Movie marketing can be an arduous thing to negotiate. It can set up expectations that are impossible to deliver on and also at times distract from what the virtues of a production really are. “Blind War”, which is now being released by Well Go USA in the US is one such example. The focus on it is one for those that love the original “Heroic Bloodshed\Hong Kong style action actually does it a disservice. Andy On has appeared in so many features with that billing that it serves to dampen expectations. Upon actually viewing “Blind War” it comes as a great relief to say that it surpasses all expectations and is potentially one of the year's unexpected action highlights.
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The trial of McQueen (Waise Lee) is interrupted by the arrival of crazed villain Rido who is aided by his partner Cena (Yang Xing). Instead of releasing him, they kill him which sets of a firefight that results in numerous casualties. Policeman Dong Gu (Andy On) breaks protocol and attempts to stop the violence which goes badly wrong and results in the death of Rido and his own severe injuries. Sometime later, a now blinded Dong Gu accompanies his daughter to a concert. Her subsequent kidnapping sets in motion a series of events that see a vengeance seeking Cena escape imprisonment and manipulate Dong Gu in his quest. The kidnappers though have a motivation that could perhaps doom them all as the violent conclusion is reached.
The opening sequence inside the courtroom is superb and starts the movie with a literal bang. It's glorified chaos involving explosions, heavy fire power and a clown with a machine gun! The use of several elongated tracing shots further adds to the feel of mayhem going on. Our introduction to Cena and Rido sets them up as a Joker\Harlequin style psychotic bad guys with Rido dressed as a priest and Cena acting as an attorney. They are over the top, but it plays into the style of these opening moments. There is even an unintentional return to the classic era of Hong Kong action, courtesy of the poorly spoken English that sounds telephonic in delivery.
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Inevitably, after this, the pace slows down and the focus shifts to the now blinded Gong Du and his rehabilitation. It's a cliché in cinema that a disabled martial artist has their other senses heightened, so perhaps it is inevitable that this is what we get here. Several shots focus on his elevated hearing which also adds to an intriguing subtext. His daughter is shown playing Pachelbel's “Canon” piece on the violin, and it is revealed that it's her playing of music that calms him down. This recurs at several points with it ultimately playing into the finale.
Gong Du is the standard heroic figure but is provided with several shades of grey that makes him a far more interesting character on closer inspection. Firstly, there is this element of repressed rage born from the guilt he feels for the death of his comrades. This anger has pushed everyone away from his life except his daughter and friend Lun. Once Cena begins to utilize him in her own revenge scheme there comes a question as to just how complicit Gong Du is in his actions. Cena pushes him into situations where he “inadvertently” kills his opponents yet a plot revelation towards the end makes you wonder whether he is more aware than he presented. It certainly fits within his character arc and would therefore make sense. It's a nice piece of development that furthers the polish of the piece.
Cena however is the true driving force of the narrative in what is a rather convoluted and coincidence reliant storyline. The opening act sets up her motivation, which is, for the most part, parked for the remainder of the running time until the inevitable set up at the conclusion. She's clearly crazy yet is given enough time for her character to breathe that you enjoy her performance. Cena is also given a backstory that explains how she came to be. Who she was which adds an element of sympathy and a question as to who the true villains really are. We know she is going to betray Gong at some juncture as the very nature of the genre dictates it will happen. We can't help but hope that somehow she won't.
Like a lot of action movies, there is a reliance on coincidence within the narrative. It's pure circumstance that Gong Du's daughter gets kidnapped by the traffickers connected to the family that wants revenge on Cena. She just happens to see it reported on TV and then begins her own revenge arc. Movie logic at the best of times requires a suspension of disbelief. If you can park the unlikelihood of this development, then the story becomes quite compelling.
The action sequences inevitably cannot possibly compare to the opening but retain a certain style. A stand-up fist fight with Jin Gang is a standout as the villain plays on Gong Du's reliance on his hearing by using trickery mixed with brute force. It's a vicious slug fest that holds up well. Several other confrontations that mix gunplay and martial arts are interspersed within the story and each are entertaining without ever overstaying their welcome.
“Blind War” also has a supporting cast of rogues that have that exaggerated feel of comic book characters. From Inspector Rema who proceeds to get more and more battered as the movie progresses (the Door\Knife interface is pure slapstick) to the gun supplier with a terrible afro. These are memorable for the right reasons and just add depth. Look out also for the Counsellor Zhou who uses unexpected common sense amidst the carnage of the final act. They also supply moments of light relief amidst the darkness of the core story and fits in with the exaggeration contained within it despite appearing at times over the top.
A criticism of “Blind War” on original release was that it couldn't follow up its explosive opening. That is true to an extend but that is due to the excellence of it. Those expecting a full non-stop action extravaganza might be disappointed. Those looking for a quality production with solid action and an investing storyline will find much to discover and enjoy. The exaggerated characterization gives it a comic book vibe that is grounded by an excellent performance by Andy On and a scene stealing one by Yang Xing.
