Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) Shi yue wei cheng (original title)

Director:

Teddy Chan

Writers:

Junli Guo (written by) &
Tin Nam Chun (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 2009 (China)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History

Plot:

In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-Sen visits Hong Kong to discuss plans with Tongmenghui members to overthrow the Qing dynasty. But when they find out that assassins have been sent to kill him, they assemble a group of protectors to prevent any attacks. |

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Exit Wound | Stabbed In The Back | Shot In The Head | Massacre

Awards:

15 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Xueqi Wang	...	Li Yue-Tang
Tony Leung Ka Fai	...	Prof. Chen Xiao-Bai
Jun Hu	...	Yan Xiao-Guo
Bo-Chieh Wang	...	Li Chung-Guang
Nicholas Tse	...	Ah Si
Donnie Yen	...	Sum Chung-Yang
Bingbing Fan	...	Yuet-yu
Yuchun Li	...	Fang Hong
Mengke Bateer	...	Wang Fu-Ming (Stinky Tofu)
Leon Lai	...	Prince Lau Luk-Yak
Eric Tsang	...	Detective Smith
Cung Le	...	Yan Xiao-Guo's henchman #1
Hanyu Zhang	...	Sun Yat-Sen
Simon Yam	...	General Fang Tian
Jacky Cheung	...	Prof. Yang Quyun
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kim-Fai Che	...	Yan Xiao-Guo's henchman #2
Seung Dik	...	Police chief
Yu-Lam Fan
Hao Jing	...	Nianci
Edmond Wong Kin-Yip	...	Shot policeman
Miao Liang
Zhong Lü	...	Sun Yat-Sen's mother
Gary Mak	...	Casino dealer
Philip Ng	...	Qing assassin
Michelle Reis	...	Prince Lau's lover
John Sham	...	Ah Suen's father
Yu-Hang To	...	Qing assassin
Wenjie Wang
Yachao Wang	...	Bao Shi
Jack Wong Wai Leung	...	Shot policeman
Yu Xing	...	Qing assassin
Wei Yi-Bo	...	Yong Kai
Jianya Zhang	...	Boss Feng
You Zhang
Yun Zhou	...	Ah Suen

Directed by
Teddy Chan

Writing credits
Junli Guo		(written by) &
Tin Nam Chun		(written by) &
Joyce Chan		(written by)
Tung Man Chan		(concept)
James Yuen		(co-written by) &
Bing Wu		(co-written by)

Produced by
Jeffrey Chan	....	co-producer
Peter Chan	....	producer
Man Kei Chin	....	associate producer
Lung Dan-Nei	....	co-producer
Sanping Han	....	executive producer
Xiaoli Han	....	co-producer
Jianxin Huang	....	producer
Chen Hui	....	co-producer
Yuet-Jan Hui	....	producer
Tang Jia-Yin	....	executive producer
Nan Li	....	co-producer
Rui Gang Li	....	executive producer
Chen Liang	....	co-producer
Bai Ling	....	executive producer
Edward Tian Su-Ning	....	executive producer
Wai Man Yip	....	associate producer
Li You-Li	....	co-producer
Dong Yu	....	executive producer
Jiang Zhong	....	executive producer
Li Zhou	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Kwong Wing Chan

Cinematography by
Arthur Wong		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Derek Hui
Hoi Wong

Production Design by
Kenneth Mak

Art Direction by
Che Kiu Lam		(as Eric Lam)

Costume Design by
Dora Ng

Makeup Department
Mark Garbarino	....	special makeup effects designer
Connie Lai	....	makeup artist
Wai Hing Lau	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Yiu Shan Chow	....	assistant production manager
Kim Hung Fan	....	assistant production manager
Debbie Lam	....	assistant production manager
Zheng Qiang Ma	....	assistant production manager
Suki Tsui	....	assistant production manager
May Yu Yut	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Man Ki Kwok	....	third assistant director
Kim Wah Lo	....	first assistant director
Gary Mak	....	second assistant director
Cindy Yu	....	fourth assistant director

Art Department
Kung Chan	....	props
Lam Jan-Yiu	....	props
Wai Kin Lam	....	property master
Kin Hung Wong	....	props
Wai Yan Wong	....	set designer
Yu Chung Wong	....	props
Sai Yan Yeung	....	props

Sound Department
Kinson Tsang	....	sound recordist
George Lee Yiu-Keung	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Chas Chi-Shing Chau	....	visual effects
Yuen Fai Ng	....	visual effects supervisor
Chi-Wai Tam	....	visual effects
Kwok-yin Yung	....	visual effects

Stunts
Tat Chiu Lee	....	action choreographer
Kenji Tanigaki	....	action choreographer
Wei Tung	....	action director
Jack Wong Wai Leung	....	action choreographer
Hua Yan	....	action choreographer
Ming Zhe Liu	....	stunt double: Donnie Yen (uncredited)
Donnie Yen	....	action director (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Liu Ai-Dong	....	lighting technician
Lam Chow	....	gaffer
Zheng-Jia Guo	....	gaffer
Yeung Jan-Yu	....	lighting technician
Yiu-Fai Lai	....	lighting technician
Peter Ngor	....	grip

