Variety
An above-average martial-arts actioner that reinforces Donnie Yen’s “Man With No Name” ambience.
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
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.
Variety
An above-average martial-arts actioner that reinforces Donnie Yen’s “Man With No Name” ambience.
Village Voice by Simon Abrams
Come for Ku's joyful choreography, stay for Yen's most memorable post-comeback performance.
Variety by Russell Edwards
An above-average martial-arts actioner that reinforces Donnie Yen’s “Man With No Name” ambience.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Dissolve by David Ehrlich
Ultimately, the lackluster fight scenes are what make 14 Blades a disposable addition to the wu xia world.
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