Experiencing a world of fantastic imagery of ancient China, Jade Dynasty surrounds the audience with fantastic imagery and a powerful story of revenge, identity, and moral dilemma. The movie traces the life of an orphan Zhang Xiaofan who was brought up under the Qing Yun Sect, following the massacre of his village by the Ghost King. When he progresses in martial arts and develops his powers, the journey of Xiaofan gets a bad twist as he discovers the truth about the death of his parents, which brings out a powerful rage that is set to consume him. This emotional center of the work is what moves the story through, as it examines how knowledge and sorrow can turn the pure into vengeance, and how the idea of justice can be interpreted in many ways.
Visually, the film is a marvel. Cinematography captures beautiful scenery and complex martial arts routines resulting in some magical air that help passengers to travel to a mythic world. The design of its production and the costumery creates a sense of the realistic Chinese appearance of the ancient times, and the score enhances both emotional scenes and sequences of actions. The heartfelt performance of Xiao Zhan makes the fantasy elements realistic, which adds the richness of the internal conflict of Xiaofan. Characters Supporting characters are also sources of complication, particularly the mysterious Biyao who spends time interacting with Xiaofan, bringing about the theme of trust and deception.
Although Jade Dynasty is a film that is good in terms of visuals and emotional appeal, it is at times plagued with pacing problems and certain melodramatic dialogues. In spite of such small shortcomings, the discussion of such themes as vengeance, truth, and redemption in the film moved me to the depths, leaving me with an unresolved feeling of wonder and reflection. At the end of it all, it is a well composed story which balances both the epic fantasy and the human touch, so it remains a both fascinating and thought-provoking film to watch.
