Da dao Wang Wu

Co-directed by Cheh Chang and co-starring a young Danny Lee, this Shaw Brothers martial arts action flick is not quite up to the quality of Chang's Venom Mob films (or their levels of graphic violence), but it is a sturdy enough of martial arts story and action to satisfy genre fans. A swordsman challenges the corrupt local authorities, bucking the system. Think "All the President's Men" but with swords! Okay, not really, but it's better than the usual you-killed-my-master storyline, so I'll give it that. A weak point of the film is that there isn't a lot of martial arts action, but once the action gets going, especially the finale, it's quite good. Overall, don't go out of your way to watch this one, but it's a solid enough of Shaw Brothers martial arts action flick.

When legendary swordsman Wang Wu challenges the authority on a blanket arrest of men when really only one is guilty, his intervention (and its success) is observed by politician Tan Tzutung who tries to buy him a drink but is rebuffed. Later, Wang is attacked while getting his hair braided and Tan assists him, making them friends and allowing them to talk. Tan is a reformer but there are moves against such men and Wang knows it. He enlists Wang's help but within the world of politics nothing is to be trusted and soon the friends are in great danger in the name of their reforming efforts.

I think the title translates as "Big Blade Wang Wu" but for some reason it was entitled Iron Bodyguard when I watched it. Either title suggests action and a tough edge and it is a real shame that it never really delivers this. The plot offers a good base but ultimately is the problem. We have a story here of political intrigue and conspiracy against the pure-of-heart heroes and I liked the idea that this engaging and rather slippery plot would engage me and thus make the action better. Sadly what it does is slow the film down. There is too much narrative almost, too many scenes of discussion and dialogue and not enough of action.

The action starts well enough with a fun confrontation while Wang gets his hair did but from there it has surprisingly few action scenes. Those that it does have are not as thrilling or fun as I wanted them to be; I enjoyed their mostly dark tone but they really didn't deliver as much nor as frequently as they should have done. The cast are mostly OK and actually cope reasonably well with the low-action. Kuan Tai Chen is a decent lead; he has heroic looks, a strong chin, expressive face and a warm presence in the film. Hua Yueh works pretty well alongside him, although he was a little hammy and made me doubt his sincerity as a character. Ti Lu's Iron Fist is a bit disappointing – his presence is hinted at the very start of the film but he does nothing till the end and even then their fight is a little straightforward.

Iron Bodyguard has a decent plot and dark elements but it spends too much time talking and too little time fighting. When the action does come it isn't as thrilling or as engaging as it should – it supports the narrative well but it is surprising that this is the element that seems to deliver the least.

The film starts out slow and unfortunately never gets off the ground, despite several well-choreographed fights towards the end. Square-jawed martial arts actor Chen Kuan-tai is the title character, known in the film as "Big Blade" Wang Wu. He's the owner of a security company whose constant efforts to thwart the unjust treatment of criminals by corrupt imperial Qing officials turns into outright rebellion when he joins a budding and idealistic official in helping reformists to evade capture. Near the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager is clamping down on efforts by reformists to bring an end to imperialism in China. Arrested for his subversions, Tan Si-gong (Yuen Hua) willingly gives himself up as a martyr for the cause while Wang Wu and his loyal employees plot to save him before its too late.

What really comes too late for Iron Bodyguard is the action. This collaboration between directors Chang Cheh and Baau Hok-li is definitely not one of Cheh's better films, although it shares many familiar elements. The male bonding and heroic bloodshed are in place, but the film drags hideously slow through too much chatter amid a clumsily put together drama before hitting an anti-climatic finale.

The best fight actually takes place in the end when Kuan-tai leads an ambush meant to free Yuen Hua. Kuan-tai displays great skill in dispatching countless spearmen with his "knife" (sabre). If only Lau Kar-leung and Tong Gaai could have had more opportunities to work their creative magic on choreography.

So I recommend this movie for a rainy day. I gave it 6/10 (I wanted a lil bit more action, it came so late!)