can barely tell a complete story and are hyped only by lavish sets, Assassins stands out as entertaining and special." The Global Times
gave the film four stars, stating that it was "the best wuxia film since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
". Malaysiakini
also compared the film to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, writing that "The movie sort of goes back to wuxia's roots, where the plot revolves tightly around the Chinese philosophy and relationship." Today
gave the film three stars out of five, saying that "the storyline borders on the illogical at times – Su's script will get you sniggering...on-screen moments between Yeoh and Jung are uncomfortably stiff." Time Out Hong Kong gave the film three stars out of six stating that the film "is often too schizophrenic in tone to be taken seriously."
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
film directed by Su Chao-pin and co-directed by John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. The film stars Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
, who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after being counseled by a priest. After saving her husband and herself from a gang, she attracts the attention of her former assassin gang.
The film began production on October 30 and was shot in China and Taiwan. While shooting, John Woo was on set continually advising director Su Chao-pin, which led to Woo being credited as a co-director. Reign of Assassins had its premiere on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, where it met acclaim from critics. It premiered in China on September 28, 2010 and has been purchased by The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company is an American film studio founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 2005 after the brothers left the then-Disney-owned Miramax Films, which they had co-founded in 1979...
for North American release rights and by Lions Gate Pictures for United Kingdom release rights.
Plot
The film begins with a narration of the legend of an Indian monk and the widespread belief that his mummified remains have magical power. The Dark Stone gang, having found that half of the remains are in the prime minister Zhang's hands, sends assassins to kill him and his son Renfeng. Dark Stone's top assassin Drizzle steals the remains and flees. She is encountered by the monk Wisdom, the best martial artist who points out Drizzle's swordsmanship has fatal flaws and she can be killed by a master. Wisdom spends three months with her and finally sacrifices himself to be killed by Drizzle, in the hope of enlightening her. After Wisdom's death, Drizzle is burdened with sorrow and guilt and decides to leave her old way of life. She goes to a famous surgeon who changes her appearance and she assumes the identity of Zeng Jing. Zeng opens a market stall selling cloth. She attracts the attention of the messenger Ah-sheng whom she eventually marries. The Dark Stone, in the meantime, are still in pursuit of Drizzle and the remains, and one of their top members is mysteriously assassinated. Their leader, Wheel King, recruits and trains a new assassin, Turquoise, a merciless girl who is also a sex maniac.Later, Zeng Jing and Ah-sheng are in the bank when robbers enter. As the gang draws their swords, Zeng Jing fights them and saves both her and her husband's lives. This act reveals her whereabouts to Dark Stone. The Wheel King summons three assassins in his gang - Lei Bin, the Magician, and Turquoise - to hunt Drizzle down. They locate Drizzle despite her changed appearance. However, Drizzle / Zeng states she just wants to live a normal life, and the Wheel King promises her freedom for Ah-sheng and her in exchange for her half of the remains and her help in collecting the other half. After the Dark Stone secure the remains, Drizzle hands over her half. The gang decides to not let her off easily, and despite infighting that kills the Magician, she comes home wounded and collapses. Lei Bin and Turquoise follow her but are stopped by Ah-sheng, who surprises them by producing a pair of Cen-Ci swords, which Lei Bin recognizes as Renfeng's weapon. The two assassins are defeated and Ah-sheng takes Drizzle to the surgeon. The surgeon treats Drizzle's wounds and tells Renfeng everything is pre-destined. Flashbacks reveal that Ah-sheng's true identify is Renfeng, who did not die from Drizzle's sword because he has situs inversus
Situs inversus
Situs inversus is a congenital condition in which the major visceral organs are reversed or mirrored from their normal positions. The normal arrangement is known as situs solitus...
. He has also changed his appearance to avenge his father's death. Drizzle finds out the truth and asks Renfeng if he has ever loved her. An emotional Renfeng tells her that is impossible because of what she and Dark Stone have done to his family, but he cannot bring himself to kill her and tells her to leave.
The Wheel King, having obtained the remains, attempts to use the power to restore his bodily "defect": he was castrated as a boy and became a eunuch years ago. Turquoise discovers this as she seduces him and mocks him in anger and disappointment. The Wheel King is infuriated and buries her alive under a bridge. He sees the firework signal released by Drizzle, who has decided to engage him in a final battle. The Wheel King comes to a graveyard and finds Renfeng dead. Drizzle then battles him and wounds him fatally, using what Wisdom had taught her. Renfeng revives the next morning, since he was just given a pill by Drizzle to appear lifeless so he could witness Drizzle avenge his family with her life. He approaches her body to touch her and finds her still alive. Renfeng is overcome with joy and carries her in his arms. Drizzle whispers to him "divorce me after we get home." Renfeng laughs and tells her they have a long life ahead.
