Wind Blast

http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-dallas/bobby-blakey The martial arts genre is one that probably churns out just as many films regularly as the horror world. Most of them come from the Asian market and if follow some simple rules are usually entertaining on some level. The latest Wind Blast takes the western concept and smacks it into present day to attempt to create a unique action tale that thinks outside the box. If anyone can they can do it, but will it work or seem too forced to keep the clever idea from working? Wind Blast follows a detective and his former team as they compete with rival bounty hunters to track down a killer and his girlfriend throughout the Gobi desert. As simple as the story is for this film, there are some twists and turns that make it more complicated. To make matters worse, the story itself doesn't translate all that clear on screen. Instead what you get is a non-stop action film throughout the desert and never quite clear who is good and who is bad, but never really care as long as it keeps going. As it progresses you start to better realize who the cops are, but by that time it doesn't really matter. This is a film that rely's on the action as the center piece and there is plenty of it. Filled with over the top insanity as well as straight forward fights and shoot outs it plays out pretty entertainingly. The fights could have been a bit better as some of them were slowed down so much that it looked staged as opposed to two people really going at it. The shoot outs and car scenes were well done and create a unique experience as a whole. They managed to make this modern day western work on a level that probably shouldn't and entertain way more than it should.

If you're a fan of martial arts films then you should give this one a try. Just know that it focuses more on the gun and car scenes than the actual martial arts, but still works for what they are trying to pull off. The story is a bit all over the place at times, but they make up for it with plenty of action to keep you entertained.

A detective (Duan Yihong) and his comrades (including Wu Jing) travel to a desert in pursuit of a contract killer, who is also being pursued by hit men (lead by Francis Ng) hired by his contractor. Over the top and unrealistic, this is a high octane modern western with expertly staged chases, shootouts, and fights. Environments are nice with lots of rocky hills, sand, and even snow. Pacing is about as blistering fast as humanly imaginable, with the entire film basically consisting of one gigantic action sequence. Characters are thin, but this is a rip-roaring shoot 'em up with tons of quality action to enjoy.

I'm not really sure why this film has gotten ignored. Even LoveHKFilm never bothered to review it. It's from the same director who gave us the very cool spy flick "The Message" (2009), so it most definitely deserves some attention. I also have no idea how 70 mental patients escaped their clinics, logged onto IMDb, and then gave this film an average rating of 3.7 out of 10. Anyone who gives "Wind Blast" less than a 5/10 loses all credibility in my eyes. This film does what action films are supposed to do, entertain from start to finish with kinetic chases and shootouts. In all honesty, there's no justification and no logical reason behind the 3.7 rating whatsoever, so don't let that deter you from watching this. It's a lot of fun.

Wind Blast was, for me, one of the more intelligent Asian films of 2010. The narrative does requires you to think and keep alert. While the action guarantees that you do. The desert environment adds a western feel and the sand storm winds of the title paint a monochromatic almost alien backdrop to this Coen brother influenced film. I can see where those more comfortable with a straight forward linear narrative would have problems with this film. I am sorry others didn't get what this film offers but I did. It challenged me, entertained me and left me feeling rewarded for the time spent watching it. I enjoyed letting this movie and its narrative, slowly open my mind to its characters situations and the morale questions they raise. The acting was very good and succeeded in making the characters become important to me. Beside that it was a very exciting ride. Take a chance and give this a try.