BLADE OF KINGS
DVD. Metrodome.

Blade of Kings has taken the best part of eight years to come to the UK, with a title change along the way. It was originally released in Hong Kong in 2004 as Twins Effect II, which suggests that it is a sequel. That’s not exactly the case though.

Twins were (and for all I know still are) a HK pop group featuring Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung, and both this and the original Twins Effect were aimed at cashing in on their success. The actual films, however, are unrelated, and it’s unsurprising that the titles have been changed for markets where Twins are unknown.

Also popping up here is Jaycee Chan, son of Jackie making his acting debut, and – to bolster the commercial appeal without adding anything to the plot – there are brief appearances from Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen, who manage a rather unconvincing, wire-effect heavy fight scene that is clearly bolted on to the story, and have little else to do.

The film itself is a period martial arts-fantasy-comedy, set in a mythical time and place where a bitter and evil Empress with a hatred of men has set up a female-dominated society. Here, men are treated as slaves, disparagingly called ‘dumbbells’ (because of a tinkling bell on their slave collars. When 13th Young Master (Choi) loses her dumbbells during an attempt by royal bodyguard Blue Bird (Chung), a series of events are started that see the pair joining forces with renegade actors Charcoal Head (Jaycee Chan) and Blockhead (Wilson Chen), who have some into possession of a stone tablet that is destined to find the man who will eventually become king. While 13th Young Master dreams of wealth and power by following the map, Blue Bird has been charged with stopping the chosen man from achieving his fate. But as their adventure continues, loves begins to blossom amongst the four.

This is throwaway stuff, but it’s also undeniably entertaining, with some typically broad comedy, a few decent fights and a suitably spectacular finale. It looks very slick for the most part, and you’d have to be pretty miserable not to be swept along in the fun of it all. The cast seem to be enjoying it, and Choi in particular is a delight as the petulant, childish and cute opportunist.

Don’t expect anything earth shattering from this. But if you fancy 100 minutes of disposable but enjoyable fluff, then this might be just the thing.

LES DE MONZE

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