Critics reviews

It’s a stylish and modern action movie that also features some of the year’s most satisfying fight choreography and action filmmaking. Light on its feet and eager to show off, “100 Yards” confirms Xu’s status as one of the best working action directors.

“100 Yards” is nothing if not a classic martial arts movie, and yet this bruising story about turn-of-the-century Tianjin... has been shot and staged with such radical elegance that it seems less like a throwback than it does the pursuit of a new form. It’s a form this film is only able to achieve at the cost of its soul, as Xu and his brother Xu Junfeng struggle to sustain any of what makes their initial premise so compelling, but the moments when “100 Yards” lands its blows are exhilarating in a way that makes the movie feel miles removed from most of its competition.

Action fans simply seeking top-drawer wushu combat should be satisfied, but general viewers may grow impatient with a repetitive plot that struggles to deliver compelling human drama from its promising elements.

100 Yards strikes the perfect balance between choreography and plot, intrigue and satire, and it’s one of the best Chinese-language films of the year.

What separates 100 Yards from most martial arts movies is its style, grace, and technical precision. Elegant isn’t a word often thrown around for this genre, but it’s fitting here. There’s an elegance to everything from the exquisite blocking and camera framing to the lighting and costume design.