Cast
- Michelle YeohMichelle YeohMichelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
as Zeng Jing / Drizzle - Jung Woo-sungJung Woo-sung- Career :Jung Woo-sung was born in Seoul on March 20, 1973. After first finding work as a model, he made his film debut in the 1994 movie The Fox with Nine Tails, together with Ko So-young...
as Jiang Ah-sheng - Wang XueqiWang XueqiWang Xueqi is a Chinese film actor whose career has spanned over 25 years. He was often cast in early Fifth Generation films, such as Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth and The Big Parade , Huang Jianxin's Samsara, and Zhang Yimou's Codename Cougar...
as Wheel King / Cao Feng - Barbie HsuBarbie HsuBarbie Hsu also known as Dà S |Mars]] with Vic Chou of F4. She has also acted in movies, her first being the Chinese movie The Ghost Inside. She also had a singing career prior to her acting career. She was in a duo group called "S.O.S." with her sister Dee Hsu. Their last album was called...
as Turquoise Leaf - Shawn YueShawn YueShawn Yue is a Hong Kong actor and singer. A former model, he has starred in many films such as Jiang Hu and Infernal Affairs II and has established himself as a recognized face in Hong Kong cinema.- Background :...
as Lei Bin - Kelly LinKelly LinKelly Lin Hsi-Lei is a Taiwanese actress and model who has appeared mainly in Hong Kong films.-Biography:Lin was born in Taiwan in 1975. She moved to Santa Barbara, California with her family at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Degree in Economics...
as Drizzle - Guo Xiaodong as Zhang Renfeng
- Jiang Yiyan as Tian Qingtong
- Paw Hee-chingPaw Hee-ChingNina Paw Hee-Ching is a Hong Kong-based actress. She was born on July 20, 1949. Her parents are famous Chinese actor Bao Fong and Liu Su. Her younger brother Peter Pau is Academy Awards-winning and five-times Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer...
as Auntie Cai - Pace WuPace WuPace Wu is a Taiwanese model, actress, and singer.- Film :- Television :-Albums:* 2005: Look at Me* 2008: Glittering Night Course- References :...
as Kongdong Teal Sword - Leon Dai as the Magician
- Chin Shih-chieh as Doctor Li
- Angeles Woo as Eater Bear
- Li Zonghan as Wisdom
- Matt Wu as Killer Bear
- Hu Xiaoguang as Song Yang Five leader
- Han Zhi as Song Yang Five member
- Xing Hanqing as Song Yang Five member
- Che Kim-fai as Song Yang Five member
- Shi Zhanjie as Song Yang Five member
- Peter KamPeter KamPeter Kam Pui-Tat is a music composer for Hong Kong films including The Warlords and Bodyguards and Assassins.Peter is a four-time winner at the Hong Kong Film Awards.-External links:...
as General Huang - Lee Hing-cheung as Zhang Haiduan
- Ma Shuliang as oil shop boss Chen
- You Liping as Zhang Dajing
- Qin Weidong as butcher
Pre-production
The idea for making Reign of Assassins came about when producer Terence ChangTerence Chang
Terence Chang Chia-Chen is a Hong Kong and American film producer.-Career:Chang is one of John Woo's long time friends and favoured producers...
was looking for an action film to star Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
. After several meetings with Su Chao-pin and developed a wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
styled film. Yeoh had initial doubts about the role as she had doubted her martial arts skills which were not put to use since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
. The rest of the film's cast includes actors from Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and China. John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
stated that "It is a challenge for all. We selected various talented actors for this film and the language seemed to be the main obstacle...But we solved that."
Terence Chang and Su Chao-pin said that they wanted to take wuxia writer Gu Long
Gu Long
Xiong Yaohua , better known by his pen name Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang Series, Lu Xiaofeng Series and Xiao Shiyilang...
's approach of "having many characters, and add mystery and suspense to the plot". The Chinese title of the film is Jianyu Jianghu, which translates as "swords and rain, rivers and lakes". The term jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
refers to an imaginary world that is a parallel martial arts universe. Half of the film's budget was funded by Galloping Horse Films who agreed to supporting the film after being impressed with Su's script. To complete the financing, Chang had two Taiwanese investors: the online gaming company Gamania Digital Entertainment and film and television production house Lumiere Motion Picture Company to help fund the film.
Filming
Principal photography began on October 4, 2009 in Songjiang Town, ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China, and then moved to Hengdian World Studios
Hengdian World Studios
Hengdian World Studios is the largest film studio in the world. It is located in Hengdian, a town in the city of Dongyang in Zhejiang Province. The movie studio is operated by the privately-owned Hengdian Group founded by a farmer turned millionaire Xu Wenrong. Sometimes called "Chinawood", Xu...
. Part of the film was shot in Shanghai on October 30.
The film was then set to be shot at the Shanghai Song Jiang Shen Qiang studio, then to move to the Hengdian World Studios outside the city, then over to Taiwan, where a quarter of the film was set to be made.
Principal photography was completed on February 27, 2010. After being impressed with the script, John Woo was reportedly on set the whole time offering advice to Su Chao-pin.
