R E V I E W :   The Bodyguard from Beijing  

Reviewed 5/10/01 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

World Video / 1994 / 93 minutes
Directed by Corey Yuen Kwai
Written by Gordon Chan Ka-Seung and John Chan Kin-Chung

The previous effort for action choreographer Yuen and producer/star Li was the successful New Legend of Shaolin, made with writer/director Wong Jing. That film came out in March 1994.

This film opened in Hong Kong cinemas in late July 1994 and earned HK $11 million dollars.

Subsequent to release of this film, Li appeared in Gordon Chan's Fist of Legend. Li and Yuen worked together again the next year in both My Father is a Hero and High Risk.

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

Plot: Hui Ching-yang is the top graduating prospect of a school for the Security Unit in Beijing. He is assigned to travel to Hong Kong in order to protect a rich businessman's girlfriend, Michelle Yeung. Michelle was one of three witnesses to a murder committed by a suspected crime boss; the other two witnesses have died under suspicious circumstances, and an attempt on her life has already been made. After arriving in Hong Kong, Hui quickly dismisses most of the security team, leaving just himself and two HK cops, Sgt. Leung Kam-po (known as Fat Po) and the somewhat younger Keung to guard Michelle and her young brother, Billy. Michelle initially resents the strict measures implemented by Hui, but things have a way of changing as feelings develop. The outline of the plot may sound similar to the Kevin Costner/Whitney Houston film The Bodyguard (which I'm sure is intentional) and the English title is a dead giveaway.

Performances: As Hui Ching-yang, Jet Li maintains one look for nearly the entire film - stoic and watchful. Occasionally he's angry and vicious. But then, that's what is required for the role. As Michelle, Christy Chung Lai-Tai looks lovely and pouts throughout, except when she looks at Jet with a baleful, doe-eyed visage. Kent Cheng Jak Si adds a lively edge as Fat Po. The supporting cast includes Ngai Sing, Leung Wing Chung, Ng Wai Gwok, and William Chu Wai Lim.

Production: Director Yuen keeps things moving, but the script is not able to keep pace. The developing relationship between Hui Ching-yang and Michelle is signified by gestures and looks rather than believable motivation. The action scenes - most favoring guns, but including two or three quite engaging martial arts battles - are well staged by Corey Yuen Kwai and cohort Yuen Tak. The visual compositions may be quite attractive but were compromised by the poor presentation on disk (cinematography was by Tom Lau Moon-Tong, who also shot A Chinese Ghost Story, Swordsman II, Dragon Inn, and other films featuring Jet Li and also Sammo Hung). The musical score by William Hu (Tai Chi Master, Iron Monkey, Drunken Master II, and Hero among many others) was serviceable.

Rating: I don't know for certain (it's not marked on the DVD), but it's equivalent to Category IIB - many dead bodies, many gunshots, some beatings, a lot of blood leaking and oozing (but limited spraying).

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

Look: The film is letterboxed at something less than 1.85:1 (perhaps 1.76:1) and is cropped. In other words, the lower portion of the picture (where burned-in subtitles normally appear) is simply covered with black. The effect is that it looks like a huge black bar on the bottom of your television. The source print has many defects (a lot of dust, blemishes, spots). Black levels, colors, and flesh tones are all less than average looking.

Sound: The post-synched mostly-Cantonese (with some Mandarin) audio track is presented in mono. It sounds a bit muffled but overall it squeaks by with a 'barely acceptable' rating. Also available is a Mandarin-only mono track.

Subtitles: The non-removable English subtitles are fairly large and full of the usual mistakes in spelling and grammar, but nothing too distracting. A bigger problem is that they are poorly timed - often appearing late and occasionally even before a character begins to speak. This is a constant irritation. No other subtitles are provided.

Features: Six chapters can be selected from a text-only menu (note that chapter 6 takes you right to the end credits, so there are really only five chapters). Trailers for this film and Ashes of Time are included - both feature English text and so are presumably made for the English-language video release.

Buy, rent, or pass?

Rent. Low priority. Less than compelling drama and/or romance, but marginally worth watching for the two or three action sequences where things really begin to fly.

Other DVD releases: Buena Vista. Region 1 only. Re-titled The Defender. English dubbed audio only, with a new musical score and removable English subtitles. Evidently some footage was cut for this version. Details are available at Asian DVD Guide.

 

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