The Assassin

Name: The Assassin
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: October 16, 2015
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 81

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 89 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 89 Ratings

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The Assassin (US)

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Movie Details & Credits

Well Go USA Entertainment | Release Date: October 16, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: 9th century China. 10-year-old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to9th century China. 10-year-old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to kill the man to whom she was promised - a cousin who now leads the largest military region in North China. After 13 years of exile, the young woman must confront her parents, her memories and her long-repressed feelings. A slave to the orders of her mistress, Nie Yinniang must choose: sacrifice the man she loves or break forever with the sacred way of the righteous assassins.… Expand

Director: Hsiao-hsien Hou

Genre(s): Action, Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 105 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Film Stage Zhuo-Ning Su

Jun 14, 2016

Unhurried, mood-driven, pregnant with a transcendent reflection on life and death, The Assassin is a singular vision realized with absolute mastery of style and a lightness of touch that’s to die for. Read full review

100

Allan Hunter

May 24, 2015

This is not a venture into wire-work and acrobatics but a contemplative, often ravishing-looking, immersion in the complex politics, power struggles and personalities of the Tang Dynasty as seen through the moral dilemmas facing an enigmatic trained assassin. Read full review

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Oct 14, 2015

Enigmatic and often mesmerizing, super-saturated with color, drawn like a still plain ripped by brief, unexpected gusts of wind—The Assassin is one of the most flat-out beautiful movies of the last decade, and also one of the most puzzling. Read full review

Deborah Young

May 24, 2015

Its bursts of lightning-fast swordplay interrupt long, still stretches of misty moonlit landscapes and follow a pure literary style more than current genre expectations. Read full review

Empire Kim Newman

Jan 18, 2016

It might also be the case that the film is more taken by emotions, beauty and passing fancies than plot and character. Read full review

Miriam Di Nunzio

Oct 29, 2015

We are captivated by the beauty we see, lulled into a sense of bliss. We are jolted by bursts of vengeance and violence, and even those are stylized beyond all comprehension. Hou is a master indeed. Read full review

G. Allen Johnson

Oct 23, 2015

While The Assassin is a noble misfire, here’s hoping Hou, who is 68, can saddle up for another ride soon. Another decade would be too long to wait for another vision from this most special director. Read full review

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User Reviews

EpicLadySponge

Feb 2, 2016

I'm sorry, there's no positive reviews here? Then I'm going to make one.... people giving it a negative review MUST immediately go to my profile to see something worse. Otherwise, just go sit there and be lazy all day. This movie perfectly destroyed my mind.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

Suagar

Apr 11, 2018

Beautiful Film Cultural Dream Like an Assassin that comes in the night when your least expecting an Assassin that has her own will makes her own decisions

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Meth-dude

May 15, 2019

Despite it's very slow pace and a confusing story for anyone unfamiliar with Chinese history (myself included), The Assassin still offers great set pieces, good acting performances, well executed battle scenes and gorgeous cinematography, that should keep you at the very least interested.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

LeZee

Jun 14, 2016

The truth determines our actions.

I found this film when it was listed in the BBC news' top 20 films of the 2015. This film topped the chart, then how can I just ignore which is my prime world news feed. The fun part was I saw a South Korean film called 'Assassination' believed to beThe truth determines our actions.

I found this film when it was listed in the BBC news' top 20 films of the 2015. This film topped the chart, then how can I just ignore which is my prime world news feed. The fun part was I saw a South Korean film called 'Assassination' believed to be this, but very I soon realised the mistake. Anyhow, I loved the Korean film that I reviewed a couple of moths ago on this same blog.

Finally, I managed to see this Mandarin film, but it was not anything like I've been expecting. Critically acclaimed film, but commercially failed because of the slow narration. Jointly produced by China-Hong Kong-Taiwan, but selected as a Taiwanese entry to the Oscars that failed to make a progress to the main event.

Not everybody can easily follow this narration. Because this is not a typical historical film presentation with a clear introduction like in the background voice or in the texts, except in the opening that letting us know where and how it begins. The lack of the character development is the factor for all the complication. So I strongly suggest to read the synopsis before the watch and have a look at the film character infographic once finished watching.

The story sets in the 8th century China during the final years of the Tang Dynasty. When a well trained assassin failed to accomplish the mission directed by her master, she is sent to another province for another assignment where she starts to remember her past that she has some connection with her undertaking. With all the bad things happening in and around the royal family, state politics et cetera, the rift is inevitable that anytime the dynasty might fall. The remaining the tale reveals how the film ends with a realistic approach.

