I watched a very long (over 2 hours) Jackie Chan movie (China made). Called -- The Shadow's Edge. It was probable the deepest J.C. movie I have watched in that the main characters were spy vs spy smart/crafty/cunning/cruel. The fight scenes were well done, but I found myself not caring about the fake fights, it is all stop motion razzle/dazzle stuff that became common in movies after all the Wick movies. This movie had a "Hannibal the Cannibal" intelligent bad guy with core group of "sons" he adopted that were equally artfully foxy (it wasn't a movie you could easily predict and had numerous plot twists).
The movie I had was in Chinese language with fairly well done English subtitles (font was little small and hard-copied so I couldn't make them more legible).
What I no longer care for in kung-fu movies is how someone gets beat/cut the crap and then 15 minutes later act like nothing was wrong with them. Suspend belief is required, but that said, this movie was a mindscrew in ways that took a second-watch (rewind a few times) to unscramble.
I enjoyed it... the youth will grab onto the bloody fight scenes, I was more into the narrative story. 8/10 for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa6B6n3VD50
The best Chinese serial or movie I ever saw was "The Longest Day in The Longest Day in Chang'an" [ with subs ].
AI description:
The Longest Day in The Longest Day in Chang'an is a 2019 Chinese historical suspense drama set in 744 A.D. during the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong's reign in the Tang Dynasty. The plot centers on a 24-hour race against time to prevent a terrorist attack on Chang'an, the empire's capital, during the Lantern Festival - a major celebration that draws people from across the realm.
The story begins when the Department of City Security (Jing'an Si) uncovers a plot by a terrorist cell known as the Wolf Squad, remnants of a defeated Central Asian kingdom, who have infiltrated the city.
The young intelligence chief, Li Bi, a Taoist priest and ally of the Crown Prince, is tasked with stopping the attack. With only 24 hours to act, he secures the release of Zhang Xiao Jing, a former Longyou Army soldier and local police captain who is on death row for killing 34 gang members and his commanding officer in retaliation for the murder of his former commander. Zhang Xiao Jing is granted a temporary amnesty to help thwart the plot, with the promise of freedom if he succeeds, or execution if he fails.
As the two unlikely partners work together, they uncover a conspiracy far more complex than a simple terrorist attack, involving deep political intrigue within the imperial court, including power struggles between the ageing Emperor, the Right Chancellor, and the Crown Prince.
The tension escalates as they navigate the city's labyrinthine streets, confront hidden enemies, and race to dismantle the plot before the festival night. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Ma Boyong and is structured across 48 episodes, each representing a 30-minute segment of the 24-hour period.
The key members of the Wolf Squad in The Longest Day in Chang'an include:
Cao Poyan, portrayed by Wu Xiaoliang, who is the leader of the Wolf Squad. He is a vengeful survivor of the defeated Jiezhong Kingdom and orchestrates the terrorist plot against Chang'an.
Long Bo, played by Zhou Yiwei, a former Jiezhong soldier and loyal enforcer within the squad, known for his strength and brutality.
Yazedbozid (Monk Yisi), portrayed by Eldos Faruk, a religious extremist who serves as a spiritual motivator and strategist for the group.
These characters form the core of the Wolf Squad, driven by a desire for revenge against the Tang Empire for the destruction of their homeland.
The Longest Day in The Longest Day in Chang'an, playlist, free but has YT ads
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcHRE_huWMAwn-5xeW8ol4EfZ5vMqyn6lEpisode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF8HIKz2NPU&list=PLcHRE_huWMAwn-5xeW8ol4EfZ5vMqyn6l&index=1
