Generals of the Yang clan, who dedicated their lives to defending the Song dynasty, fall in battle. Treachery is everywhere. No one can be trusted. The wives of the fallen generals take up arms to fight and defend their state.
Legendary Amazons were formerly titled Lady Generals of the Yang Family. It is based on a famous Chinese opera set in the Song Dynasty. The opera has undergone several adaptations. According to critics, this version is the worse. Although this has everything you want to see in a Wushu legend movie, it still fails to deliver the true spirit of the art.
If the story smacks of familiarity, it’s because the historical event was inspired by the 1972 Shaw Brothers movie The 14 Amazons. This was supposed to be a comeback actress Cecilia Cheung. It failed to showcase her. There were too many female leads who garnered the spotlight. Jackie Chan produced the film. He may be regretting that choice because Legendary Amazons received several poor reviews from critics and audiences. It flopped at the box office. The film released in 2011 and only earned $42,437 in Hong Kong but received $105,650 in Malaysia.
Legendary Amazons kept the Shaw Brothers tradition. However, it the script was poorly executed. The choreography failed to match the vintage Shaw Brothers movies. There were a few memorable scenes, but I won’t spoil the film. Historical accuracy is nowhere to be found, so prepare for a comedic romp of cartoon quality. It’s obvious the film’s objective is to keep the audience entertained. What else could describe this horrible adaptation?
The pacing is swift. It switches scenes in a blink of an eye as moves from one battle sequence to another. The movie was trashed for its overly ornate costumes, poor acting, weak special effects, and comedic action. Still, “Legendary Amazons” it is fun to watch if you can keep an open mind. Only real fans of this genre will enjoy the movie. The film should satisfy a niche audience of Wushu fans.
The fun facts about this film it’s set in early 11th century China during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty. As The emperor spends time indulging in personal pursuits, while neglecting state affairs, his government becomes a den corruption. War rages on the borders of the Song dynasty with the rival state of Western Xia.
Legendary Amazons is based on the collection of Chinese folklore The Generals of the Yang Family. It was made into plays and novels based on a military family from the earlier years of imperial China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279). The collection recounts staunch loyalty and impressive bravery of the Yangs. The made the ultimate sacrifice to defend their country from foreign invaders.
You can rent Legendary Amazons today via DVD Netflix. As mentioned, this film is made for true Wushu fans who can overlook the film’s poor production.
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