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#Showbiz: Rip-roaring wuxia ride with Donnie Yen

HONG Kong action star Donnie Yen is back with Sakra, another cinematic work that will surely thrill moviegoers this festive period.

The movie is based on the classic Chinese wuxia novel, Demi-Gods And Semi-Devils, from 1963.

Yen, who also directed and produced the period piece, condenses the enormously intricate, diverse and complex source material into a more manageable single story focused on Qiao Feng.

Qiao Feng, a legendary martial artist who leads the Beggar's Sect, is an orphan adopted by a Song couple.

Things go well for the celebrated hero until he is falsely accused of murdering a fellow leader from his sect.

His downward spiral deepens with the public revelation that he is actually a descendant of the Khitan people, who are at war with the Song nation.

Eventually, Qiao Feng loses his reputation, is banished from his sect and shunned by the Song for his Khitan roots. He goes on a journey to find out what really happened.

During his encompassing search for the truth, he crosses paths with Ah Chu (played by Chen Yuqi), a mysterious woman whom he first injures but later decides to save at all costs.

Along the way, the two develop a romantic relationship but the fates are unkind as Qiao Feng's tumultuous situation escalates into brutal violence.

Moviegoers who catch a "Donnie Yen" movie would expect the action sequences to be great and Sakra certainly delivers.

The fight scenes are superheroic in style and bombastic in scope, featuring many gliding manoeuvres and explosive strikes and blows.

The kinetic scenes, whether involving two individuals or a melee pitting Yen against a whole slew of lethal fighters, provide an exhilarating watch; they punctuate the more atmospheric and slower moments in the 132-minute-long movie.

A wuxia movie should also feature interesting vistas from a bygone era and the production values here are great, from the costumes and weapons to the props and locations, making it an exciting and immersive experience.

The score adds to the enjoyment of the movie, which sees Yen shine in the lead as the tormented hero.

Fans of the novel might find that the movie is not quite on a par with the classic text but it tries its best to remain faithful to the original material.

Yen had previously explained that he had the big challenge of satisfying fans of the tome and wuxia buffs, as well as providing something accessible and easily understood by regular action movie junkies.

Only time will tell whether Sakra becomes a classic in the filmic wuxia genre, but for now it provides a dramatic and thrilling ride.

NOW SHOWING

SAKRA

DIRECTED BY Donnie Yen

STARRING Donnie Yen, Chen Yuqi, Cya Liu, Wu Yue, Eddie Cheung, Grace Wong, Kara Wai

DURATION 132 minutes

RATING P13

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