Legendary Assassin – Review

As Bo Tong Lam (Wu) scarfs down plates of food at lunchtime in a restaurant, the owner eventually comes over to lament she hasn’t seen him in a year! At least he still has his appetite. Lam himself wonders if God will forgive them both for what they did in their past. Intriguing… She wonders why he is thinking like that and puts a bag on the ground for him.

He replies all the traveling he has been doing has left him bored. But also, the fried eggs and tomatoes tastes like crap! Who doesn’t fry eggs with soy sauce?! As he takes the bag, he visits a cemetery, honors a grave and hops on a boat. Who is this man? What is his past?

As this man follows his path, he ferries to a small island city, and begins to stalk a target. The man he is after appears to have minimal morals and likely be a dangerous criminal. Lam tosses him the bag, then kicks the crap out of him. As the thug sees the end of his days, his head is collected for proof. This assassin means business.

As he tries to go home however, a typhoon impacts his boat trip back and he is stuck as one last boat of people arrives. While he waits for his path out, will this assassin find a way to help people, or will he stay bored and complacent with life? What about his head in a bag? How about one of the new arrivals, Fat Wing (Lam).

Legendary Assassin features an okay enough story when it gets going, however viewers may find it tonally challenged. While it is about a nefarious assassin, it also features a goofier and comedic element. That can be off-putting for those that only want an action spectacular, but I didn’t find it much of a turn off. Some of it led to some okay elements and a decent (albeit silly) payoff for one of the plot threads.

I have seen plenty of reviewers unhappy with this film, and likely for a bit of its almost slapstick nature, but I had a good time with it. Actors play it mostly serious despite some of the silly situations and light romance. The story is not overwhelming or complex, features some good fights, stunts and high-flying attacks. The budget must have been limited, but it does alright with what it has.

The action is ‘wired’ kung fu meaning actors fly around more than gravity would allow, but as that has been a style of the region for decades on decades, it does not bother me. If you are looking for a gritty or mind-bending crime spectacular, this isn’t it. If you are down for more action than brains, and some lighter hearted moments on top of a somewhat typical hitman/assassin plot, this will be an okay time for you.