6 Bonkers Things in the Delectably Campy Chinese Battle Movie 'Dragon Blade'
Unless you’ve recently been in China, you probably haven’t heard of the epic — and epically amusing — historical action-adventure Dragon Blade, starring Jackie Chan, John Cusack, and Adrien Brody as warriors battling over Asia’s ancient Silk Road. Deftly choreographed (thanks to Chan’s action direction), Blade is a stylized blend of combat, song (yes, all of the aforementioned leads sing!), and a saccharine bromance. Steeped in swords, blood, tears, and dance-happy warrior battles, Blade was a box office triumph, earning more than $116 million in China earlier this year. (It is also China’s most expensive film to date, costing $65 million.) But back in the States, Dragon Blade has been flying under the radar as the film opens in limited release (and on demand) this weekend.
Which is a crying shame, because Dragon Blade just might be the craziest movie of the year. Don’t believe us? Check out six of the wackiest moments from the movie to see what we’re talking about. Warning: Major spoilers ahead.
6. Adrien Brody’s voluminous wig.
It deserves its own credit.
5. A dance battle!
Why fight for real when you can do the capoeira version? As the so-called Silk Road Protection Squad and a group of Romans led by Lucius (Cusack) get chummy, they flaunt their respective moves in choreographed routines!
Related: Watch Jackie Chan Lead a Warrior Dance Battle in ‘Dragon Blade’ (Exclusive)
4. Jackie Chan, the MacGyver of ancient combat.
He makes an escape route for children with a reel of fabric. He forms a makeshift vehicle out of combat shields to evade the surrounding enemy. And Chan — as Silk Road squad leader Huo An — catapults found, fiery saucers at his adversaries. These are just a few of the examples of his inventive battle moves. Also in an early scene, Huo An kicks a foe in the face in an unlikely looking standing-split move. It’s so outside the realm of human ability it looks like it came from another man’s leg off camera.
3. The song that makes Roman soldiers weep.
At one point, a blind boy — who Lucius has sworn to protect — starts singing a familiar tune. Lucius and his army join in, sobbing uncontrollably as they sing their beloved battle refrain.
2. The gong of nonviolence rings.
A simple ring of the gong makes hundreds of swashbuckling men — fighting for unknown reasons, mind you — stop instantly. Everyone looks up as if to say, “Oh. What now?” Soon after, there’s a sandstorm that has similar, unexplained peacemaking effects.
Note: This is Lucius being held captive, before his eyes have been gouged out.
1. John Cusack can act with his eyes shut and hands tied.
While there’s no doubt the 49-year-old actor is capable of such thespian feats, Blade offers proof. At one point, Lucius has been captured and chained to a wooden slab, his eyes welded shut with dry blood, suggesting the evil Tiberius (Brody) cut them out of their sockets. Lucius and Huo An have an agonizingly lengthy, overly sentimental exchange before the chamber is set ablaze during battle. Lucius can’t come free of his shackles. Before the flames get too intense, Huo An, filled with tears, shoots him in the neck with a crossbow — an apparent mercy killing that lasts a few excruciating beats too long.
Watch the trailer for ‘Dragon Blade’:
