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Why should martial arts fans watch 100 Yards?
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What critics said about 100 Yards
summary
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Martial arts enthusiasts must watch the Chinese action movie “100 Yards” for its spectacular action sequences.
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“100 Yards” explores the power struggle and chaos at a martial arts academy in Tianjin in the 1920s.
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Despite a repetitive plot, the film impresses with top-notch martial arts choreography, drawing critical acclaim.
A solid martial arts drama with spectacular action and a plot that's good enough to care about doesn't come around often, but lately there's been one that deserves more attention. Set in 1920s Tianjin, this Chinese action film is a must watch for fans of the martial arts genre.
desired movie 100 yardsdirected by brothers Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng. The film was originally released in 2023, and only after Well Go USA Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights did it open in the United States on November 8, 2024. 100 yards It's available to stream and rent now, and here's why it should be on the watch list of any true martial arts fan.

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what is 100 yards about?
Story and plot details
The story of 100 yards It revolves around a power struggle to take over a martial arts academy in Tianjin. Master Shen faces the task of choosing his successor due to a serious illness. His son's claimants are Shen An. and his best student, Chi Quan. The duel between Kwan and Ann ends with the apprentice taking over the Academy. But this is just the beginning of a long, scheming battle that puts the entire city at risk.
The time period plays an important role in the simple storyline 100 yards. It was only after 1912 that martial arts schools were established in Tianjin after the collapse of the Qing dynasty. In the film, Chinese traditions and Western influence become key factors in escalating the power struggle between An and Quan. This title, in particular, stems from the strict rules that forbid any engagement more than 100 yards beyond the academy gates, leading to further chaos.
Why should martial arts fans watch? 100 yards
Action sequences and technical excellence
100 yards Shu Junfeng's feature film debut is as a director, but his brother, Xu Haofeng, has previously worked on films such as The ultimate master, hidden swordand even contributed to Wong Kar Wai's writing great teacher. Despite the plot which may seem repetitive, the directors have done a great job by showing some great fight sequences in the film. 100 yards It offers a great mix of hand-to-hand combat and weapon combat.
This movie is a non-stop martial arts action experience with plenty of variety. Whether it's a one-on-one or one-on-twenty fight, weapons come in a variety of lengths and types, including ropes and chains. It is truly an enjoyable experience for action fans. 100 yards It's technically strong, with choreography, camerawork, and editing all in sync. This creates a tight rhythm where the audience can easily follow the action.
Sound design and editing
Lately, some action movies use jump editing to hide the fact that the actors aren't skilled fighters, but that's not the case here. 100 yards It doesn't shy away from showing how everyone involved in the film is a proper martial arts expert, and it elevates the fight scenes to a whole new level.
Another impressive aspect of the film is its impeccable sound design. In order to feel every hit, block, and hit, the sound needs to amplify each hit and keep the energy while being believable. The level of detail in Foley's sounds is commendable. And there it is 100 yards Despite the plot often getting lost in the action, it really delivers.
A few flaws that can be ignored
Action fans won't have much to complain about 100 yards. However, audiences who may be skeptical of the story and characters may find it difficult to perform. A power struggle between two defeated main characters can be frustrating as it devolves into an almost repetitive cycle of rematches and plotting.
Despite the idea of a martial arts ring maintaining order and honor in a society, neither Kwan nor Ann seem to have any honor as they have no problem turning the city into their own little battlefield. Therefore, the stakes and objectives are best ignored and the action should be the main expectation of the film.
What the critics said about it 100 yards
A must watch for action fans
Despite some problems in the story and its main characters, the action in 100 yards It was enough to earn real critical appreciation. The film holds an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 18 critics, which is rare for a film of this genre. As expected, much of its praise comes from its top-notch martial arts choreography. Film critic David Ehrlich called 100 yards An incredibly beautiful martial arts epic that is comparable to the martial arts movies of the 1980s and shared his thoughts in his review for IndieWire:
100 Yards is nothing if not a classic martial arts film, and yet this gritty tale of turn-of-the-century Tianjin is shot and staged with such radical elegance that it feels less like a throwback than a follow-up to a new film. . form
Beyond its entertainment value, some critics have praised the directors for trusting their vision and creating a clean martial arts experience with their own mix of politics and drama. Simon Abrams shows how the film's flaws are worth ignoring in his review RogerEbert.com:
It's a period drama whose dense plots, punchy dialogues and thrilling action scenes often either push our expectations to the limit or pass them by unnoticed. […] It's a sleek, modern action flick that also features some of the most satisfying fight choreography and action filmmaking. Light on its feet and eager to show off, 100 Yards confirms Shaw's status as one of the best action directors.
where to watch 100 yards
100 yards Now available to stream on Apple TV+. This Chinese action movie is also available for rent on platforms like Google Play, YouTube, Vudu and Prime Video.
title |
100 yards |
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Directors |
Xu Haofeng, Xu Junfeng |
actors |
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language |
mandarin |
execution time |
108 minutes |
Rating |
PG-13 |

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