Film Review: Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants 射雕英雄传：侠之大者(2025) - China
Tagline: A Grand Feast with Uneven Flavors
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Full Review:
https://neofilmshop.com/blogs/news/film-review-legends-of-the-condor-heroes-the-gallants-2025-china
Tsui Hark, that restless maestro of Hong Kong spectacle, has never been one to shy away from grandeur. With “Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants”, he plunges headlong into the vast, turbulent waters of Louis Cha’s (Jin Yong) seminal wuxia epic, a literary monument as revered in the East as Tolkien is in the West. The ambition is breathtaking, the canvas sprawling, the intent unmistakable: to capture the sweeping saga of honor, love, and martial arts mastery that has captivated generations. Does Tsui succeed? Mostly, yes, but with the kind of magnificent stumbles inherent when trying to wrestle a continent onto a movie screen. The result is a film that dazzles the eyes, occasionally warms the heart, and sometimes tests the patience – a lavish banquet where some dishes sing while others merely satisfy.
From the opening frames, the scale announces itself. Sweeping vistas of the Mongolian steppes give way to the intricate, bustling life of the Central Plains. We are introduced to Guo Jing (Xiao Zhan), the earnest, slightly slow-witted but profoundly honorable son of a murdered patriot, raised by Genghis Khan. His journey collides with that of Huang Rong (Sabrina Zhuang), the brilliant, mischievous, and fiercely independent daughter of a reclusive martial arts master. Their fates intertwine amidst a chaotic backdrop of warring factions – Song patriots, Jin invaders, Mongol conquerors, and the ever-shifting allegiances of the martial world (jianghu) itself, where sects clash over ancient grudges and coveted manuals promising ultimate power.
“The Gallants” lives and breathes by this central romance. Xiao Zhan embodies Guo Jing’s fundamental decency with a grounded sincerity. He is the rock, the unwavering moral compass in a world spinning out of control. Zhuang, conversely, is a revelation as Huang Rong. She captures the character’s dazzling intellect, her playful cunning, and the deep well of loyalty and vulnerability beneath the sharp tongue and sharper strategies. Their chemistry is palpable, the film’s strongest anchor. You believe in their connection, the way their contrasting natures – his straightforward strength, her agile mind – complement and complete each other. Their scenes together, particularly the quieter moments of shared vulnerability amidst the chaos, provide the film’s most genuinely affecting moments. It’s a love story built on mutual respect and shared peril, and it largely works.
Tsui Hark, ever the visual architect, delivers the expected spectacle. The martial arts sequences are a kinetic ballet of wirework, CGI enhancement, and intricate choreography. Tsui understands the wuxia genre isn't just about fighting; it's about “expression”. A sword thrust isn't merely an attack; it's a statement of philosophy, a manifestation of chi. The film excels in these moments: the clash of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, the eerie menace of Venom West (a suitably imposing Tony Leung Ka-fai, though perhaps underutilized), the sheer scale of the Mongol hordes. The CGI, while occasionally noticeable, mostly serves the grandeur rather than distracting from it. The landscapes are rendered with painterly beauty, and the production design immerses us in a world both historical and mythic. Tsui’s camera swoops and dives with characteristic energy, finding dynamic angles even in quieter moments.
Yet, “The Gallants” stumbles under the sheer weight of its source material and its own ambition. Louis Cha’s novel is a dense tapestry of intersecting plotlines, a vast roster of characters, and intricate political and martial arts lore. Condensing even a portion of this into a 147-minute runtime necessitates brutal triage. The consequence is a narrative that sometimes feels like it’s galloping from one major plot point to the next, introducing characters and conflicts only to hastily resolve or sideline them. Key emotional beats, particularly concerning Guo Jing’s complex relationship with his Mongol upbringing and sworn brotherhood, feel rushed. Supporting characters, even compelling ones like the Seven Freaks or certain antagonistic masters, often register more as archetypes or plot devices than fully realized individuals. The dialogue, striving for the poetic grandeur of the wuxia tradition, occasionally tips over into melodrama, landing with a theatrical thud that feels out of place on the big screen.
This compression also affects the pacing. The film surges forward with propulsive energy during the action set pieces, but lags noticeably in the bridging scenes meant for character development or exposition. Moments that should breathe, allowing us to soak in the emotional or philosophical weight, are sometimes cut short, while others, particularly involving secondary conflicts or comic relief that doesn't always land, linger a beat too long. There’s a sense of "wuxia whiplash" – intense martial arts spectacle followed by slightly draggy plotting, followed by rushed emotional revelations. The tonal shifts between epic romance, brutal warfare, broad comedy (often centered on Huang Rong’s trickery), and mystical martial arts can be jarring. It’s as if Tsui is trying to cram every facet of the wuxia experience into one film, resulting in a slight lack of cohesive focus.
Is it a failure? Far from it. “The Gallants” remains a captivating experience, especially for fans of the genre or the source material. Tsui Hark’s sheer love for this world and its characters radiates from the screen. He captures the “essence” of Jin Yong’s themes: the conflict between personal loyalty and patriotic duty, the definition of true heroism (often found in simple integrity rather than flashy skill), the corrosive nature of power and vengeance, and the enduring strength found in genuine human connection. The central romance works. The action, when it ignites, is thrilling. The visual imagination is frequently stunning. Xiao Zhan and Sabrina Zhuang carry the film with compelling performances that suggest even greater depth could be mined in future installments.
“The Gallants” feels like the opening chapter of a much larger story – which, of course, it is. It lays the groundwork, introduces the players, and sets the epic conflicts in motion with undeniable flair. It’s a welcome banquet for those hungry for grand wuxia spectacle.
Tsui Hark’s “Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants" is a visually sumptuous, energetically directed, and affectionately crafted adaptation of a beloved epic. Bolstered by strong central performances, particularly the sparkling Sabrina Zhuang, it delivers thrilling martial arts spectacle and a genuinely engaging central romance. Its ambition is also its Achilles' heel, as the sprawling narrative forces compression that leads to pacing issues, underdeveloped subplots, and occasional tonal inconsistency. Yet, the sheer scale, the beating heart of the Guo Jing/Huang Rong relationship, and Tsui’s undeniable directorial verve make it a journey worth taking. The Condor has taken flight; it’s a magnificent sight, even if the flight path is occasionally turbulent. (Neo, 2025)