Martial arts director Xu Haofeng presents his latest action art film, “100 Yards,” released by Well Go USA Entertainment. Haofeng also wrote the screenplay and recruited co-director Xu Junfeng.
Set in the volatile 1920s Tianjin, just a decade after the fall of China’s last imperial dynasty, the film explores a clandestine martial arts circle formed to combat crime and maintain peace between rival schools. When a great master dies, his son, Shen An (played by Jacky Heung), takes for granted that he has a right to his father’s martial arts school and place among the city’s elite masters in Tianjin. But before Shen An inherits this inheritance, he has to fight his father’s best pupil, Qi Quan (Andy On). When he loses this fight, Shen An is forced to leave the school and take a more routine job at a bank. But he will not let go of his ambition and tries to arrange another showdown.
At the same time, other groups in the city, mainly fellow masters, want peace and want to settle the feud. If Shen An wants his inheritance, Qi Quan is deeply untraditional because he wants to open his school to everyone, including colonial officials. This polemic position is seen as an essential offense by the circle of masters incensed by their own need to answer. The ostensible battle between Shen An and Qi Quan becomes a fight for the city’s future and the long-retained peace.
“100 Yards” is both a visual and a narrative success as the performance, editing, and soundtrack work together like a great song. At the same time, they are dramaturgical because they enact the characters’ development: it is all getting more enjoyable for them, and individual incentives are moving towards a greater goal. There’s nothing but great action in these scenes, particularly in the finale, where Bea Hayden Kuo’s character goes up against various foes in the bathhouse.
While Heung and On demonstrate remarkable prowess in their martial arts skills, they fall short in likability, making it difficult for fans to invest emotionally in their journey outside the thrilling action sequences. This is particularly evident when a supporting character, with a richer personality and more compelling presence, outperforms both male leads. This disparity reveals a notable imbalance within “100 Yards,” especially regarding the overall quality of the acting.
But let’s be honest, if people are going to hit play on “100 Yards”, they aren’t going to go into it expecting the best performances, but it does deliver good action.
Final Grade: B
“100 Yards” opens in theaters nationwide on November 8th via Well GO USA.
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