1911
Congratulations to Jackie Chan, one of the most gracious and most popular movie stars in the business, on the making of his 100th career film.
It’s a shame he couldn’t mark the milestone with something more substantial than 1911, a lackluster historical epic about the revolution that helped to launch the Republic of China.
The film was made to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, an uprising that resulted in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the installation of China’s first president.
Chan, who also co-directed the film with cinematographer Li Zhang, gives a convincing dramatic performance as Huang Xing, one of the leaders of the blue-collar nationalist forces who risk their lives against the powerful Royal Army forces to take over major Chinese cities one by one as a method of encouraging the abdication of Empress Longyu (Joan Chen).
Overseas, exiled revolutionary Sun Yat-Sen (Winston Chao) does his best to rally support from foreigners and expatriates for a potential new government while emerging as the favorite to become the new country’s first leader if the effort is successful.
Political views toward contemporary China aside, the film is well-intentioned in its attempt to honor those who fought for their country and for a democratic government supported by the people. This was not the Communist regime that later took over and remains in place today.
Where the film stumbles is its presentation, which comes across more as a dry history lecture than a depiction of a dramatic political event with implications worldwide.
Despite a big budget by Chinese standards, the battle sequences are jumbled and there’s too much of a reliance on titles to introduce irrelevant characters or to summarize various chapters in its story.
With a more focused script, the film could have developed its characters to create more emotional resonance for viewers outside China who aren’t as familiar with the story.
The film manages some effective sequences, including one in which Sun gives an impassioned presentation to European financiers about the importance of the revolution, but it never gives enough depth or context overall to its subject.
Such a heavy-handed approach tends to undermine the appreciation the filmmakers are trying to convey toward the revolutionaries and their cause.
Rated R, 118 minutes.