Little Big Soldier (Bluray + DVD Combo) (2010)

"Little Big Soldier" (original title "Da bing xiao jiang") is a Chinese/Hong Kong action adventure film starring (and written by) Jackie Chan. The story is set in the last days of China's Warring States Period, just before the Qin Dynasty's first unification of the country in 221 BC. Jackie Chan plays an unnamed old "Soldier" of Liang State, who, feigning a death in the battlefield, captures a young, injured "General" (Leehom Wang) of Wei State.

All the elderly "Soldier" wants is to stay alive, go back to his homeland, and hopefully, to have a small piece of land as a reward. But things are not so easy especially when the Wei troops looking for the General are closing in on them. Also, there are tribal warriors living among the mountainous area where the Soldier and the General have to travel.

Co-produced by Jackie Chan himself, the film has a few nice trademark comic set-pieces using props, but the film's overall tone is rather serious, though not too serious as entertainment. Both leading stars did great jobs here. Jackie Chan, whose acting abilities are often underrated, gives humanity to the character, a blend of comic and tragic elements. Leehom Wang is also good as the proud "General," a young man who still has to learn a thing or two from the old "Soldier" and vice versa.

There are some lapses in his storytelling, but chemistry between the two leads will make you almost forget about it. Director Sheng Ding adds a poignant touch to the adventures by using beautiful locations and songs as the backdrop of the war-time story. With the now familiar end credit bloopers, "Little Big Soldier" is an enjoyable ride film with a bit of bitter taste thrown in.

I caught this film just last night at a local film festival and had to go online to see when the blu-ray would be available. Alas, it isn't available yet, but I will be the first in line to buy it when it is available. This was a fantastic movie overall and, in my opinion, one of Jackie Chan's best. I'd rate this up there with Drunken Master and for a recent Hong Kong film I'd say it was better than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but not quite as good as Hero. Jackie Chan's physical comedy is perhaps the best in the business and is definitely showcased here, but there are so many more layers to this film. The story line is fantastic and the cinematography is top notch. My two cents is that this is a must-see.

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After watching a portion of an earlier version of this film with NO subtitles and no dubbing, I ordered this new DVD version which DOES have the English dub audio, but will probably listen to the Chinese with the English subtitles, admittedly.

Jackie may be getting older, but shows no slowing down in his directing, acting and comic relief! I highly recommend "Little Big Soldier" to everyone!

Read Best Reviews of Little Big Soldier (Bluray + DVD Combo) (2010) Here

Far from playing the clown and other trade mark antic , this Jackie Chan film is acually touching , and ends on a melancholic existentialist human condition sequence not unlike Kurosawa's endings

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Others will review this deeper so I'll keep mine short. Some people used to nonstop Chan action and comedy throughout and up to the end credits may be a little taken aback by this film (which is why I gave it four instead of five stars) but if you look at the ending bringing a resolution to the early charge of disgrace regarding Chan's character, the ending makes sense. The two leads work fantastic against and with one another. As I am only acquainted with Chan's previous work, I will write this is the best acting I've seen from him. There's none of Crime Story's solemness and none of the (for a better word) mugging of Chan's early comedies (though I also love that Chan as well). Add to that an excellent script, fantastic cinematography and music and this movie is a winner. Comparing this with Chan's last American movie "The Spy Next Door" is like night and day. I wish THIS movie would have gotten a wide theatrical release in the States. It surely deserves it.

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