Post AcWkZFpd0Pq7U0P42y by HiroProtagonistSPLC@shitposter.club
 (DIR) More posts by HiroProtagonistSPLC@shitposter.club
 (DIR) Post #AcWkZFpd0Pq7U0P42y by HiroProtagonistSPLC@shitposter.club
       2023-12-06T08:35:10.864578Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Skara (2023) - Donnie Yen co-directs and stars as Qiao Feng in this adaptation of the wuxia story "Demi-Gods and Semi Devils". The film begins with Feng as an abandoned baby on the doorstep of a kindly couple who care for him and don't seem phased by his extraordinary physical abilities. After learning martial arts from the Shaolin monks, he falls into a life of crime, joining up with a gang. His fortunes turn after being falsely accused of murder by the widow of a dead comrade and of being a traitor by a letter. Due to lack of evidence and obscure gang rules, he stabs himself in an appeal to innocence and leaves. Unfortunatelyfor Feng, he seems to have a knack for showing up just in time for different people to die in his arms. Too bad movies weren't around back then for people to know this is a trope. Feng makes friends with a girl thief who also doesn't know who her parents are. They bond over Feng keeping her alive and nearly dying to save her. After a number of plot points that are never resolved and being introduced to a character we never find out the identity of, the real villain is revealed, so this baby can be wrapped up before every one's Social Credit Score gets docked for not making iPhones for a few hours. Feng finds out his backstory, kills the Prince "I know the 9 Palm Strike to your 8 Palm Strike why am I dead?" Evilguy, and goes to the countryside where there's sheep and talks to a log. The End.The source material proves too large to cram into the wearying two hour plus runtime. The plot and pacing suffer greatly from it, making it overly convoluted.But who cares about that? How are the fights? IMO Donnie Yen is the best action star that still gets in front of the camera. Being a wu xia film, it's got plenty of improbable stuff. There's also a good share of crummy CGI. I think those detriments are made up for by some outstanding wirework, well shot fight choreography, and some inventive set pieces. As an old school martial arts fan, I feel like a beggar watching a movie anymore. The bar is so low. Lots of amputations, scores of stabbings, CG-fu, wire-fu, chopstick-fu, healthcare-fu, Donnie-fu. Three stars out of six frogs