54
Metascore
5 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70Village VoicePete Vonder HaarVillage VoicePete Vonder HaarThe athleticism on display shames much of Western action cinema’s quick-cut hand-to-hand editing, and the final swordfight between Qi and Japanese general Kumasawa (Shaw Brothers mainstay Yasuaki Kurata) ranks as high as any in recent memory.
- 70Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenLos Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenChan maintains his dexterous footing whether choreographing the colorful large-scale battle sequences or the stripped-down, hand-to-hand matchups that boil the conflict down to its most basic — and personal — essence.
- 63Washington PostMark JenkinsWashington PostMark JenkinsAs the wily leader of the Japanese forces, grizzled Kurata Yasuaki has more presence than Zhao, who’s bland in non-action sequences. But Zhao’s ability to deliver dialogue is less crucial than his skill at leading hundreds of extras through elegantly choreographed, sumptuously photographed chaos.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeCompetent on all fronts but never dazzling, it should please genre devotees.
- 25RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsRogerEbert.comSimon AbramsA spectacularly miscalculated historical epic.