血滴子 (The Guillotines) is an 2012 film out of Hong Kong and Zhong Guo. It was released in the US of A on June 14, 2013 in theaters and VOD. The movie stars Ethan Juan and Huang Xiaoming. Shawn Yue and Li Yuchun round out the rest of the supporting cast. This film was very loosely based on the Guillotine movies of the 1970s. However, this movie is completely new.
During Qianlong's rule, he inherited a secret squad called the Guillotines. They carried out secret missions effectively, efficiently, and ruthlessly. Each head was a reward of 10 teals. When a messiah figure called Wolf appears, the Guillotines are sent to squash the rebellion. However, they do not and one of their squad members is kidnapped. Forced to recover their friend, but also take down Wolf, they are left with very little options. When the emperor sends the firearm squad to replace them, all heck breaks loose.
This film was loooooonnnnnnnng. At least it felt that way. I was very bored watching it. The first half was completely confusing. I kept asking myself, what is going on and what does this all mean. If I wasn't watching with someone else, I may have turned it off never to return. At last, I sat through the second half. And the payoff left me very disappointed. The confusing parts of the first half are answered slowly, but in a very unsatisfying way.
In the end, it went soapbox as they talked about rebellion, equality, and peace in life. I wasn't sure how this was playing out in terms of their view on mainland Zhong Guo. Which is massively controlled by the government, yet deals corruption that bankrupts the people's trust. Sucking it up and moving on can only last so long and as Zhong Guo continues to move into the global market in not only exports, but thought leadership. A bubble "burst" is definitely possible, but I think gradual change is more likely.
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