Streaming Sleepers: In NINE-RING GOLDEN DAGGER, A Plentiful, Exhilirating Period Adventure
Nine-Ring Golden Dagger is streaming exclusively on HI-YAH, and arrives on Digital beginning July 1 from Well Go USA.
Actor Wu Yue has been a sight to see ever since he landed on my radar with SPL: Paradox. His fine performance caliber as an action-capable actor is on full display in his work, while his character gets a much more minimal treatment on screen for Feng Xiaojun’s dynastical action adventure, Nine-Ring Golden Dagger, although it still leaves an indelible impression.
That’s at least for the few minutes we get to see the actor in the role of a Song Dynasty general battling an army of Mongols before losing his life, with his prized weapon in Liao dynasty possession. Fast forward ten years later when we meet the good general’s ninth daughter, Yang Yanying (Liu Xinlei), determined to get the blade back at any cost, with or without the help of elder sister, Yanqi (Zhang Xintong).
Two set out and retrieve the weapon and the mission is only halfway successful, with the sister wounded and finding temporary safe harbor in a local inn hosted by Jiao Guangpu (Song Tianshuo), who is also a man of justice. Secrets are revealed and alliances are forged as the trio must find a way to deter Liao forces hunting the sisters down, including a relentless Liao commander (Yu Kang), and other sinister forces at work.
The lead actresses are a fine pair for the roles of Yang’s highly skilled daughters, and the action sequences are fun to watch; the first action scene between the two ladies definitely lends a nod or two to the great Tony Ching Siu-Tung if you can spot them. The film also has our leads venturing into some peculiar moments of hilarity throughout, including actor Song who later shares a scene with Zhang which is akin to Peking Opera stage performace. I also love how their characters’ action style alludes to something developed by the protagonistic General himself as an idenitfier, as it sets up some of the action in the film’s finale quite nicely.
Song’s character is full of substance here as well, a showstopper who regales in acrobatic-laden tales of his struggle, performing for patrons of his inn. He’s also joined by a few supporting characters that lend some levity to the story, and even a little intrigue to boot. That includes actor You Xianchao in a key role whose viability and status could prove useful to our heroes in their quest. Yu is an absolute beast to watch as well for his antagonistic role, which is only a tip of the iceberg here.
The bulk of the film takes place at Jiao’s inn where much of the action also takes center stage. If you’re a regular consumer of period action and martial arts films out of the mainland, I doubt that Nine-Ring Golden Dagger will be a let down. Plainly and simply, you may get a kick out of it.
