Taking place in 1905, a period of significant unrest in China, revolutionaries are determined to topple the corrupt Qing Dynasty and build a modern republic. Sun Wen (Zhang Hanyu), the leader of the revolutionary movement, plans a secret visit to Hong Kong to discuss strategy with fellow revolutionaries. However, Qing imperial forces, led by the ruthless Yan Xiaoguo (Hu Jun), learn of Sun Wen’s visit and deploy assassins to eliminate him.
The story unfolds in Hong Kong, where Li Yutang (Wang Xueqi), a wealthy businessman and supporter of the revolution, plays a key role in organizing Sun Wen’s visit. Li is a conflicted man, as his business depends on Qing authorities, but he believes in the revolution’s ideals. To ensure Sun Wen’s safety during his brief stay, Li assembles a group of ordinary citizens willing to act as bodyguards and distract the assassins.
The group of bodyguards includes a diverse array of characters, each with their own motivations. Shen Chongyang (Donnie Yen) is a former soldier and street fighter who has fallen on hard times but is drawn into the mission by a chance encounter. Fan Yueru (Fan Bingbing) is a tea house owner grieving the loss of her husband, who was killed for his revolutionary activities. Deng Sidi (Nicholas Tse) is a rickshaw puller whose father was executed by the Qing forces, fueling his desire for revenge.
Adding complexity to the story is Li Chongguang (Wang Bo-Chieh), Li Yutang’s son, who initially resents his father’s involvement with the revolution but gradually understands the importance of their mission. Other members of the group include a retired opera performer, a gambler, and an idealistic student, each contributing to the cause despite their lack of combat training.
The revolutionary group faces an uphill battle as Yan Xiaoguo’s assassins infiltrate Hong Kong, employing spies and bribes to track Sun Wen. The assassins are highly skilled and ruthless, leaving a trail of bloodshed as they close in on their target. The tension mounts as Sun Wen’s arrival nears, and the bodyguards must prepare for a fight to protect him.
When Sun Wen finally arrives, the mission unfolds as a carefully coordinated operation. The bodyguards use decoys and distractions to lead the assassins away from Sun Wen’s meeting location. Each member of the group sacrifices their own safety to buy time for Sun Wen to complete his discussions with fellow revolutionaries. The film’s second half is an extended, action-packed sequence as the bodyguards face overwhelming odds against the assassins.
Shen Chongyang emerges as a key figure in the fight, using his combat skills to hold off multiple assassins. However, his journey is also deeply personal, as he seeks redemption for his past mistakes. Deng Sidi, driven by his desire to honor his father’s memory, performs an act of incredible bravery that ultimately costs him his life.
As the bodyguards fall one by one, their sacrifices underscore the revolutionary cause’s importance and the human cost of freedom. Fan Yueru, Li Chongguang, and other members of the group also face tragic fates, but their courage and determination ensure Sun Wen’s safety. In the film’s climactic moments, the surviving members successfully escort Sun Wen to the harbor, where he boards a ship and escapes Hong Kong.
Sun Wen’s safe departure marks a significant victory for the revolutionary movement, but the heavy toll on the bodyguards serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices needed to achieve progress and change. Li Yutang, having lost friends and allies during the mission, reflects on the price of freedom and the legacy of those who gave their lives for the cause.
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