During the infamous occupation of China at the outset of WW2, Japanese atrocities have gone too far. In response a Chinese peasant girl forms a band of assassins to take on the Imperial Army and their brutal Nazi allies.
This movie is a perfect combination of martial arts and WW2 movies, it has more than I expected.
The plot is about the Japanese occupation of China 1940. The city of Sichen is in control of a Japanese General Takeshi (Li Zhang). The Japanese army is brutally murdering the Chinese people and the atrocities committed against the Chinese women are especially barbaric, until one day a Black Dress Killer arrive to the town, and kill over 1,500 soldiers and is systematically working his way to the Japanese General. The Black Dress Killer is a woman named Xiaoyun (Serena Hu or Hu Sang) who lost her family during General Takeshis occupation of her village and now she seek vengeance against the General. Meanwhile a Resistance leader Chen (Zhao Jun Long) failed to save a friend from Japanese prison but save unexpected an American Journalist named Steven (Jeremy Williams) and now Chen and Xiaoyun must now find a way to take the Journalist back to America. Meanwhile the General get a visit from a German Nazi Schultz (Johan Karlberg) and now it's obvious what the General must do.... Find the Black Dress Killer at all cost!
What I love about this movie I all the combination it has of all different type of movies and yet it work so well
1st is the action, its none stop, the Japanese ninjas are fast and deadly, the Resistance team are brave and ready to die for their country, The Black Dress Killer is very mystical like a demon who will make the Japanese soldiers pay for their sin....a Killer Geisha who stop at nothing to get to our heroine
2nd is the people, you feel for them, you want them to survive, the movie is not concentrate on the good action it's also concentrate on the situation for the Chinese people, for Xiaoyun and her family, the journalist during the prison time, you feel for the people and hate the soldiers who cause all this madness
3rd the history, not only do you enjoy a good action, but you also learn the history of the occupation during world war 2 in Asia.
And also the acting is great in this film, Li Zhang is really doing a great performing as the evil General. Serena Hu is wonderful as Xiaoyun, she is beautiful and very powerful at the same time. Jeremy Williams is good as the Journalist who enter a cold world where no man wants to go. Zhao Jun Long is charming and likeable as the Resistance leader Chen. Johan Karlberg is excellent as the heartless Nazi. And Wang Yin is doing an awesome performing as the cool and cruel Japanese Sergeant.
I recommend this to everyone who love WW2 movies combined with Martial arts.
Ps: the movie was nominated at Cannes Film Festival 2012
