The review of Blind War, a Chinese film starring a blind former SWAT officer on a mission to save his daughter kidnapped by a cruel criminal gang. On Rai4 and RaiPlay.
Dong Gu is a SWAT captain who intervenes during the assault on the court carried out by a criminal gang, who intends to free their leader… or so it seems! In fact, internal disputes and new recruits who intend to climb the ranks call everything into question. The result is a carnage with many casualties on both sides and Dong Gu himself is seriously injured, losing his sight.
As we tell you in Blind War reviewthe protagonist is dismissed from his role in the special forces and forced to retire to private life, thus finding himself dealing twenty-four hours a day with the teenage daughter, an aspiring violinist. When the little girl ends up in the hands of her acquaintance’s gang, which operates in human trafficking, Dong Gu will do everything to bring her home safely despite the deficit that is so penalizing her. To help him in the difficult mission the old flame of a former boss killed during the assault that opened the film, now seeking revenge…
Question of perspectives
Someone said Zatoichi? Or without bothering the great classics of oriental cinema, the spurious remake of Blind fury (1989)? Or even the most recent The Swordsman (2020), a Korean costume action film starring a swordsman close to blindness? It is certainly not a new solution to put a protagonist without sight at the center of an action-movie and this Chinese production fits into an already crowded sub-strand, trying to find its place by placing its cards on an incessant and relentless action. From the title, Blind War tries to make things clear and at least from the point of view of themed entertainment the hundred minutes of viewing can be considered successful, with very fast and exasperated choreographylong hand-to-hand combat and with firearms often assisted byuse of slow-motion to underline the interaction between human figures and environments. Hard and pure fun for all lovers of the genre.
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A story that holds water
It’s a shame that the same care wasn’t also poured into the narrative side, which proves to be the actual weak point of the operation. There screenplay in several passages is in fact inadmissible, forced and far-fetched, with a disparity of tones and atmospheres between a shouty melodramatic imprint and a comedic verve in the management of different characters, whether good or bad: it is enough to see the bizarre and inadequate police inspector who investigates the case. At the same time, the motivations that drive the initial female co-protagonist remain inexplicable villain who decides to join the classic hero of the situation – who tries to save his little daughter who has fallen into the wrong hands – while somehow hiding his true nature.
Bang bang
Machine guns that fire hundreds of bullets in seconds, bombs exploding and cars blowing upbombs to be defused at the last minute, chains and torture devices: the watchword of Blind War And exaggeration at any cost, with all the pros and cons of the case. A couple of long shots and excellent choreography succeed keep the adrenaline rate highallowing you to turn a blind eye – sometimes even two – to that script which seems to bask in its caricatural verve with little forethought.
Andy Hona true specialist of the genre, has the right physique and charisma for a role that has been sacrificed to stereotypes, complete with blindfold and the classic phases in which he refines his hearing and sense of position to be able to face dozens of opponents with his bare hands that he is unable to identify with his sight. There necessary suspension of disbelief that can be accepted for the premise risks cracking, when even the narrative events take on too tacky drifts.
Conclusions
A courageous SWAT officer left blind following an anti-terrorism operation tries to pick up the pieces of his life when his daughter is kidnapped by a criminal gang that manages human trafficking. Helping him in the arduous rescue mission is an old acquaintance of his, who has a score to settle not only with him but also against his old gang. Blind War is a gripping action film with a purely playful soul, with spectacular and exhilarating shootouts and combat choreography – even when they rely excessively on slow-motion – which however are accompanied by a forced and often improbable screenplay, unnecessarily melodramatic and at times caricature-like.
Because we like it
- Pure, uncompromising action.
- Andy On is a convincing protagonist…
What’s wrong
- …but the characters are victims of an unlikely script.
- Disparity of tones in the management of atmospheres.
