Benny Chan's Call of Heroes is a lavish martial arts epic with a moral core, a film thats extravagant action set-pieces are equally matched by its strong characterizations and thematic elements centered around the unbiased nature of justice. Taking place during the warlords era in China, Call of Heroes focuses on the small town of Pucheng, which sits dangerously close to conflict. Led by Sherrif Yang, the guardians of Pucheng are sworn to protect the townspeople from conflict, but when the cruel commandant Cao's young, diabolical son arrives in town, he murders three of the townspeople in cold blood, including a young innocent child. Held for murder for his heinous act of violence, the son's father soon gets word of his incarceration, sending a large military unit to strike fear into the heart of the townspeople and demand the release of his son. While Sheriff Yang holds firm on his dedication to justice being served, the fear of invasion from Cao begins to corrupt the moral compass of the townspeople, testing the resolve of Sheriff Yang's dedication to what he believes is right. While Sheriff Yang's fellow guardians stand by their master, an unlikely ally in the form of Ma Feng emerges, a mysterious wanderer who is given the opportunity to correct his own past mistakes for the sake of justice. Benny Chan's Call of Heroes is a throwback style martial arts epic, a film which features a very serious story about justice and integrity while maintaining a relatively light, playful tone throughout its running time. It's violent and dark, yet silly and playful, featuring a tone which manages to balance both elements surprisingly well. Call of Heroes features a rather typical narrative archetype- the story of the unlikely hero in Ma Feng, a man who has spent his recent years as a vagabond due to his past failings. A martial arts master, Ma Feng is on the run from his past, as we eventually learn that he himself has fallen victim to the whims of a powerful, rich warlord, betraying his own moral compass for the sake of his dedication, commitment, and loyalty to his master. It's through his relationship with Sheriff Yang that Ma Feng is given a chance to correct his past mistakes, being a pawn of no man's agenda, Ma Feng can now fight for justice and his own moral code, doing so against great adversity, including an old friend who stands in the way of him and justice. Featuring Sammo Hung as the action director, Call of Heroes' fight choreography and action set-pieces are well-staged and impressive, with the filmmakers often using speed ramping, wires, and some well orchestrated camera movements to place the viewer in the thick of the action. While most martial arts films feature very impressive fight choreography, in Call of Heroes the camera flows with the action in ways I personally haven't really seen before, making it an intoxicating ballet of movement and violence. The performances in the film are all around adequate, but Louis Koo's portrayal of the diabolical son of a tyrant really stands out, with the actor playing the character over-the-top, a deliciously evil portrayal of a character whose gotten everything he has ever wanted in life and shows absolutely no appreciation for the precious nature of life itself. While the film's message about justice and principles isn't anything unique or revelatory for the genre, Call of Heroes is an exciting, well-paced martial arts film that manages to balance its dramatic tone with its comedic flourishes, delivering a memorable experience that should be enjoyed by any fans of the genre.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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