Hidden Blade

Espionage is widely regarded as a game of cat and mouse, and nowhere was that more apparent than in China during World War II, where a clandestine network of spies fought against their Japanese occupiers through meticulously executed acts of deception and false loyalty. At the same time, there were also competing, carefully concealed factions within their ranks quietly battling one another, relying on the same kinds of tactics used against their mutual enemies, for who would control the country during the post-war era, pitting Chinese nationalists against the rising tide of Communism. That tangled web of moves and counter-moves is effectively brought to life in writer-director Er Cheng's fourth feature outing, a film that seamlessly combines works drawn from the historical drama, action-adventure, thriller and arthouse genres, quite an accomplishment for such widely diverse materials. The picture's fine period piece production values, excellent ensemble cast (especially protagonists Tony Leung and Yibo Wang), atmospheric cinematography and superb special effects blend well to tell an engaging, visually tantalizing tale that gets better and better the further one gets into the story. Admittedly, the filmmaker's less-than-veiled political symbolism, which obviously is meant to bolster Chinese propagandist sentiments, can be seen as somewhat over the top at times. Moreover, the director's assumptions regarding audience foreknowledge of mid-20th Century Chinese history can occasionally leave viewers somewhat baffled and frustrated (though one should bear in mind that this was made for a Chinese audience). What's more, the picture's out-of-sequence storytelling can be a little frustrating (especially in the first hour), though, thanks to the film's inspired editing, the narrative cleverly circles back to its origins as the movie goes on, making up for what some may see as a shortcoming. However, these considerations aside, "Hidden Blade" is a surprising little gem, one that, hopefully, won't get lost in a sea of lesser releases or pictures that capture undeserved praise.

The cast is very attractive. The film is a non-linear narrative method that Director Cheng Er is good at. You can understand it if you immerse yourself in it.

The first half is mainly about the role of Mr. He. Tony is still so handsome. He uses his original voice, including Mandarin and Cantonese. The original lines are great!

The second part mainly talks about the role of Mr. Ye played by Wang Yibo. There is an action play by a single shot which is so wonderful. In the film, there are many scenes of personal performance. He plays very well and can feel the emotions of the character. He has a lot of Japanese dialogue in the film, all of which are learned and performed at shooting site. It is amazing that his language talent and learning ability.

Women's roles are not many, but they are all amazing. Zhou Xun, as the director said, "every pore can play". Jiang Shuying impressed me deeply and is quite memorable. I think the director is good at telling women's roles in troubled times.

The film tells the story of Anti-Japanese War in China. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Central Special Action Section of the CPC contend with Chongqing, Wang Jingwei's Puppet Regime and Japanese spy agencies in Shanghai. Through the complex information system behind the enemy, it plotted against the enemy, obtained information, and killed the traitors. The underground agents risked their lives to send information, and established a broader united front, until the eve of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and defended the motherland with their lives. The whole process was extremely exciting, with compact plot, beautiful scenes, exquisite props, and immersive performances. The narrative form of interlude plays up the tense plot. The seemingly unrelated scenes have a continuous relationship. When you put these information together, you will find that the story is extremely wonderful and memorable.

Hidden Blade is a beautifully crafted Chinese movie that showcases exceptional film quality. The movie's puzzle-like timeline is both intriguing and satisfying, making it a standout feature though it can create a little difficulty in watching the movie at the beginning, so you need to concentrate, and you need to patiently hold the fragments in front, and build them while holding them. The unique style of Cheng Er makes me immerse myself in it, so watching the movie was an enjoyable experience.

The performances of the actors are also very good. The acting skills of Tony Leung and Zhou Xun are of course very good, they don't act, they live as their characters at the screen. Tony Leung eyes are very expressive, it was difficult to come to a conclusion whether he is a good guy or an evil one. Wang Yibo's performance is stunning and captivating, leaving the viewer wanting more, his acting potential is evident in this movie, and I am excited to see what he does next. I also enjoyed the action scene included by Cheng Er, it was raw, powerful, full of tension and painful to watch.

Overall, Hidden Blade is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates exceptional filmmaking and impressive acting.

Hidden Blade is set in Shanghai in an era where it was all chaos Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, and it chronicles China's growth under the Communist Party's leadership Under the director Cheng er lens the movie is a visual treat every frame is soo beautiful so symmetrical and the use of light is brilliant with soft hues and dark and yellow The cast is so well chosen every actor fits the characters so well we have The Tony Leung here as the main character and no need to say how great he is then there is ever beautiful and very talented Zhou xun get role is small but impactful but who impressed me the most is new actor WangYibo he had the most complex character in the movie and he completed it amazingly It's a great cinematic experience I recommend it👏👏

Upfront, I am astounded by the dichromatic visual aesthetics, the painstaking production design, and the drearily solemn atmosphere, which swiftly institutes a suspenseful mood. The lingering tension continues to build as seemingly irrelevant narratives, discourses, and incidents begin to unfold, intersect, and repeat, embroidering a convoluted story with the aid of purposefully fragmented editing. However, lacking both historical contextualization and relational clarification, the movie demands much heed, deduction, and prior knowledge from its audience to fully comprehend and rationalize the plot. And yet, if you do manage to wade through the mist, you will find the tale hither and thither illogical, or flawed, for instance the riveting hallway brawl moderately contradicts the final revelation. Speaking of which, the prolix denouement marginally punctures the perfectly constructed angst in the first act, limiting blankness of interpretation. Overall, sublime performances, stylistic presentation, and undoubtedly a film I recommend.