"The way of the sword is pitiless. Saintly virtues play no part in it. Your skills are matchless, but your mind is hostage to human sentiments."

I am a film fanatic, so basically I love all the films I watch. But I prefer entertainment the most, followed by the message, education, inspiration, true events et cetera. I had seen many films like this that I mostly ended up unsatisfied. Because a film without the background score as same as silent lullaby. Speaking of music, when the film was in the final scene there came a music which I compare to oasis. That's the beautiful sound I have heard in this entire narration. Slow camera panning and fixed cameras for minutes is what I disliked in it or any similar themed films.

I appreciate the effort to preserve the historical account in a film format, but the type of narration matters a lot if they expect the audiences backing. A film like this is specially made for film festivals, surely critics love it and as I heard they did. I can't believe even if the film critics failed to recognise what would be the film's fate.

So it is a slow film then, but when the stunt sequences appeared, I was thrilled with my full attention. Well composed realistic fights, that's what anybody remembers when they think of Chinese films. But I warn you this is not a complete martial art film except now and then you encounter such scenes. It is not even a horror, but there was a scene with smoke which scared the hell out of me. I was not expecting such thing, besides, I was bored to death when this thing came I woke up.

The film was shot in the beautiful outdoor places. Apart from the stunts, I loved the landscapes which were just resembled the classical Chinese paintings. I did not find any performances that impressive. I appreciate their effort, but since the story was told without anyone's particular perspective, felt like everyone had equal scope for their roles.

Overall, I did not like the film and I'm not suggesting it to anybody. But if you are interested in the Chinese ancient history or love the art films then you could try it. This is first low rated film to review on this blog which is I've been avoiding since the beginning, but decided to write for all kinds of rating now onwards.

3/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

CheekySasquatch

Dec 8, 2015

It doesn't matter how you cut it the only thing this movie had going for it was cinematography, It may be a technical marvel but if it can't keep me from falling asleep or the people in my theatre from leaving in droves it does not come anywhere close to getting a pass from me. Two filmsIt doesn't matter how you cut it the only thing this movie had going for it was cinematography, It may be a technical marvel but if it can't keep me from falling asleep or the people in my theatre from leaving in droves it does not come anywhere close to getting a pass from me. Two films came out this year that had brilliant cinematography and very little dialogue, the difference is mad max didn't put me to sleep and it had action scenes that pushed the story forward rather than happen in the background and force the audience to squint to even make out what's happening. Try again in another 6 years pal.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

hotfromcauldron

Oct 21, 2015

Two NoDoz and a tab of LSD and you just might be able to keep your eyes open and watch the beautiful painting dry. The other people in my row were snoring - so thankfully there were titles - for the limited dialogue.
An artsy fartsy fav that makes you wonder how a martial arts film can beTwo NoDoz and a tab of LSD and you just might be able to keep your eyes open and watch the beautiful painting dry. The other people in my row were snoring - so thankfully there were titles - for the limited dialogue.
An artsy fartsy fav that makes you wonder how a martial arts film can be sooooo boring.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

Broyax

Aug 10, 2019

Une chinoiserie assassine qui assassine la veille des spectateurs éventuels qui se seraient égarés dans cette prétention interminable qui semble durer des heures... On y brasse en effet des courants d'air et on y charrie de la merde à n'en plus pouvoir. Difficile de rester éveillé devantUne chinoiserie assassine qui assassine la veille des spectateurs éventuels qui se seraient égarés dans cette prétention interminable qui semble durer des heures... On y brasse en effet des courants d'air et on y charrie de la merde à n'en plus pouvoir. Difficile de rester éveillé devant cette réalisation à deux de tension et ces longs plans comateux qui suivent des comédiens figés et inexpressifs. De toute façon, ça raconte de la merde mal déguisée au service de la propagande communiste. J'ai quand même reconnu la jolie et charmante Shu Qi, quasi-méconnaissable ici tant elle s'avère amorphe (en overdose de Prozac sans doute) comme tout le reste du film.

D'ailleurs, c'est tellement pédant que ça commence en noir et blanc et en quatre tiers, pour continuer en couleur... mais toujours en quatre tiers. Putain... mais auto-assassine-toi !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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59	#59 Best Movie of 2015
22	#22 Most Shared Movie of 2015