Whether you enjoy "14 Blades" will most likely depend on what you think of the extensive use of so-called 'wire fu' throughout the film. This term was coined some time ago to describe the martial arts you see in some Chinese films where the stunts can only be achieved using hidden wires and harnesses to make characters magically fly as they fight. This was popularized in the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" but was actually used well before this in some of the Shaw Brothers films of the 1970s (such as "Sister Street Fighter"). I don't mind these crazy techniques if they are used very sparingly. When it doesn't dominate the film and when the actors aren't doing things so insanely impossible that I have trouble enjoying the movie, it can be effective. Instead, I prefer martial arts films where the action is both plausible AND insanely realistic--such as in films like "Ip Man", "In the Blood" and the old Sonny Chiba Street Fighter films. To me, wire fu can become a gimmick-- especially when used too often. And, in "14 Blades" it simply is overused and as a result, the story itself is rather weak.When the film begins, you learn that in the Ming Dynasty, the Emperors created the Jinyiwei. The Jinyiwei was initially a small group of men who were like a combination of spies and assassins. They were independent of the rest of the government and had the authority to overrule judges and dispatch supposed enemies of the Emperor with their bladed weapons. While this sounds far-fetched, I did some research and found that this really was a secret organization which was created in 14th century China! So, I applaud the film for basing the plot, in part, on real historical facts and characters.One of these Jinyiwei, General Qinlong (Donnie Yen) is the hero, of sorts, in this film. He is betrayed by disloyal folks within the Emperor's court and spends the entire film being pursued by an outlaw Prince and his band of baddies. Throughout the film, it's one battle after another after another, as the Prince's troops try to kill Qinlong and steal the royal seal. And, the baddest of these baddies is Tuo Tuo, the Prince's adopted daughter. She has all sorts of magical fighting powers, can punch through trees, tosses enormous statues about as if they were made of styrofoam and can appear and disappear, fly and do practically anything. How could Qinlong possibly defeat this magical killing machine?!To me, if Tuo Tuo had been eliminated from the film completely, "14 Blades" would have been a much better film. She simply was too impossible to believe and her stunts were insanely impossible--yet many of the fight scenes without her were exciting and high-energy. The wizards in The Lord of the Rings films had less powers than she did and to me this was just a distraction. This combining of real historical events (the Jinyimei) with ridiculous over-the-top characters didn't work for me and I wish the director, Daniel Lee, had focused less on these stunts and more on the story and realistic fighting. Not a bad film, it lacks the depth and believable characters I look for in a great martial arts movie.

Any true fans of kung fu know we watch these films for one reason and one reason only. The action! And this film was no disappointment in that regard whatsoever. The action was never gone for long from the screen, and every sequence was a sight to behold. Of course, a somewhat intelligible story is a good bonus. Guess what, this has that too. In my opinion, this is Donnie Yen's best film since IP Man. Also, unlike IP Man, it has great re-watch ability. This is very highly recommended to any true fans of the genre who want to see some mind blowing unique action, with some incredibly crazy weaponry. 9/10 stars, one of my favorites.

Be warned: Spoilers will be mentioned here!Several of the recent Hong Kong kung fu movies have not been the tight little village dramas of the good old days, but expensive and dark medieval adventure movies with legions of black-clad characters, organizations and imperial intrigues involved. Is it an improvement over the cheap old "heroic age" formula? I'd have to say no. Because, since the new kind of story is often less focused on one or two main characters, the whole narrative itself also becomes less focused; less tight. And with the main characters being dressed in dark clothes, everything seems less real, more grim and depressed; more shadowy. That's not what I want. I want heroes in bright clothes fighting in sunlight! So we can bloody well SEE their moves, you understand!14 Blades had a good bunch of action and I didn't particularly mind the CGI, but much of it was also rather dull. And I really think the Asian tradition of having unhappy endings is getting a bit out of hand. Even in romantic high-adventure, they cheat us out of a happy ending and some much deserved love for the hard-travelling heroes?? I say thee nay! Just once in a while in these kinds of movies I would like to see love and goodness win out. Otherwise this just becomes depressing crap. What's the message supposed to be? That anyone who's been a soldier doesn't deserve a happy life? Puh-leeze!This movie goes on my list of movies where the best thing about it was looking at the beautiful female lead. The delectable Vicki Zhao is unusually cheerful for most of this movie, which just makes it all the more dissatisfying about the down-beat ending.5 stars out of 10.

