The Rescue (2020)

Made me cry

I did not hold any high expectations towards this show before entering the cinema as I expect it to be like every other rescue shows. But this show hits differently. The main character looks charismatic and fit but in-fact he is very vulnerable. The rescue parts of the show were very exciting and i literally held my breath the entire time, crossing my fingers that the missions will be successful.
And boy, this show is not cliche at all. I balled out my eyes when a certain someone died in the show (I wasn't expecting him too).
The CGI may not seem that real at first but as it goes on, it really surprises me how much effort the design and production crew put in, making the whole movie look so realistic.
One cool bit is that when filming took place, actual fire and minor explosions were used.

This movie is definitely recommended!!!!

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Action Movies are TEDIOUS but this one isn't bad at all

MILD SPOILERS, nothing terrible

I see a lot of people harshing on this film. I don't know why. I find this genre tedious and so I expected to abandon the film before the first hour. Turns out I made it all the way thru and was happy for the two hour diversion.

This movie isn't entirely cohesive and so I'll just drop you some notes and hope it gels into something useful.

1. Eddie Peng stars? I'm in.
2. Xin Zhi Lei as the female lead? I'm not only in but watching this mostly because of her. (If you have no idea why someone would flip their shinola for her -- you haven't seen RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE, have you?)
3. I'm not sure rescue forces exist to this degree. If they do, wow. If they don't -- I love Gerry Anderson's THUNDERBIRDS.
4. The visuals/FX are rather stunning. However, I'm not used to Chinese films spending THIS much $$$ on them, and so -- sure enough -- the film can get talky sometimes to save money. Mainly revolving around --
5. -- a cute young kid. I've watched enough C-Drama media to know cute kids are a thing to kinda force 'endearing' onto the movie. In America we don't stick cute kids into all sorts of movies for fear of damaging the premise. What was wrong here is that --
6. -- with him came scenes with dopey cartoon music. With little bells ringing 'comically' in a movie they don't belong in. Are we in an action drama or not? Later on that kid was used for another classic trope --
7. -- which I can't spoil but is the stuff of soap operas. Not action movies. However, the way they ultimately resolved this trope (inside the closing credits) made it almost worth it and definitely tolerable.
8. Xin Zhi Lei was great when she was given something to do. Unfortunately the story didn't give her enough to do. There was a natural coupling she needed to be a part of but the story got either scared or distracted.
9. The original 'Stand By Me' song appears in this film and, sorry, the film by the same name owns the song and no one else should be using it. Like I don't want to hear Garland singing 'Rainbow' in this film anywhere for the same reason.
10. If a sequel is being planned -- I'd see it. Because it might give Xin Zhi Lei more time.

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Action-packed but fail to resonate

Action with disaster of different settings, satisfactory cgi and stunts. But storyline, characther building, camaderie and emotional payoffs lacking.

I havnt reviewed a movie in a long while. Watched this on a weekend with my kids. They were entertained in the rescue scenes. The ooohs and ahhs over helicopters, blast, sinking rig, aeroplane disaster etc etc.

There is also a need for suspension of belief. Personally I dont thk in real life situation rescue missions are carried out when it is deemed too risky, jeopardising rescue mission and endangering the entire team. So in 2 of the missions i did not agree with their call and that they would be given the greenlight to go ahead realistically.

The intro of one of the rescue member (played by Wang yan lin) and his fiance/wife and also male lead (eddie peng)'s son was part of the character building and part and parcel of setting up emotional scenes in second half and the climax. However the flow as well as the lack of depth in writing fails to give the audience enough time to form emotional attachment to them. The storyline is busy from the get go, original pilot leaves, new female pilot enters with her assistant co pilot, then assistant co pilot wants to leave too... blah blah. They com and go and failed to be important to me. The cutting and editing between mission scenes to dailylife scenes were also jarring. At times it felt like two different movies with similar actors trying to mesh together. The poor execution felt like you are forced to buy in with a promise of emotional payout that never comes. Even the ending mission also felt anti climatic. I do appreciate the peptalk and highlight on courage. But that's about it.

You can watch if you are an Eddie Peng fan or if you're in for an action flick on a rainy weekend. Just dont expect too much.

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A disappointment

This is actually hard for me to write. I'm struggling because I've spent the last three years immersed to the teeth in Chinese history, culture and mythology, which has been absolutely fascinating and delightful. Needless to say that's involved lots of artistic and cinematic treasures. I love Chinese dramas, their flaws as well as their beauty. It doesn't have to be perfect or scholarly for me to enjoy it as long as it gives a way to explore.
This had me and my husband saying what the heck? Seriously? and me taking a step back, feeling sick to my stomach. (He just shrugged and fell asleep afterward, I'm jealous.)
I was so puzzled from the start after reading a couple of the reviews on one of my favorite drama sites. Why was it so hard for people to get invested when they had a handful of the best actors in the industry headlining? Eddie Peng, a brilliant Taiwanese guy who won my appreciation for being able to go head to head with Hu Ge in Sound of the Desert (and winning, sort of, that show was bittersweet). Xin ZhiLei who so often plays a powerful female role and is one I'd like to see more of. Ian Wang, who is terrifyingly convincing as a villain and disarming in comedic roles. Such a great cast! And it seemed a simple enough thing, an undemanding action drama with lots of flash and bang, something to settle down with and distract yourself from the every day. You can't even expect a whole lot from that sort of thing. I also have a keen appreciation for those that sacrifice their time and lives for others, as it's something I've retired from myself.
So what was it?
Sadly, this movie seems to be little more than a propaganda vehicle, and the underlying message is rather chilling. It took me halfway through to see it, because I wasn't even looking in that direction, but once I saw it I couldn't ignore it. The theme reads as: forego even the most devastating personal demands and needs in order to fulfill your duty to the state, and you'll be your most valiant self, bringing hope to the people. Underlying that, there's the not so subtle inference that trouble and pain is brought by westerners. The two most tragic events that happened in the movie were both led by foreigners speaking English.
The culmination has him leaving his child alone and on the brink of tragedy to go to a rescue that no one, in reality, would send more people into. While I get altruism is rare and awe inspiring, this wouldn't be the responsible way to get it done.

This is not what I want to see things coming to. Art, including cinema, ought to be for transcending the lines between people and sharing openly, saying this is who we are, just like you, full of hope and joy with the same worries and troubles. And while parts of this movie does that, it shouldn't also be used to subtly foment resentment. It left me depressed, and getting my thoughts on it out there is my way of expunging it now. Life is too short for this.

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