Sammo Hung's first film as a director in twenty years is THE BODYGUARD, aka MY BELOVED BODYGUARD, a Hong Kong/Chinese co-production that also features Hung in the leading role. It's definitely a mixed bag of a movie, a mixture of only semi-successful character and human drama with some crime genre tropes, cliches, and martial arts scenes. As with many films these days, the trailer is an example of false advertising, making this look like an action-packed movie wheras in reality it's quite slow and sedate, only kicking into gear in the last thirty minutes.I love Hung as an actor but he gives a thoroughly subdued turn here; I found him more sympathetic (and his acting finer) in HEART OF THE DRAGON. Andy Lau gives an energetic performance in support and I was delighted to see various cameos from old Hung buddies like Yuens Wah and Biao as well as Tsui Hark and Karl Maka; it's just a pity they're all so brief. The film's story is quite predictable and has some slow spots, although the action scenes are fun and seem in part to have been inspired by the likes of WARRIOR KING and THE RAID 2. I could have done without the animated bone-breaking all the time, but generally the choreography works so there's little to complain about. A lot of us were hoping that THE BODYGUARD would be a new classic to rank alongside Hung's old hits, and it's disappointing that it's not. But you could do worse, and superficially it's not too bad.

Years ago, I remember seeing some of Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's movies he made in the 1980s and enjoying them. So when this recent effort of his popped up on Netflix, I decided to give it a look. Sadly, this movie for the most part is a letdown. First, if you are expecting Hung to show off the kung fu wizardry he showed in the past, you will be very disappointed. He only has TWO scenes in the movie where he shows off his martial art skills. Even worse is that in these two scenes, his fight scenes have the trademarks of many bad martial art movies, that being the camera is zoomed extremely close to the actors, and the editing is extremely quick. I realize that Hung is in his 60s now, but I am convinced he still could have been better showcased.But that is not the only problem with this movie. Past IMDb user complaints about the movie being slow and dull are unfortunately correct. There's very little action in the movie (with or without Hung), and there is barely a plot. The movie more often than not seems to be spinning its wheels.I will admit that Hung gives a pretty good and sympathetic performance, and the movie on a technical level is first rate, looking very slick and expensive. But the movie is all the same unsatisfying. Stick with Hung's 1980s movies instead.

I watched this movie expecting a rather fun martial art movie. I saw Sammo Hung in many Chinese kung fu movies and although he was always somewhat fat he always delivered decent stuff. Was it always believable? You decide. But this movie ... Well OK let me start by the beginning.I understand a movie has to set up characters and development. But nothing happen for over 30 minutes. Then we have a very short action scene and nothing happen again for another 30 minutes. There is only one big action piece in the movie and although its better filmed than an usual Steven Seagal action scene, you can clearly see the guy is overweight and can't match with these peoples. Some decent camera work and wire stuff hide the obvious, but the action is plague by a weird looking slowmo effect way too present.Is the story any good? Well not really... The acting is OK from the little girl i supposed but Sammo is wooden as a 2x4. I guess this movie want to be more of a drama than an action movie but even there i had trouble getting into it. Maybe its cause I'm not Chinese...Overall i was very disappointed by this. To me it compare to the bad Steven Seagal movies when nothing happen but even worst. Usually with Seagal you have half decent gun fights and Seagal being the smart ass and pulling a few good lines, but here nothing.I am giving a 4 by compassion for the attempt at a touching story and i am being very generous.

Sammo Hung has gotten old.And agreed to do this slow cooking movie.(For reasons way beyond me)Some people has pointed out,that maybe it's more philosophical.That it's about Sammo coming to terms with his old age at 61, and wanting to show that he still got it. Which he do and don't in many ways.You can clearly see that the fights isn't the same anymore.Though I have no doubt he fakes heavy breathing (at times) The people he fight screams out of his league.Most of this movie focuses on Sammo as Ding,and old retired palace guard, walking around being old and forgetful,in a suburban neighborhood. Believe me it's as boring as it sounds. There a old female sphincter neighbor, who has taken the liking to him.But he is either not interested or don't understand her advance.Hard to make out which.A little bit of both I think. Than there's a girl next door who have a dad with a gambling debt,who enters into his life,who he seem to feel is both a nuisance and pleasure. And he somewhat feels protective of her,over her abusive dad.The fight scenes with x-ray cut in, like in Romeo must die, are great and neatly choreographed.But you can't help seeing that Sammo is to old, for the people he suppose to beat up so easily. Jackie Chan often hides his disadvantages behind acrobatics,and by using his surroundings against his opponents.A chair here, a table there. But Sammo goes toe to toe ,with the bad guys in the movie,and you clearly get the impression they holding back big time.The biggest problem is the slow pace and Sammo's moping blank expression. The story isn't all that interesting either.I give it a 3 I still think sammo has a lot of talent left in him. But he should put it to better use