Went to watch this movie... well, how can I miss the movie of Takeshi Kaneshiro... haha... anyway, let's talk about what I feel about this movie here.
The story begins with an incident happened in a small village, where 2 wanted criminals attempt to rob a shop. And Donnie Yen saved the shop owner and "accidentally" killed the 2 criminals. And here comes Takeshi Kaneshiro... investigating the truth behind this incident. The way the story unfold is very interesting and tempting. The more he investigate, the more truth has been unveiled. He found out that Donnie Yen didn't killed the 2 criminals by accident. In fact, he is a great kung fu master, and he killed them both by his intention.
This is where the turning point of the story begins. Donnie Yen admitted he was a murderer before this, and now he want to have a new life again being an ordinary people, a good guy. But Takeshi Kaneshiro didn't think so. He believes that there are no "good guy" or "bad guy" in this world. We decide to be good or bad by our intention and things will change at any time and any moment. He wanted to arrest Donnie Yen. However, Donnie Yen's father (who had trained him to become a murderer and kung fu master) has managed to found him and want him back to his side to help him. Donnie Yen refuse, and then the conflict between them begins.
Well, up until this point the story is still very interesting. But things turn out to be rather disappointing towards the end. At the very beginning, the story is emphasizing everyone has a good and bad personality inside, and this can be shown clearly from Takeshi Kaneshiro's act and also Donnie Yen's act. However, towards the end, this point is no longer being the center of the story line. In the end, Donnie Yen lose his left arms, Takeshi Kaneshiro died protecting Donnie Yen, and his father died "accidentally". And Donnie Yen live on happily ever after in the small village with his wife...
So, first I don't know why the director has lose his focus on the main theme towards the end... secondly, I got no idea why this movie have this title. It is not about action or kung fu... rather there are only some fighting action towards the end of the movie... which is only a small portion of it. The story is talking about something deeper within everyone. Third, the ending is rather lame... if the main theme of this story is able to carry on until the end, this would have been a great movie. They should ditch those fighting scene and work more on the emotional side. Like in the end, when Takeshi Kaneshiro died, the "bad guy" inside him is standing in front of him and crying... crying for the sacrifice of the "good guy" in him... this is a rather good interpretation which brings out the whole concept of the story.
Well, all in all, the movie did make me think about some of the things like what I have mentioned above... some are quite true... and leaves me ponder for awhile. Worth to watch in cinema? Hmm... I don't think many will like this movie. I like the concept, like the beginning... but dislike the ending. A good story, but poorly told. That is how I can conclude this movie.
