Hidden Blade

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.

Watched this movie twice already and Oh! What a wonderful cinema it is! Definitely a good turn in Chinese Cinema!

Obviously Tony Leung's acting was superb, and Wang Yi Bo did exceptionally well too. I think he did a really good job (especially the way he clench his jaw !) at protraying different emotions, and even though some scenes the acting was a bit awkward, the director also made a good job to "hide" it. Huang Lei and Zhou Xun were also great. The cinematography was also beautiful. Most of the scenes were really pretty and consisted of shades of yellow and blue, while some scenes were only composed of green. I also really liked that some scenes were like a mirror of each other, and the flash backs throughout the movie.

Director Cheng Er has corralled the large swathes of genius he exhibited in Lethal Hostage and The Wasted Times and painted a stunning movie that may be his masterpiece. His script and meticulous editing combine to present a gorgeous puzzle that is never too difficult to solve and unwinds in a clever way that leaves the audience feeling rewarded and satisfied. A mysterious set up leads to a nearly rapturous payoff, with nary a misstep along the way for movie viewers who pay attention.

Cheng Er couldn't have achieved such success without skilled players. Tony Leung and Zhou Xun give expected, empathetic performances. The movie feels solid and secure in their hands. But the heart of Hidden Blade actually rests on the shoulders of a young newcomer actor, Wang Yibo. Wang's performance is the definition of a brilliant debut. His character's ambiguous position--is he a villain or not?--is played subtley yet powerfully. It's not an exaggeration to state that the success of the story--and the movie as a whole--relies on Wang being able to carry such a complicated role. Fortunately he doesn't falter, leading the movie goer through a second half that leaves audiences breathless, stunned, and in awe.

Hidden Blade walks a fine line between fine art and commercial appeal. Though arguments can be made whether it leans one way or the other, the end result is a movie that leaves the viewer with the enviable feeling of having watched something wonderful and needing to know how much better it can be with repeat viewings. Regardless of final box office, Hidden Blade is a triumph for both Cheng Er and his talented cast.

Surprisingly great! So many reversals and details which really need to range to see second time.

Actor Mr. Liang and actress Mrs. Zhou were acting as great as usual. The new film star Mr. Yibo performed unexpected awesome.

Director Mr. Cheng, unique narrative mode, inverted interpolation skill, strong individual style, and color application, which showing too many surprises for the audience.

Inside of story, it contains fight, belief, constrain, and insist, you could fully enjoy the charming of spy game and suspense experience.

Thanks for the wonderful performance for very actors and actress, and awesome technique for director and whole production team.

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.