Watch Gallants
- NR
- 2013
- 1 hr 37 min
-
6.5 (1,005)
Gallants is a 2010 Hong Kong comedy martial arts film, directed by Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng. The film stars Siu-Lung Leung, Kuan Tai Chen and Teddy Robin Kwan as the main characters. The movie was able to successfully blend the themes of martial arts, comedy and drama, making it an enjoyable and refreshing experience for its audience.
The story of Gallants revolves around two middle-aged men who used to be martial arts experts in their youth. Tiger (Leung) and Dragon (Chen) find themselves under the guidance of Master Law (Kwan), who has been in a coma for over 30 years. When they arrive at his dilapidated martial arts school, they find that it is now owned by a greedy property developer who wants to tear it down. The two men decide to fight to save the school and restore it to its former glory.
Throughout the film, the characters display their immense skill in the martial arts, making for some entertaining action sequences. The humor is also well-executed, with the comedic timing being spot on. The story has a lot of heart, with the overarching themes of friendship, loyalty and redemption being explored.
Despite being a martial arts film, Gallants doesn't rely solely on action to drive the plot. Instead, it focuses on the personal growth of the characters as they come to terms with their past and their present. The film touches upon the idea that age is just a number, and that one can still achieve greatness even in their later years. The development of the characters' relationships, especially that of Tiger and Dragon, is also a highlight of the film.
One of the standout elements of the film is its cast. Siu-Lung Leung and Kuan Tai Chen have wonderful chemistry as the two martial arts experts. Their banter and interactions with each other are a highlight of the film. Teddy Robin Kwan steals the show as the comatose Master Law, with his witty and sarcastic one-liners providing some great comedic relief. The supporting cast also does a great job, with Chung Wang and J.J. Jia standing out in their respective roles.
The cinematography and set design of the film are also noteworthy. The film takes place in a small village in rural Hong Kong, and the sets are authentically designed to match this backdrop. The use of muted colors and natural lighting also add to the overall visual aesthetic of the film. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and filmed, with a nod to classic martial arts films from the 70s.
Overall, Gallants is a well-executed and entertaining film that manages to blend action, comedy and drama with ease. It's a great watch for fans of martial arts films, and even for those who are not necessarily fans of the genre. The film's themes of friendship, loyalty and redemption make for a heartwarming and uplifting experience. It's not often that a film can make you laugh, cry and marvel at the same time, but Gallants certainly manages to do so.