Wu Ji - Die Meister des Schwertes (2010)

To save the only child of the Zhao Family, whose entire clan was massacred at the hands of a nefarious minister, a doctor sacrifices his own son; after the Zhao child grows up, the doctor becomes intent on seeking his vengeance.

Director:

Chen Kaige

Writer:

Ningyu Zhao

Stars:

You Ge, Xueqi Wang, Xiaoming Huang

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
You Ge	...	Cheng Ying
Xueqi Wang	...	Tu Angu
Fengyi Zhang	...	Gongsun Chujiu
Xiaoming Huang	...	Han Jue / Han Xianzi
Bingbing Fan	...	Princess Zhuang
Hai-Qing	...	Cheng Ying's Wife
Wenzhuo Zhao	...	Zhao Shuo / Zhao Zhuangzi (as Vincent Zhao)
Guoan Bao	...	Zhao Dun / Zhao Xuanzi
Dong-xue Li	...	Ti Miming
Bo Peng	...	Duke Ling of Jin
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zhao Wen Hao	...	Zhao Wu
Jinsong Wang	...	Councellor
William Wang	...	Young Zhao Wu

Storyline

Sacrifice (Orphan of Zhao Family): To save the only child of the Zhao Family, whose whole clan is massacred at the hands of a nefarious minister, a doctor sacrifices his own son, and later becomes intent on seeking vengeance against the minister after the child grows up. For generations, the Zhao family has wielded power, even extending over the king. In a well-planned coup, their mortal enemy TU'AN GU (Wang Xue Qi) slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. However, a solitary Zhao baby survives the massacre, and is hidden and taken home by CHENG YING (Ge You), the doctor who delivered him, to live with his WIFE (Hai Qing) and their own newborn baby. Set on revenge, and raising the Zhao child as his own, Cheng Ying bides his time, enrolling himself and the Zhao orphan (whom he calls Cheng Bo) into the service of the Tu'an Gu household. Tu' an Gu grows very fond of Cheng Bo and makes Cheng Bo his godson, unaware that Cheng Ying has been plotting to use...

---

Taglines:

Caught between two worlds. A child will decide the fate of a nation.

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

China

Language:

Chinese

Release Date:

27 July 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wu Ji - Die Meister des Schwertes

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

21 Century Shengkai Film, Shanghai Film Group, Stellar Megamedia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

The action slackens but it's still worth watching

"SACRIFICE" is Chen Kaige's third adaptation of China's stage plays. Set in the Warring States period, the opening sequences show an excited Dr Cheng Ying (played by the cool and talented Ge You) welcoming the birth of his son. As the court physician, Cheng Ying is also thrilled about delivering the child of General Zhao, whose wife Zhuangji (Fan Bing Bing) gives birth at a tragic time when the mutinous General Tuan Gu (Wang Xueqi) stages an elaborate assassination of his lord and pins the blame on General Zhao. This gives Tuan Gu the perfect excuse to wipe out the entire Zhao clan.

However, the newborn Zhou prince - and heir to the throne - is placed in the care of Cheng Ying (Ge You), forcing Tuan Gu to order all babies in the city be rounded up as hostages. In a cruel twist of fate, Cheng's own baby is killed, and poor doctor is left to raise the Zhao boy, nicknamed Bo'er, as his own. As a form of revenge, Cheng schemes to have Bo'er become the godson of Tuan Gu so that the boy may one day learn the truth and claim the throne.

The first half hour of the movie is totally riveting. The tale of Tuan Gu's betrayal is lavishly portrayed in detailed settings and sets. The assassination conspiracy is mind-bogglingly complicated, involving a killer dog, a poisonous insect and a case of harmless wine. These court intrigue scenes alternate with those involving Cheng and the birth of Zhuangji's baby, raising the movie's tempo and our pulses, culminating in Cheng's shocking 'sacrifice'.

Indeed, after this sort of build-up, what follows has to be somewhat of a lull. Still, director Chen Kaige tries to work up our anticipation with the 'revenge' plot involving Cheng, a rather mellowed Tuan Gu and the Zhao boy, Bo'er. The pace slackens a great deal here and it is Ge You's performance that keeps our minds from wandering off.

Chen keeps the revenge plot morally ambiguous (and not very convincing) but the sacrifice of one's son cuts deeply into China's audiences who have experienced the Government's one-child policy. The play "Orphan of Zhao" from which this movie is adapted, was a feudal propaganda that exalts loyalty to the aristocracy. Chen's adaptation offers an interesting study on how fatherly love can be used as a tool for vengeance, to cultivate pain and regret. "Sacrifice" is not Chen Kaige's masterpiece, but it is worth watching. (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)