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It’s been a busy weekend as I’ve been watching a multitude of action projects coming out of this weekend’s Big Bad Film Fest. Well Go USA has been represented to the fullest with its offerings that now sees the inclusion of director Xu Haofeng (The Final Master) and inaugural co-director Xu Junfeng’s period martial arts action-drama 100 Yards (which made its debut yesterday) settling in as a period piece that drips effortlessly with loyalty, honor and betrayal that encompasses some tier one martial arts action. I was curious about this film with the title especially as this is a chunk of Chinese history that I was unfamiliar with but upon viewing, it made for an intriguing watch with all the heavy handed drama on display to accompany the expertly choreographed action sequences that sees the movie’s stars Jacky Heung and Andy On taking on one another to see who has what it takes to run their martial arts school when their master sets up duel upon his death bed. It’s a favorable and delicious premise that smells positively Shakespearian and the results are favorable but in the end, I will say that 100 Yards offers a solid and worthy viewing for genre fans looking for more than just bone breaking action.
First, I must explain the film’s title of 100 Yards as it is a fascinating and albeit interesting concept of a time in China when life was transitioning from old style to more modern tropes. In this world that revolves around Master Shen’s (Guo Long) martial arts academy with the biggest being that there will be no violence or fighting within, you guessed it, 100 yards of the school. It’s a long-standing rule that protects the people in the aera from unwanted violence but also refrain’s the school’s students from participating in nefarious acts or unwarranted combat. It’s basically like an old school DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) that lurks in Korea, but it is this premise and fact that sets up the film’s plot threads and motions leading up to the inevitable jaw dropping climax.
When the initial match between Shen An (Jacky Heung), who is the master’s son and Qi Quan (Andy On), his number one apprentice, is set forth in private with only Shen in attendance to proclaim it’s outcome, the end result sees the master proclaiming Quan the sole winner which does not sit well with Shen. The outcome leads to Shen setting for on a personal mission to go against his father’s dying wishes and initiate a plot to still reclaim the school for his own which leads to disastrous results when all is said and done and ultimate and unforgivable actions from both men.
If anything, 100 Yards proves that Chinese period martial arts action and drama is alive and well for those looking to sink their teeth into something with a little more meat on the bones. Sure, we are treated with ample martial arts wizardry from the stars and cast but there is also a deluge of dramatic strife, love, loss and retribution to be had that makes this movie stand out from other fight films that forgo weightier plot points in favor of just showcasing the physical stuff. The synopsis might be a little hard to follow initially as some viewers might find it difficult to figure out who they should be rooting for, but this is what makes the movie unique as with most action films we get standard good guys and bad guys. It’s not always black and white the real world is covered in grey which is what Xu Haofeng is trying to convey here with all of the visuals and empty-handed flair. We have seen this type of plot where two students battle it out for martial arts school supremacy but here it is treated with the upmost care and respect.
The age old saying that it takes an army to make one movie is on display here as Xu Haofeng isn’t alone with his own brother Junfeng assisting in directorial duties. Two heads are sometimes better than one and here it’s a true collaborative effort that sees the brothers crafting what makes them tick into the material we see on screen. Add in masterful action design by none other than Ip Man’s student Duncan Leung and even more masterful camerawork from Dao Shan and this is one of the best examples of how surrounding yourself with the best in the business culminates in the best of the best on the screen.
Jacky Heung as Shen An and Andy On as Qi Quan both rise to the occasion here and deliver some of their best work both dramatically and physically. They excel at verbal sparring just as much as the real thing and the quitter moments sometimes packs more of a punch than the hyper-kinetic finesse of the stunt work. The supporting cast is spot on as well with the standout being Shiyi Tang, who plays Qi Quan’s love interest, Gui Yung. The actress, who I will admit was unfamiliar with blew me away with her performance and it also helps that she is a graduate from Beijing Dance Academy who is able to enhance the action from the men as she gets opportunity to grace the screen with some balletic choreography including a spectacular fight we see early on. If Tang isn’t careful, she might just be mentioned in the same company as Michell Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi which would certainly bode well for her career. She is yet another example that well trained dancers can convert their motions into blistering martial arts grace with the touch of a button.
Now we must talk about the film’s many fight sequences and the master class in action design that helps bring it alive on the screen. I mentioned the film’s choreographer Duncan Leung being a student of Ip man and I don’t think anyone could have a better reference on their resume when talking of creating fight action. The stunts here just prove that China is the still the country to beat when it comes to no holds barred combat and here the savage aspects are fused with a balletic and traditional vibe that is warranted. There are several fighting disciplines on display with the climax utilizing a treasure trove of skills that fans should leave enthralled upon viewing all the glorious action. It’s simply just that good and after watching Eye for an Eye 2 which was a masterful WUXIA addition, this one compliments it with something different but the same as well.
The camera work from Shan is what truly enhances the visuals of the arts, and he employs a system that I am always calling out for. Too many times, I have complained about the camerawork and editing in fight sequences with some filmmakers thinking that we need chaos to sell what’s going on. It’s incredibly frustrating sometimes but here this is remedied by Shan moving the camera around in a flourish of fluidity that highlights all the moves and consequences. He pans back and slides around as the actors do their thing and it’s fast, smooth, coherent and breathtaking all at once. I hope that western action filmmakers take note of this film as this is a master class on how to shoot, edit and highlight what fans truly want out of their martial arts epics.
Overall, 100 Yards is an unfortunate endangered species. This is a true classic martial arts story mixed with masterful action design and actors that need no stuntmen. It’s a movie that invokes all from that time period with politics and love blended with jaw dropping action that achieves a crowd-pleasing effect. Hopefully with Well Go USA acquiring this title, it will reach its desired audience as that company takes pride and care with their releases. I just wish I was able to see the movie live at the festival as I’m sure the big screen would have done all the justice for it even more.
Xu Haofeng is clearly an elite martial arts filmmaker, and he has the best of the best for his muses here in stars Andy On and Jacky Heung. On especially is building quite the name for himself as an international action star and he proves here that he can sell the action no matter if it’s a period film or modern. There’s a wizardry about what is on display here and whatever I watch next will suffer because of it as this film should be mentioned in the same breath as The Raid films or any other genre flick that brought resurgence and much needed recognition to the action genre. To put it simply…100 Yards is just that plain good.
VERDICT: 4.5 Out of 5 Stars
100 Yards is a masterclass in infusing heavy handed drama, politics and love with blazing and expertly shot martial arts action for a breathtaking viewing experience.
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I have long been looking forward to the follow up to what i consider the best classical martial arts film I have seen in the last 20 years, ” The Final Master”, and from your informative review its sounds like it does not disappoint.