Shanghai Triad (1995)

In 1930’s, a young boy named Shuisheng goes from England to Shanghai to his Uncle Tang as part of the criminal organization as the Triad Boss. In Shanghai, Shuisheng become a servant for a singer named Jinbao. Shuisheng could not do the “simplest” task such as lighting a match for Jinbao, so she gave him the nickname as Bumpkin (as he’ll be called that for the rest of the review). Jinbao’s life starts to get into hazard when Bumpkin’s Uncle Tang and his members were being killed off by the other criminal organization. Jinbao, Bumpkin, and Tang’s remaining member named Song get relocated into a small island with little civilians to be hidden from the public. However, as days goes by, Jinbao is not entirely safe, as the other members of those felonies get close whacking her out.

Bumpkin could be a dull example of a blank slate, but not as bad as Bella Swan from the entire Twilight Series. Yes, the viewer supposed to be in slate’s shoe, but the slate now needs a personality of their own to be interesting that to concentrated to be. When Bumpkin loses his uncle, he doesn’t react with any expression other than the same dull surprise. Jinbao is a singer with a complicated career mostly with the organization, but has retained her childhood with music she used to know. The music she knows and sing with a little girl is the original title of the film, Row to Grandma’s Bridge. Jinbao’s personality is range from calm and collective to a strict prima donna when she doesn’t get her desire. The Crime Organization is criminal organization that’s no different than typical mafia, nothing different from others. They’re kind of threatening to some of the members and Jinbao, but there’s isn’t any investment in any of the other of them. This is in common with the two terrible Baz Lurman films, Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby; a film stars a witness to record moments with the rich icon with a chance of being killed. The difference with why this film (as well as a bunch of other films) is better than any of Baz Lurman’s film is the music is original and fit the timeline, and most of the scenes last more than five seconds. There’s other body guarding films that’s mostly close in identity. Despite this film came out three years after The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Shanghai Triad is an interesting take on a young bodyguard to protect a singer, but there’s got to be a better security to be passionate with to raise and take a note.