14 Blades | Telescope Film
14 Blades

14 Blades (錦衣衛)

Critic Rating

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User Rating

  • Hong Kong,
  • China,
  • Singapore
  • 2010
  • · 114m

Director Daniel Lee Yan-Kong
Cast Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Wu Zun, Kate Tsui, Qi Yuwu, Damian Lau
Genre Action, Drama, Thriller

Qinglong is part of the Jinyiwei, an elite force of secret agents in imperial China. When the Imperial Court is taken over by an enemy, Qinglong must find and rally the remaining loyalists to rise and restore the Emperor to power. In his way are the deadliest assassins in the land, his former brethren, the Jinyiwei.

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What are critics saying?

70

Variety

An above-average martial-arts actioner that reinforces Donnie Yen’s “Man With No Name” ambience.

70

Village Voice by Simon Abrams

Come for Ku's joyful choreography, stay for Yen's most memorable post-comeback performance.

70

Variety by Russell Edwards

An above-average martial-arts actioner that reinforces Donnie Yen’s “Man With No Name” ambience.

60

The New York Times by Daniel M. Gold

While 14 Blades grinds on perhaps a half-hour too long, its ambitions and energies show that for a fresh take on the western, go east.

60

The Hollywood Reporter

Drawing on the prowess of Donnie Yen, the first 35 minutes of gimmick-free martial arts revives the sinewy action aesthetics of '70s Shaw Brothers classics.

60

The Hollywood Reporter by Maggie Lee

Drawing on the prowess of Donnie Yen, the first 35 minutes of gimmick-free martial arts revives the sinewy action aesthetics of '70s Shaw Brothers classics.

50

Los Angeles Times by Gary Goldstein

The movie's raison d'etre, its many highflying, wildly violent, often digitally enhanced kung fu fighting sequences, are edited with so much sleight of hand they may evoke more eye rolls than gasps. But the hard-working sound design, effectively stark visual palette and propulsive score do manage to impress.

50

Slant Magazine by Kenji Fujishima

An immensely gifted physical performer, Donnie Yen isn't strong enough an actor to suggest an authentic inner life to his character beyond a vague sense of stone-faced dissatisfaction.

30

The Dissolve by David Ehrlich

Ultimately, the lackluster fight scenes are what make 14 Blades a disposable addition to the wu xia world.