1911

A sprawling epic from China, 1911 tells the story of the revolution that ended imperial rule at the beginning of the 20th century, ushering in a Western-style republic founded by Sun Yat-Sen (the remnant of which survives today on Taiwan). As presented here, the transition represented only the first stage in the undoing of China's feudal system, which was ultimately completed by Mao's Communist takeover. 1911 offers this very simplified take on history, presumably held by Jackie Chan, who not only co-directed but exhibits his modest dramatic talents as Huang Xing, the charismatic general who led the revolutionary fighters back home while Sun (Winston Chao) was abroad, collecting funds from expatriates and trying to convince European bankers and politicians that their continued support for the empress's corrupt government was a mistake. Unfortunately, while the battlefield sequences are impressively staged, the characterization is pedestrian, the dialogue unremittingly banal, and the introduction of a love interest for both Huang and Sun ludicrous. Perhaps Chinese audiences can feel a sense of nationalist pride while watching this shallow and cartoonish—if also visually lavish—piece of propaganda, but for westerners it will be a chore, especially since reams of printed titles are used to identify unfamiliar people and events while trying to cover massive gaps in the narrative. Not a necessary purchase. (F. Swietek)