Saving General Yang (5 Stars)

Despite its relatively short length, only 102 minutes, this is an epic war film. The battle scenes are spectacular, and the plot is gripping. The film is an example of why Ronny Yu is one of my favourite directors.

The film is based on true events that took place in the Song Dynasty in 986 AD. The army of the Khitans, loyal to Empress Xiao, attacks for the first time in 20 years. In the battle General Yang is separated from the rest of the Song army when they retreat. His forces are surrounded by the Khitans under General Yelu Yuan. He could easily attack and destroy General Yang's forces, but he's burning for revenge because General Yang killed his father in the last war. He's hoping that General Yang's sons will attempt to free their father, so that he can wipe out the whole family.

As General Yuan expects, the brothers want to free their father. Their mother visits an oracle, who tells her that her husband can only be brought back if all seven sons travel together. He tells her that seven will go, but only six will return.

General Yuan allows the brothers and their small band of soldiers to reach General Yang, and then he attacks. The fighting is brutal. Soon only the seven brothers, the general and his lieutenant are left standing. They have to fight their way through the enemy lines against overwhelming odds.

General Yuan is a cruel leader who leaves his enemies impaled as trophies on the battlefield to dishearten the surviving soldiers. The seven brothers have to fight their way through these scenes of carnage. One of them is killed. Then another. Then another. So how is it possible for six to return? Was the prophecy wrong? Or was it falsely interpreted?

This is a brilliant film, despite the hardly developed characters. What I mean is, seven brothers are too many for us to get to know all of them. The sixth and the seventh brothers are the main characters, after that the first and the fifth brothers, but the other three are a blur. That doesn't matter. The viewer is caught up in the ravages of war, and there are even brief philosophical interludes.

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk