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Bodyguards and Assassins

2009 · 139 min

A slow-building historical thriller that tightens into a tense, emotional siege, with hard-hitting martial arts and a bittersweet sense of sacrifice.

Tagline
To save a nations future, they must protect one man from its past.
Overview
In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-sen came to Hong Kong to meet revolutionary comrades. The Qing government sent a group of killers to murder him. Ordinary citizens from all walks of life joined together, blocking the streets and fighting off the assassins to keep Sun Yat-sen safe.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • tensestrength 3 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • justice
  • betrayal
  • family
  • survival
  • power
Places
  • big city
Era
period
Audience
adult
Form
  • ensemble
Content intensity
  • Gore mild
  • Language mild
  • Violence strong
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action7
Horror2
Humour2
Realism7
Romance1
Tension8
Darkness6
Complexity6
Emotional weight7

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Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, action, history
Directed by
Teddy Chen
Written by
Chan Wai, Guo Junli, Joyce Chan Ka-Yi, Chun Tin-Nam
Starring
Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Hu Jun, Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse Ting-fung, Edison Wang, Leon Lai Ming, Mengke Bateer
Music
Comfort Chan, Peter Kam Pau-Tat
Cinematography
Arthur Wong Ngok-tai, Yang Zhenyu
Runtime
139 min
Country
China, Hong Kong
Languages
Mandarin, Cantonese, English

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