“Legendary Assassin” was a movie of firsts. Wu Jing and Nicky Li, a former fight choreographer and stunt member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, made their directorial debut, while singer, songwriter and model Celina Jade (daughter of “Snake in the Eagle's Shadow” and “Game of Death II” film star Roy Horan), made her acting one. Let us see about the result however.
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Bo is a lonely assassin who only seems to have one friend in the world, a restaurant owner (Kara Hui) who also happens to be his handler. After killing Chairman Timothy Ma, a ruthless crime boss and the world's most wanted criminal (Kou Zhan Wen) he finds himself stranded in an island due to a typhoon, and soon befriends a local female police officer, Holly. The two bond even more due to a skirmish with a trio of criminals who also find themselves in the only restaurant left open, in the first rather impressive fight of the movie. When the body of the aforementioned crime boss is found, all hell breaks loose and soon, the police force of the island is set against scores of criminals, with Bo being the only one who can help them survive.
One thing is quite common in the HK action movies when the (action) directors also star, is that they make themselves look exceedingly cool, powerful, even handsome on occasion, or even all of the above combined. Sammo Hung did it, Donnie Yen did it, so there was no reason for Wu Jing not to do it. Unfortunately, he went a bit overboard, since, apart from an all powerful fighter who is the epitome of coolness, is also rather appealing to women, a great cook, patient with the idiocy of the local buffoons (aka police officers) plus the most virtuous killer for hire of all time, to the point that even Leon would be jealous. This aspect becomes rather annoying after a fashion, as much as the trademark nonsensical script, but fortunately, in other terms, the movie truly thrives.
The action choreography by the two directors is as intricate as it is brutal, and also quite aplenty, in a tactic that definitely adds to the entertainment the movie offers. Starting with the initial murder, continuing with the two against three (including a true giant) fight in the restaurant, the various one-on-ones in the narrow streets of the island, and the rather impressive as much as excessive one against hundreds in the end, the artistry here is more than evident. Furthermore, the fact that Wu Jing is in top form becomes quite obvious from the beginning, with his speed and agility being a true wonder to watch at, even if the editing also helps in that regard. Particularly the moments that are presented in slow motion, in order for the viewer to both appreciate his movements and catch his speed, are truly remarkable, among those that definitely deserve multiple views.
Apart from the action aspect, the film also works well in terms of atmosphere. The location definitely adds in that regard, with the stranded island with the narrow streets inducing the narrative with a sense of agony that points towards the thriller, and the same applying to the claustrophobic setting of the police precinct. DP Anthony Pun captures all the aforementioned elements quite artfully, with the overall visual aspects occasionally even pointing towards the noir, in a style that reminds (a bit) of Johnnie To's works (Lam Suet's presence also helps in that regard). Chi-Wai Yau's editing is also on a high level, with the rather fast pace fitting the overall aesthetics of the movie excellently.
Apart from the self-idolization and the no-context aspect, none of which are unusual for the category, “Legendary Killer” is an impressive movie, a tribute to Wu Jing's abilities, and another must for fans of action/martial arts cinema.
