Lionsgate has released a new trailer for Daniel Lee's (Black Mask) sword and sandals action epic Dragon Blade. The film follows a clash between Eastern and Western cultures when the villainous Roman leader Tiberius (Adrien Brody) attempts to lay claim to the Silk Road. The valiant Huo An (Jackie Chan) teams up with a defected Roman General (John Cusack) to build an army of his own and protect his homeland.

There's so much that's weird about this movie that I'm kind of in awe. Cusack will never make sense in a period picture before the 20th century; his sensibilities are too modern. Seeing Chan in aesthetics of Roman epic is inherently bizarre. Seeing Chan play second fiddle to American actors in a Chinese film is even more bizarre, although admittedly that might just be how it's being marketed to Western audiences (the film is already a huge hit in China). And though the poster and synopsis read as a total schlockfest, the trailer reveals that the film has excellent production values. It's all just so strange, I think I may be in love.


You probably know if this movie is for you just by looking at the promo art. It is definitely for me. I love the weird cast. I love Brody's heightened delivery in contrast to Cusack's obvious efforts to actively do nothing. I love how Brody catches a massive sword in his bare hands without wincing or loosing a drop of blood. And of course, I love Jackie Chan. Since Chan is both starring in and producing the film, I'm sure there will be some excellent action set-pieces, and I'm excited to see how the contrasting battle styles of the diverse army are choreographed. Dragon Blade arrives in select theaters and On-Demand on September 4th.

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Image via Lionsgate Pictures

Here's the official Dragon Blade synopsis:

A massive success this year in its native China, "Dragon Blade" brings action spectacle on a grand scale to US audiences. Featuring an international cast led by Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, the film features the fight for the Silk Road when East and West collide. When corrupt Roman leader Tiberius (Adrien Brody) arrives with a giant army to claim the Silk Road, Huo An (Jackie Chan) and his group of trained warriors teams up with an elite legion of defected Roman soldiers led by General Lucius (John Cusack) to maintain the delicate balance of power in the region. To protect his country and his new friends, Huo An gathers the warriors of thirty-six ethnic nations together to fight Tiberius in an incredible epic battle.  The film is directed by Daniel Lee ("Black Mask") and produced by Jackie Chan and Susanna Tsang.

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