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This weekend sees the 2nd annual Big Bad Film Fest commencing in Glendale, California and with the weekend long event, several top tier action pics will be assaulting the big screen along with multiple adrenaline-fueled short films for consumer consumption. Opening night on Friday saw the premiere of Well Go USA’s WUXIA dominated period actioner Eye for an Eye 2 which is the hyper-kinetic follow up to the highly successful original which sees Chinese born martial arts actor Tse Miu reclaiming his role as blind sword master and lethal bounty hunter Cheng Xiazi. From director Bingjia Yang, who also helmed the first flick, this is a visual feast of rapid fire and jaw dropping swordplay and action design that takes martial arts action to the next level. Let me stress that if you are not a fan of WUXIA themed actioners then this one won’t win you over but if you are a deep hearted fan or a casual watcher like me then Eye for an Eye 2 will scratch that action itch for an hour and a half.
I must admit that I have not seen the first film but that’s OK as this one is a standalone adventure like the first film and besides Miu’s blind warrior returning, there is no need to have seen the previous. After viewing this one, you will immediately want to seek the first film out, as I do, as I’m sure that it contains the same blistering, dazzling and beautifully brutal choreographed set pieces featuring breakneck and life defying stunt work. One thing that turns me off to WUXIA films is the use of wirework in the action but if the choreography merged with the story and characters grabs me then I can give it a pass. The same happened for me with Donnie Yen’s Sakra as the iconic action star was nothing short of incredible in that movie’s award worthy battle sequences.
The plot for Eye for an Eye 2 is nothing new which might be a nitpick for me, but it does concern our fearless and sight impaired bounty hunter taking in a little girl who has suffered a family tragedy at the hands of a ruthless officer Li Jiu Lang and his small army of followers who take glee in slaughtering innocents and anyone that stands in their way. Little Zhang Xiao Yu, played wonderfully by Yang Enyou, attaches herself to Cheng as the latter becomes a form of surrogate father to the orphan. Yang wants revenge for the killing of her little brother at the hands of Li and she sees Cheng as her instrument of destruction. Throughout the running time, the two bond of course encompassing a Lone Wolf and Cub vibe as they set out to take down Li and his band of cutthroats.
Eye for an Eyes 2 has all the usual tropes of current action movies with this one being a lone assassin shields a young child and protects them from the wolves of the world. The child then proceeds to grab the heart of the bitter warrior making him or her break down their walls of defiance. We’ve seen it a thousand times before but when it is done right, and the performances are superb with death defying action design that looks like it’s on another level, it gets a pass from me. This is the case with this particular flick.
The first film was a brisk 77 minutes but here the run time is extended giving Yang a little more time to flesh out the lead characters and giving the audience a little more time to spend with Cheng and Yang as they bond over annihilating brutes and enemy combatants. Their relationship is front, and center and Yang makes sure that we care more about Cheng and his little companion who thirsts for vengeance. It definitely is a combination of the aforementioned Lone Wolf and the brilliant sword fighting epic Zatoichi. While this is obvious in every way, it’s more than fine as it treats those films with respect and pays homage with the upmost love.
When talking of the visuals and action, the film looks mesmerizing and chaotic in all the aspects that fans could want. there was some money that was spent on this film as well as the original and it shows off with the striking cinematography that showcases and utilizes the gorgeous landscapes of China with its breathtaking mountain landscapes, forests and hills that seem to take on a life of its own. Many action films really show off their minimal budget when they are relegated to one set which is usually a factory or warehouse so it’s refreshing when we are able to see our heroes and anti-heroes play outside with full effect.
What can I say about the action as China and Hong Kong are still tops when it comes to adrenalized carnage, mayhem and organized chaos with Yang throwing everything he can at us and the kitchen sink when the swords, fists and feet start to fly. Action choreographers Qin Peng Fei and Du Xiao Hui handle the film’s heat pumping moments and their skills in onscreen obliteration is well apparent as the fights come fast and, excuse me, furious with crisp editing and hospital visit worthy stunts. I always say that it’s amazing that no one was killed while making an Asian action movie and here, we are treated to some genre blazing violence and moves that are equal parts beautiful but brutal and bloody at the same time.
Actor and martial arts champion Xia Miao, who is from Beijing, has quietly put together a rather impressive filmography arsenal where he has showcased his insane skills to the masses. True fans will know Xia as the child actor who starred alongside the legend that is Jet Li in 1994’s The New Legend of Shaolin as well as one of my personal favorites in 1995’s My Father is a Hero. Since then, Xia is all grown up and kicking butt with the best of them onscreen in rent titles like 2021’s Ip Man. Miao has the moves and skill set to compete with the best of the best that action cinema has to offer and here Yang lets him off the leash to execute some of his best action choreography to date which is an eclectic blend of lethal and dizzying swordplay and empty-handed savagery. Miao probably needs to be a bigger star but for the niche audiences like me, he is a true star in the field.
New to the franchise is, of course, Yang En You who plays the orphan Zhang Xiao Yu who befriends our solemn hero and embarks on this suicide mission of retribution. Yang keeps up with Miao step for step and turns in one impressive dramatic performance and her interactions with the blind swordsman which includes playful banter and quiet remorse is a fine distraction from the ugliness of the blood-soaked warfare that is on hand.
The finale does leave a little suspension of disbelief as Yang and Miao pull out all the stops with Cheng taking on an army of swordsman in an epic display of bravado and blood tipped heroism. The sequence is farfetched and takes the whole one-man army motif to the extreme but it sure is crowd pleasing to view with over the top violence and master class swordsmanship. It’s insane and ridiculous but in the best, most adrenaline pumping way imaginable.
Overall, Eye for an Eyes 2 needs a wide audience and fans of this type of action cinema will get more than their fill with the brutal combat and masterful swordplay on hand. The storyline is predictable and overused but what can I say about that except that plots are plots and as long as we care about what is going on and the characters involved then we don’t need to recreate the wheel. The characters are treated with respect and are well written and the action on hand is some of the best I’ve seen in a long while.
Xia Miao is a true action cinema talent and besides being a little short in the charisma department, he delivers what is needed time and time again and here he has found his best character in the blind sword expert/bounty hunter. Miao plays it quiet and cool and lets his signature skill set do the talking in some memorable and dazzling gravity defying fisticuffs.
The first film is now showing on Well Go USA’s HI-YAH! martial arts action streaming service as well as DVD & Blu-Ray so I intend to watch. I assume that the second film will make its way there as well in the near future and when it does, action and WUXIA fans have one hell of a pulverizing double feature on their hands!
VERDICT: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Xia Miao dazzles and thrills in the blistering, jaw dropping and ultimately brutal WUXIA sequel Eye for an Eye 2!
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