The Great Magician (2011)

"If you believe it, then it's real"

Director Derek Yee’s The Great Magician was set around 1920 China when the warlords were carving out their territory. Japan was angling to get a foothold by supporting various warlords with weapons. In the midst was a buffoonish warlord, his unwilling 7th wife, and a magician with more than cards up his sleeve.

Warlord Bully Lei has his hands full. In order to stay in power, he needs soldiers. In order to feed and arm the soldiers, he needs money. And money is in scarce supply. His assistant, Liu Kun Shan, is an illusionist whom he doesn’t trust. On the family front, his 3rd wife is always vying for his attention, but it is his 7th wife who will have nothing to do with him that he adores. Wife Liu Yin is only hanging around until she can find her father. Yin’s ex-lover, Zhang Xian returns to the country from Europe and sets up shop in a local inn. He is a magician and also in league with rebels planning to kidnap Lei in order to have prisoners released. Zhang wants Yin back and is determined to free her father who was his magical mentor. Liu Kun Shan is working with the Japanese and also after the SECRET SCROLL Yin’s father had possessed.

The story was okay and tended to wander around too much and honestly, was too darned long. This film could have easily been 90 minutes and not lost anything. I will admit that my kung fu movie loving heart was thrilled to see the Flying Guillotine have a guest role. And of course, you have to have a secret list or in this case secret scroll, though in this case it was a bit of a bust. The comedy occasionally veered into slapstick but not overly so.

What made this film entertaining to watch was the enemies to lovers, I mean friends, of Bully Lei and Zhang Xian. Lau Ching Wan and Tony Leung Chiu Wai had a delightful chemistry whether they were ribbing each other or conspiring together. Poor Zhou Xun’s Liu Yin was the third wheel. Aside from her amazing kung fu introduction, the rest of the film she had little of interest to do. I was disappointed she was given short shrift in the story department. Wu Gang (Joy of Life!) and Yan Ni played the dangerous but comedic foils to the trio.

The Great Magician had a little magic, a little action, and a little fun. It was lighthearted bordering on times on silly. Zhang and Lei showed that illusion and perception are part of life whether in politics or entertainment. It’s hard to trust your eyes with those skilled at weaving deception. At least 30 minutes too long and too short on significant Zhou Xun time, this film still had enchanting moments to offer.

“The truth depends on your perspective.”

7 May 2025

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