This genre usually gives rise to somewhat standard expectations, with great action as the top, if not the only, priority. This is particularly so in the case when you have the best, Donnie Yen. And yet, while Yan has never let his loyal followers down, including this time, the climatic duel in this movie is with Kate Tsui (as Tuo Tuo, a deadly Amazon and a daughter of an ambitious warlord), generally recognized as the most promising in the talent department among the crop of young actresses, but not by any stretch of imagination an action star remotely in the league of Yen. Top-notch action direction and earnest effort on the part of the young lady helps, but this is clearly not one of the "exceeds expectation" items in my summary line. But then, almost everything else is.With the proliferation of martial art action movies in recent years, you need to have new selling points to make a movie of this genre stand out. This one has not just one, but a few. The title devise, the 14 blades, is one. As explained at the very beginning (so don't be late), the arsenals of the Jin Yi Wei ("glamorously apparelled guards" - see below) comprises various gadgets stored in a box not unlike one in which you carry roses on Valentine's Day. The content, however, is like something that Batman would have commissioned Q to design (had he been acquainted with the gentleman). Be rest assured that these gadgets have ample opportunities to entertain your throughout the movie. Tuo Tuo's arsenal is another. Her weapon is a crossover of a whip and a blade, and wickedly clever camera work makes sure that she wields it with equally deadly efficiency. True, this is more like the ultra cool poses that Johnny To used for pistols in his classic "The mission" (1999 – "Cheung Fo"), but it's just as fun to watch. But topping even that is her layered silk-like garments that she sheds, right in the middle of a fight, as decoys to distract weapons as she circles her opponents like a whirlwind. And she completes the circle by slipping back into these layers of her garments, by which time the opponent is usually dead with his throat slashed. If that is not exotic, I don't know what is. One further addition of these exotic collections is bandit-turned-Robin-Hood, desert bandit chief Judge's joined curved blades that looks like a propeller and works like a boomerang. You can imagine how highly entertaining it is to watch a duel between any pair of these three (and you'll see them all). By the way, I've got to say this: I'm almost certain that the director wrote to Johnny Depp to borrow his costumes from "Pirates of the Caribbean" for his character Judge.Still on the "hardware" aspects of the movie, the exotic set pieces and desert landscape are something that you may perhaps see in similar movies, but not as meticulously designed and beautifully shot. On the "software" side, there is a serviceable plot, essentially surrounding an imperial seal which will cause tragic bloodsheds if fell into the hands of an ambitious warlord. The middle section of the movie on the chase and hunt, tracking and dodging looks very much like a retro western, and is equally enjoyable.The woe of the Jin Yi Wei is well depicted: imperial effective killing machines recruited from orphans, following orders without any moral qualms. Donnie, whose acting ability is beginning to catch up with his top-notch action skills, portrays such a one, who finds himself in an agonizing dilemma when his conscience is awaken. Lovely Vicki Zhao is perfect as the determined daughter trying to be the son of a father whose business of express delivery of treasured items is declining. The movie takes attentive pain if developing these two main characters and the romance between them. It pays off as a convincing story, with due credit to good acting from Yan and Zhao.All told, this movie offers exciting action, rich details, interesting characters and appealing visuals and, something that I haven't mentioned, excellent sound editing and mixing. Can't remember in my recent cinematic experience of this genre that has quite kept my attention continuously for 2 full hours.