★★★★★/★★★★★
I watched the movie with my family last Sunday and just like any other Jackie Chan film, it made us laugh and cry and laugh.
The story is about Huo An (Jackie Chan), the commander of Protection Squad who is tasked to watch over and maintain stability between the warring 36 nations in the famous Silk Road. But he and his subordinates are framed of smuggling gold by someone and are sent to the Wild Geese Gate where they undergo forced labor. They are building a city in the Wild Geese Gate and everyone comes from different nation which makes it very chaotic because everyone just fights over small things. It is under General Huo Qubing who thinks that no one in Wild Geese Gate is greater than him. Then enters Lucius (John Cusack) and his army with Prince Publius, heir of the Roman consul, who flee from their home to the east after saving the Prince from his own brother, Tiberius, who wants to kill him so he can have the power.
Lucius wants to take over the Wild Geese Gate so they have somewhere to rest in. They initiate an attack to the Wild Geese Gate which Huo Qubing bites and in the end only puts them in danger because it's just a trap. General Huo Qubing and his army are captured and Lucius is ready to make another attack but Huo An thinks of a plan. He talks to Lucius and Lucius tells him he wants to take over Wild Geese Gate but he says no. Therefore Lucius asks him for a duel which he agrees on. They are both skilled in fighting and I can't really say who would win until a sand storm comes. They continue fighting but Huo An worries that if they continue, then they will all die including the Prince. In the end, he agrees on letting them in and giving them food and medicine.
The story continues as Lucius tells Huo An their story and Huo An does the same. The next day, they receive a message telling them that they need to finish the city they are building in 15 days or else they will all be punished. Thinking that it would only be possible if they have more man power, Huo An makes a deal with Lucius. With Lucius' army helping them to build the city, Huo An promises to help Lucius deliver a message to the Parthian Empire.
They all develop their friendship over time as they work and begin caring for each other after having a good time working together. Now Huo An realizes that it is really possible to have peace between the 36 nations and the idea makes him happy. The scene is very touching because everyone is singing and then Prince Publius also wants to sing and he sings their anthem (I'm not sure if it's their national anthem) which makes everyone cry.
The next thing that happens, the evil Tiberius is marching towards the Wild Geese Gate with his thousands of army. Lucius wants to face him but Huo An stops him, telling that he can't win against him. Huo An offers help but Lucius tells him that it's not his fight and he doesn't want him to get involved with it. But Huo An, like it or not, will help anyone who needs help. He thought of asking for help from his friends back home so he comes back home only to find that his enemies has followed him. He saves his wife and the children with the help of the people he encountered back at the silk road. They are able to get away but Hua An loses his wife and some new friends.
While Huo An is fighting back home, Wild Geese Gate is being taking over by the army of Tiberius. They offer Huo Qubing and the other prisoners gold in exchange of handing Huo An over to them. They also captured Prince Publius and his servant almost killing Lucius in the process. Lucius does everything to protect the Prince but there are too many of them against him. They take Prince Publius and his servant with them back to their home.
When Huo An comes back to the Wild Geese Gate, they tell him what happened and the condition. Tiberius threatens to kill them and their family if they don't hand Huo An over to him so everyone is furious and asks Huo An why they wouldn't do what he says in order to save themselves and their family. Huo An tells them that if what they wish is to hand them over, if it will give everyone peace, then he will be happy to give himself over to Tiberius. This scene also makes me cry. (I'm such a cry baby!) Anyway, what happens next is that they pretend to hand over Huo An to Tiberius. What they really want is to get inside the palace so they can save their friends (the Prince, Lucius and his army) but they are already too late. The Prince and his servant are already dead, not having a choice but to end their own life.
Huo An then confronts Tiberius and Tiberius actually asks him to side with him buthe says no. Tiberius also tells him who framed them back then. It was his Lieutenant Yin po (Choi Si won). (and we were very very VERY disappointed when we found out because Si won wouldn't do that in real life!) Huo An doesn't believe him and is sent to the cage with his friends. But they wouldn't go to a lion's den without a plan, would they? They steal the keys from the guards without them knowing and when it's time, they free themselves. They escape and fight for their way out the palace.
Huo An looks for Lucius first and he finds him chained in one of the rooms. Lucius is beaten up and his eyes are already sucked out. Huo An tries to free him but he can't get to break the chains. They talk for a while about why Huo An is there and he need not to go save him and that Lucius entrusts his army to Huo An. Then one of the guards sets the room on fire. Huo An still tries to get closer to Lucius but the fire is already spreading. In the end, he is left with nothing but to end Lucius' life so he won't suffer anymore.
Outside, everyone is fighting and Huo An and his friends are getting killed one by one. But they don't give up. They fight until they find their way out.
When they are finally out, they see another thousands of army ready to kill them. I know they're losing hope but they still want to fight saying that they will fight together until the end. They are ready to attack when different armies from different nations start to show up one by one. They are the nations of their friends at the Wild Geese Gate. It gives them hope and together they fight.
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It was a really good film and Jackie Chan never disappoints!! :)
Watch it and see for yourself. :)
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