Starring: Jackie Chan, Wang Lee-hom, Steve Yoo Seung-jun Director: Ding Sheng Category: IIB (Putonghua)
The nameless trooper embodied by Jackie Chan (above right, with Wang Lee-hom) in Little Big Soldier not only changes the course of Chinese history, but provides the star with his best role in years. Ding Sheng has crafted a tragicomic war saga with a thought-provoking final twist whose impact is lessened by the movie's uneven tone and mixture of insight and banality.
Despite the presence of many side personages and hundreds of extras, it is largely a tale of two warriors. Set during the Warring States period, the focus is on the 'big soldier' (Chan), a peasant from the Liang state, and 'the little general' (Wang), a royal officer of the Wei kingdom. A battle in which both sides are all but annihilated ends with the general being taken prisoner by his lowly rival and their trek through hostile terrain to Chan's character's home.
Theirs is at times an almost existential discourse, with heavy doses of action and humour thrown in.
Supporting roles are a mixed bag. A mysterious maiden (Lin Peng) is initially intriguing but descends into stereotype. Similarly superficial is the villainous and sexually ambiguous Wei prince (Steve Yoo), who schemes to murder the general. Far better realised is the offbeat cameo by Wang Baoqiang as a hilariously hapless scout whose forest encounter combines laughs with life-and-death danger.
Little Big Soldier is not so much an action picture as a character-driven martial drama.