Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)

Set three years after Dragon Inn, innkeeper Jade has disappeared and a new inn has risen from the ashes - one that's staffed by marauders masquerading as law-abiding citizens, who hope to unearth the fabled lost city buried in the desert.

Director:

Hark Tsui

Writer:

Hark Tsui (screenplay)

Stars:

Jet Li, Xun Zhou, Kun Chen

14 wins & 34 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jet Li	...	Zhao Huai'an
Xun Zhou	...	Ling Yanqiu
Kun Chen	...	Yu Huatian / Pu Cangzhou / Blade in the Wind
Lun-Mei Kwei	...	Chang Xiaowen / Bu Ludu
Yuchun Li	...	Gu Shaotang
Mavis Fan	...	Su Huirong
Siu-Wong Fan	...	Ma Jinliang
Chia-Hui Liu	...	Wan Yulou
Jian Kui Sun	...	Liang Cai / Lao Chai
Chien Sheng	...	Tan Luzi
Yiheng Du	...	Ji Xueyong
Shuangbao Wang	...	Zhao Pingan
Jian Xue	...	Lei Chongcheng
Feixing Han	...	H'Gantga
Bingyuan Li	...	Ling Guozhou

Storyline

The Emperor's eunuchs have gained power and influence, the East Bureau and West Bureau spy and police the nation. They visit the shipyards, but only as a cover to execute those who would try and report their taking of bribes to the Emperor. Zhao Huai'an fights the leader of the East Bureau, defeating him and putting his head in a box and hanging it as a warning to other corrupt officials. The Emperor's chief concubine wants them to prevent the Emperor impregnating anyone aside from her. Three pregnant courtesans have been executed, a fourth is being hunted down. Officials stop a riverboat and are about to execute a woman but a masked hero intervenes. Zhao watches from nearby and the masked hero also claims to be Zhao. The imposter helps the courtesan flee to Dragons Gate, Zhao and his followers decide to fight the West Bureau to help delay them and aid in the escape.

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Plot Keywords:

emperor | spy | concubine | ancient city | wuxia | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

15 December 2011 (China)

Also Known As:

A Sárkánykapu repülő kardjai

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$95,452, 2 September 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$170,276

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$89,375,320

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beijing Liangzi Group, Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company, Bona Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tsui also invited Chuck Comisky, the visual-effects supervisor for James Cameron's Avatar (2009), as the 3-D director to manage the special effects. Comisky will lead a team of 3D crew from China, Korea, Singapore, Spain, etc.

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Alternate Versions

Also released in theaters in IMAX 3D.

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Connections

Follows Dragon Inn (1992)

User Reviews

Effects Go So Far, Fights Overdone CGI

Following Dragon Inn this film takes visual effects so freaking far that they overshadow and ruin the majority of all fights scenes in the movie. I love movies like House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and classics like Enter the Dragon. This has none of the redeeming qualities of those movies. I watched this mainly because of Jet Li's presence in the cast, and sadly that didn't help. His fights are also injected with too much CGI, and over done wire effects. I would have hoped he would pick a better film to make his return into wushu epics. I will go watch Hero or Fearless now to wipe my mind of this general bs. Overall 5/10 and I will, sad to say, not be buying this on bluray or DVD. What a disappointment.