Leon Lai plays the beggar who battles 50 assassins at once in “Bodyguards and Assasins”. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall. Make sure to check listings and be there early to reserve seats as it comes on a first come first served basis. For screening schedules please log on to http://www.shangrila-plaza.com or like them on facebook: shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

The Beggar (Leon Lai) transformed himself. He shaved his beard but his hair remained long and wore a silk robe. He alone stood between the army of assassins his weapon is a long black steel folding fan.  A dozen of them attacked him with spears. In a split second he unfurls the fan shielding himself and decapitates his attackers by using the razor sharp edge of the fan. Away from the fray, an assassin climbs up the wall to the room of their target. The beggar sees him, picks up a long bamboo pole and thrusts it on the assassin. What makes the scene powerful is how the choreography convinces viewers that one man can defeat more than 50 men. Although acrobatic it flows in its own logic and captivating pace.

Xuequi Wang plays tycoon Li Yu Tang (center blue robe). It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

“Bodyguards and Assassins” can be seen for free as part of the 6th Spring Film Festival at the Shang Cineplex in Shangri La Plaza mall from January 20-29, 2012. The action is only a detail to the more important context of the story. The film is actually probably one of the most important historical accounts of the modern revolutionary history of China. Dr. Sun Yat Sen, then the leader and founder of the Nationalist movement, was coming to Hong Kong in order to visit his ailing mother. The Qing Empire will do everything in its power to stop the man who challenges their rule.

from left: Dex Matilla of PDI, Wilson Lee Flores of Phil Star, Bayani San Diego of PDI, 6th Spring Film fest Proj. Managers Chi Burgos and Clarence Chan, Graphic designer MariAnne Go, ADMU Ricardo Leong Center founder Dr. Rosita Leong, Shangri-la Plaza Mktg. Div Head Marline Concio-Dualan and Confucius Inst. Coordinator Cris Albert Garcia. Photo was taken during the press preview for “Bodyguards and Assasins”. The film is part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

The story is based on actual event in 1906 and the great personal sacrifices made to protect Dr. Sun from the assassins. Li Yu Tang (Xueqi Wang) is a tycoon who owns the local newspaper and gets drawn into the revolution.  The historical backdrop that wasn’t dealt with in the film was the great corruption and excess of the empire’s rule in China. This caused a huge amount of poverty and suffering in what was already one of the largest populations in the world.

Even in 1905 shop signs already crowded HK’s streets. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

from left: Tony Leung Ka Fai is Prof. Chen Xiao Bai w tycoon Li Yu Tang. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Xueqi Wang won the Asian Film award for Best Actor for his role as Li Yu Tang. He also won the Asian Film award for best Supporting actor for “Forever Enthralled” which was shown last year in the 5^th Spring film fest also in Shang Plaza. Circumstances force Li Yu Tang to choose between right and wrong even when it jeopardizes his many business interests. He assembles a group of unlikely heroes to safeguard Dr. Sun who is recognized as the father of this new movement to free China.

One of the many high flying scenes in Bodyguards and Assassins. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Each character has a backstory that allows viewers to relate to the heroism and bygone era. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Each of them has an intriguing backstory as to why they are in the state of their life. Eventually, defending Dr. Sun is a way for them to seek salvation and redemption from mistakes they may have committed in the past. Donnie Yen plays Shen Cheng Yang, in his prime one of the best martial artists in the police force of Hong Kong. He however has a penchant for gambling, which has taken him to a downward spiral of debt.

Donnie Yen plays Shen Cheng Yang, a cop who falls into the trap of gambling. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

UFC fighter Cung Le has a spectacular action scene against Donnie Yen in “Bodyguards and Assasins”. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall. Make sure to check listings and be there early to reserve seats as it comes on a first come first served basis. For screening schedules please log on to http://www.shangrila-plaza.com or like them on facebook: shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

He has a spectacular fight scene against a royal henchman played by UFC star Cung Le. Apart from his current movie roles, Cung Le was the Strikeforce Middleweight champion until it was bought by the UFC. Wanderlei “Axe Murderer” Silva handed a KO loss to Cung Le in his UFC debut late last year. Cung Le will play the lead role in the upcoming Hollywood flick “Dragon Eyes.” Another MMA fighter Gina Carano is the lead for the film “Haywire.”

Fan Bing Bing is Yuet Yan, the desirable concubine. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

This is what Leon Lai looked like as the beggar Liu Yu Bai. He experienced a tragic incident that has led to his traumatized state. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Leon Lai (The beggar) is one of four Canto pop superstars that the Hong Kong media has designated as Four Heavenly Kings. The Bio channel airs separate features on them, which includes: Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Jacky Cheung. Lai also co-starred with Xueqi wang in “Forever Enthralled” as the lead actor Mei Lan Fang. For this movie Lai shows his versatility with the action scenes as he mostly known as a romantic lead or in dramatic roles. Jacky Cheung has a minor role as Yang Qu Yun.

Gen. Fang Tian (Simon Yam) tries to prevent his daughter Fang Hong ( Li Yu Chun) from abandoning their cause. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

7 foot tall actor Mengke Bateer plays Wang Min Fu, who slam dunks an enemy on a balcony. He’s also called Stinky Tofu by the defenders. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Another interesting character is Wang Fu Min affectionately called “Stinky Tofu.” He is played by the 7 foot tall, Mengke Bateer. The character is very similar to Jaws (Richard Kiel) in 007 films like “Moonraker” and “The Spy Who Loved Me.” In this case, Stinky Tofu is on the side of the good guys.

Ah Si (Nicholas Tse) is the faithful servant who defends Chong Guan ( Bo Chieh Wang). It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Coolies or rickshaws served as public transport. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

The film is definitely epic in scale; producers have highlighted the fact that they recreated the early 20^th century era Hong Kong as a set. Even at that time huge Chinese signage already covered the tops of streets. These days they are bigger and are electric or neon. Coolies or rickshaws were the mode of transportation over cobbled stone streets. Sampans were all over the harbor. There is a great variety of films in this year’s Spring film fest made free by sponsors like Credit Suisse and organized by the Ateneo De Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, Confucius Institute and Ateneo Celadon. For the many action fans out there they shouldn’t miss “Bodyguards and Assassins”.

Make sure to check listings and be there early to reserve seats as it comes on a first come first served basis. For screening schedules please log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com or like them on facebook: shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

Hu Jun is the powerful Imperial Assassin Yan Xiao Guo. It is showing for free as part of the 6th Spring Film fest, which will be held from January 20-29 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.