Asian Home Cinema

“14 Blades” is a mix of martial arts and espionage flick which Chinese title “Jinyiwei” means “The Brocaded Robe Guards” was a nickname to the Ming emperors' own version of the CIA. The organization was set up in the late 14th century by Ming dynasty founder Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu), first as his own personal guards numbering in the hundreds, and later gaining many more other responsibilities (including intelligence, of course), reaching their apex in the 16th century with a total force around the low six figures. “14 Blades” is the latest from Hong Kong director Daniel Lee, who made the brainless “Dragon Squad” and the much improved “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon”. The film starred the most sought after Kung Fu star in Chinese cinema today, Donnie Yen, and also features a mix of new and veteran performers. Veteran genre actors who make appearances include Chen Kuan-tai, one of Shaw Brothers’ top kung fu stars of the 1970s who starred in cult Kung Fu classic “Flying Guillotine which are very similar in plot to this film, Wu Ma (The Dead and The Deadly), Sammo Hung (Martial Law, Resurrection of the Dragon), mainland wushu champion Xu Xiang-dong (“Wing Chun” TV series), Chen Zhi-hua (Ip Man), and Damian Lau (Duel to the Death). However, all of the young stars featured are idols rather than dedicated martial artists. Wu Chun is a member of Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit and has starred in several TV series. Qi Yuwu is a former Star Search China winner from Singapore. As the leading lady is mainland actress Vicki Zhao Wei who made appearances in John Woo’s “Red Cliff” as well as “Mulan”, Chinese live version for the country’s legendary epic tale.

Set in the final years of China's Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the Imperial Guards are raised and trained to be ruthless killing machines since childhood, to execute whatever questionable orders from the Imperial Court or Emperor without questions, and Green Dragon (Yen), being the most highly skilled of them all, is no exception. Each of them possesses a chest containing 14 blades, and the Imperial Guards would use different weapons under different situations, with 8 being used for all forms of tortures, and another 5 for killings, and the last one for hara kiri. And they are also experts at psychological warfare, negotiating or weakening the enemies' minds in order to accomplish their missions. But deep within his heart, there's still an iota of conscience left in Green Dragon, who begins to question its motives and runs away from the organization while being hunted down, when he discovers a big conspiracy as an evil eunuch gains control of the Imperial Court and Imperial Guards. While on the run, Green Dragon becomes acquainted with Qiao Hua (Zhao), daughter of the chief of an Armed Escort Agency. Initially, like all Imperial Guards do, he's merely making use of her. However, he gradually falls for her while she finds out that she's being made use of.

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Like watching episodes of The Twilight Zone, there are lots of different flavors packaged within “Phobia 2”. So that there is certainly something for everyone’s tastes and vulnerabilities to enjoy. Each bite-sized tale is a surprise and leaves you with a sick feeling in your gut when it’s over. Extends the four shorts in "4bia" (2008) with five fresh phobic ideas, "Phobia 2" is once again enjoyed a massive success when it was released at Asian cinemas last year. Had a record first-day opening of 15 million baht, this sequel absolutely shattered Thailand's box-office records once again. Now, the film is available in home cinema packages for your collection. YesAsia got it and they offered a nice Hong Kong version DVD with friendly English subtitle. So you should grab it and just enjoy this one of the best horrors of 2009 that will deliver the good scares right into your home.

By sequence, the stories are "Novice", "Ward", "Backpackers", “Salvage” and "In The End". Each runs about almost half an hour and you will find that they go straight to the point, without much hesitation and the unnecessary chitchat in between.

Novice – For fourteen year old Pey, the idea of ‘karma’ is completely irrelevant. Pey has committed a crime so his mom decides that he must get ordained to become a Buddhist novice to escape. Under the guise of a monk, Pey remains unnoticed as a criminal. However, something deep down inside is bothering him. Will Pey’s Karma catch up with him? As he searches for the answer, the grip of fear tightens as he realizes that ‘Karma’ has no friend or foe when deciding a man’s fate or fortune.
This is the segment by “Body #19” director Paween Purijitpunya and it stars young “Gao” Jirayu Laoonmanee as a novice monk who's on a scary solo pilgrimage. Combined the urban legend, Buddhist teachings and old school horror, “Novice” also has this great use of special effects especially in the last scene. “4bia” returnee director Purijitpanya already known for his visualization and CG characters, and the result here is effective also conceivably could be his best work yet.

Ward – Arthit, a playful teenager crashes his bike and break both legs. At the hospital, he is moved from the ER room to a shared room. In the room, there is an old man in a coma who has been waiting for almost a month for his family to decide to pull the plug on his oxygen. What happens that night will make Arthit realize that being alone is always better than being around bad company.
Starring singer “Dan” Worawech Danuwong, this is a segment by another newcomer to the franchise, Visute Poolvoralaks, a veteran producer who's making his directorial debut. This shortest of all the short segments goes pretty standard and lack of details. But while the story may seem pedestrian with an outcome that you can expect, it still provides some shocking moments.

Backpackers – Upon graduation, a young Japanese couple decides to travel around Thailand by backpacking. After failed attempts to hitchhike from Samui Island to Bangkok, the boyfriend waves a 1,000 Baht note in hopes to entice passing cars to pick them up. Finally, a truck driver pulls over and picks them. What is hiding inside that big trailer? Is there something deeper and darker that lurks behind the kind smiling face of the truck driver who lets them hop in? The answers to these questions will cause an adrenaline rush like no other.
Stars Charlie Trairat in what is possibly his darkest turn ever in a story involving "a road trip gone bad, human trafficking, and murder", this segment is also a pretty dark turn for the director -- Songyos Sugmakanan, who's new to the Phobia franchise. But he's done horror before, directing Charlie in "Dorm".

Salvage – Nuch is a car dealer. She makes her living by rebuilding severely damaged cars. But little do unsuspecting bargain hunters know, beneath the new upholstery and shiny repainted exteriors are cars with horrific pasts. One night after closing the car garage, she discovers her son is missing. Reviewing the security camera tapes, Nuch sees her son climb inside a car that she recently brought but nowhere on tape has him climbing out! “Cemetery Garage” where you drive off with more than you bargained for.
Directed by Parkpoom Wongpoom, half of the Shutter/Alone pair, it stars singer-actress Nicole Theriault (One Night Husband) in a story about a mysterious used car. Sometimes in Thai culture there is a stigma about buying second-hand cars or old houses, because of the spirits that might be involved.

In the End – Ter, Puak, Shin and Aey are the movie crew of an upcoming horror movie. They are shooting their last scene. On the last night, Puak is trying to be cool and tells one of the cast members that, “the show must go on”. So when that actress actually dies during filming, she makes sure to come back from the dead to finish her role. The four movie crews must shoot the movie that has a real ghost playing the role of a ghost in the end!
Stars Marsha Wattanapanich (Alone) who playing a caricature of herself, as a diva singer-actress on a film set where strange things start to happen. The segment is directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun, the other half of the Shutter/Alone duo. Again benefits tremendously from Banjong Pisanthanakun’s clever blend of humor and suspense like his previous “In the Middle” short in “4bia,” the plot of this last segment will make you laughing from start to finish. But there is also enough spooky haunting going on to give you the chills and thrills you would expect from this growing master of horror.

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