Casting Department
Mike Leeder	....	additional casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cindy Cheung Fong-Tai	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Steve Calalang	....	digital intermediate colorist
Majush James	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Fabrizio Pistone	....	di edit supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Peter Kam	....	composer: additional music

Thanks
Wai-keung Lau	....	special thanks (as Andrew Lau)
Donnie Yen	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company
• Cinema Popular

Distributors

• Indomina Releasing (2010) (USA) (all media)
• We Distribution (2009) (worldwide) (all media)
• Applause Entertainment (2009) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company (2009) (China) (theatrical)
• CJ Entertainment (2010) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Dream Movie Australia (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• E1 Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• E1 Entertainment (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Gulf Film (2010) (United Arab Emirates) (theatrical)
• Lark Films Distribution (2009) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• P.T. Teguh Bakti Mandiri (2009) (Indonesia) (theatrical)
• Parkit Films (2009) (Vietnam) (theatrical)
• R.A.M.M. Entertainment (2010) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Golden Scene (2009) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• HBO Hungary (2011) (Hungary) (TV)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (all media)
• Splendid Film (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (2-disc special edition)
• Splendid Film (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (special edition)

Special Effects

• FatFace Productions (visual effects)
• Mark Garbarino's Funhouse Makeup FX

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Hang Wan Cinematic Equipment Rental  additional camera and lighting equipment supplied by
• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Media Business Service Limited  post-production sound services
• Salon Films  camera and lighting equipment supplied by
• Technicolor Thailand  digital film output
• Technicolor Thailand  digital intermediate
• Technicolor Thailand  film processing
• Technicolor Thailand  optical sound transfer
• Technicolor Thailand  subtitles

Also Known As:

"Shi yue wei cheng" - China (original title)
"The October Siege" - International (English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Cantonese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Australia:MA | South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Germany:18 | Japan:R15+ | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Company:

Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company

Movie Connections:

Remake of Chi dan hao han (1974)

HK Neo Reviews: Bodyguards & Assassins

An entertaining Chinese blockbuster...

Review by Neo: Bodyguards and Assassins (B&A) is what you call, a blockbuster. Quality production values, generally good acting turns, steady direction and adequate commercial values to put bums on seats. Putting the false advertising of Donnie Yen aside, B&A is one of the better movies of 2009. As stupid as I was, pondering that this movie was IP MAN 2. I was all the more surprised by how satisfied it left me as the credit rolls. Lack of action, too much drama may have distorted most action fans, but director Teddy Chan combines perfectly with the silky producing of Peter Chan. Both Chan handles the drama impeccably and to a greater extent in the effect of spot on casting. By no means, a great flick, but undoubtedly, for what it is worth, B&S is a thoroughly entertaining piece of dramatic, historic and action event.

The movie goes like this: Sun Yat-Sen needs protection and in the process, everyone seems to be involved. The film is basically about the price to paid, the value of human beings and the cost of human lives for the greater good. Then again, the rest is just history.

One of the most stunning action moments in cinematic history involves Donnie Yen. Mr. Yen stands in the way of a full blooded horse charging at him with full pace and agility. The manner plus the fashion that led to the dramatic impact was simply a moment of magic. The stand out performance award must go to the veteran, Wang Yueqi. Mr. Wang juggles between the business world, fatherhood and idealisation is certainly amazing to watch. Wang evolves throughout the movie and the pinnacle moment occurs in the scene of witness his son premature death. Wang pulled it off terrifically, just like any other father. For me, it is these simple moments that adds up as to why B&A ultimately works.

As a villain, there are few that can rival, the merciless and fearless presence of Hu Jun. An expert practitioner in playing the bad guy, Hu is not just the cliché, one dimensional bad guy. His multi-layer performance is a joy to watch. As usual, Tony Leung Ka Fai is convincing as a sympathetic yet passionate follower of Sun Yat-Sen. Nicholas Tse plays the simple guy with simple dreams and life. Tse pursues love and friendship and values loyalty, is most likely his best performance for a long while. Donnie Yen actually attempts to act and likewise, Leon Lai provides a moment of comic relief as a beggar turned kung fu fighter. Perhaps the weakest link goes to the stunt double of Sun Yat-Sen. Played by Wang Bo Chieh, he is neither convincing nor capable of handling such an important role. Wang lacks both screen presence and the required acting ability to add any value to the movie.

All in all, B&A is an entertaining blockbuster attempt in recapturing the chaotic history of the turn of century in China. Mr. Sun Yat-Sen may well be a respectable hero, but it undeniably poses the question of value. Did his vision justify the death and human sacrifices of all these individuals? Is his principle of the greater good, simply just any version of the first emperor of China in his unification of China as one country? For me, it is a matter of perspective and going into a historical and political debate will most likely require a research essay all together. Still, it makes you wonder, why Mr. Sun did not keep his visit of Hong Kong, as low profile as possible. It seems as though that he is trying to stand out by wearing his trademark white hat. Forgetting these minor flaws, as a movie, B&A works just fine. For once, director Teddy Chan got the balance of drama and action spot on. Credit should also be dealt to producer Peter Chan, as his touch and influence is clearly evident throughout. It has been a disappointing year 2009 for the local industry and while B&A does nothing to change that fact, it still manages to shed some light at the end of the tunnel...(Neo 2010)

I rate it 8/10

- www.thehkneo.com