Terrence Chang who stated that Woo spent "more than a week" directing a fight scene featuring his daughter Angeles as an assassin. Angeles took the role to experience film-making from an actor's perspective. The official English credits read "Directed by Su Chao-pin. Co-directed by John Woo". Woo has stated that he "didn't want to impose my style on Su...I only gave advice and shared my experience." Production started in Shanghai and then moved to the World Studios complex at Hengdian in the second month. Heavy rains made production go over-schedule and that a huge outdoor temple set had to be moved indoors to avoid further delays. Terence Chang applied for a Taiwanese government subsidy as the writer-director Su Chao-pin, as well as two investors, four executive producers and six major actors in the film are Taiwanese. Post-production was also done in Taiwan. John Woo worked with the editor during post-production on the film.
Release
Before the film's release, The Weinstein CompanyThe Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company is an American film studio founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 2005 after the brothers left the then-Disney-owned Miramax Films, which they had co-founded in 1979...
bought from Fortissimo Films the right for a North American release of Reign of Assassins while Lions Gate Pictures UK received licensed for the United Kingdom. Reign of Assassins had its premiere on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
where it was shown out of competition. The film was released in China on September 28, 2010. The film premiered in Hong Kong on October 7 and in Taiwan on October 10. Reign of Assassins was shown on October 8 at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
. In China, Reign of Assassins made 30 million RMB
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
(US$4.5 million) on its opening week.
Reception
The film received positive critical reception at the Venice Film Festival. L'ExpressL'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
praised the sword-fighting scenes in the film. Il Sole 24 Ore
Il Sole 24 Ore
Il Sole 24 Ore is an Italian national daily business newspaper owned by Confindustria, the Italian employers' federation.It was founded on 1965-11-09 as a merger between Il Sole, founded in 1865, and 24 Ore, founded in 1946. The headquarters are in Milan...
referred to the film as "a breath of fresh air" at the festival, noting the fighting scenes and the film's humor. The Hollywood Reporter wrote "the beautifully balanced story finds time for humor and a piercingly romantic finale. This lush visual treat should have no trouble finding kung fu audiences, with crossover potential to the Western art circuit." Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
gave the film a positive review, referring to it as "A delightful martial-arts romp that makes up in wit and exuberance what it occasionally lacks in clarity and finesse". Screen International
Screen International
Screen International is a multimedia film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by EMAP, a British b2b media company.The magazine is primarily aimed at those involved in the global movie business...
wrote that "It might lack the sheer visual poetry of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
, but its scenes of sword-play are wonderful and once the story gathers momentum it is absorbing and entertaining." and went on to praise the acting of Michelle Yeoh calling her a "wonderfully charismatic talent, aging gracefully but still retains a poise and style that really sets her apart." Derek Elley of Film Business Asia gave the film 9 stars out of 10 and wrote that "without heavy resort to visual effects, and without going too far down any one stylistic road, the film gives new life to a genre that's been pulled every which way in the past 20 years in search of new thrills."
The film received positive reception in Asia on its premiere. The Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Agency
The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
stated that the film "ushers in a new era of the kungfu genre" and that the film "spends a bit too much time unfolding the romance between Zeng and her husband, and some lines sound funny when they are not supposed to be. But when many recent martial arts films can barely tell a complete story and are hyped only by lavish sets, Assassins stands out as entertaining and special." The Global Times
Global Times
The Global Times is a daily Chinese tabloid under the auspices of the official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, focusing on international issues...
gave the film four stars, stating that it was "the best wuxia film since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
". Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini is a political news website published in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Since its launch on November 20, 1999, it has been widely considered to be one of the leading non-government owned paid-news agencies in Malaysia. Compete.com estimates that Malaysiakini now attracts over...
also compared the film to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, writing that "The movie sort of goes back to wuxia's roots, where the plot revolves tightly around the Chinese philosophy and relationship." Today
Today (Singapore newspaper)
Today is a free English-language compact in Singapore published by government-owned MediaCorp print media arm. It is distributed from Monday to Sunday....
gave the film three stars out of five, saying that "the storyline borders on the illogical at times – Su's script will get you sniggering...on-screen moments between Yeoh and Jung are uncomfortably stiff." Time Out Hong Kong gave the film three stars out of six stating that the film "is often too schizophrenic in tone to be taken seriously."
Accolades
| Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Name | Outcome | |
| Best Director | Su Chao-pin | |||
| Films of Merit | ||||
Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema.-History:... |
Best Actress | Michelle Yeoh Michelle Yeoh Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s.... |
||
| Best Screenplay | Su Chao-pin | |||
| Best Music Score | Peter Kam Peter Kam Peter Kam Pui-Tat is a music composer for Hong Kong films including The Warlords and Bodyguards and Assassins.Peter is a four-time winner at the Hong Kong Film Awards.-External links:... |
|||
Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,... |
Best Film | |||
| Best Director | Su Chao-pin | |||