Movie Digest
The Eight Hundred recounts a pivotal moment in the Second Sino-Japanese War, when 452 Chinese soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan (Du Chun), are ordered to defend the fortress-like Sihang Warehouse against the much larger Japanese army. The defenders’ numbers are gradually dwindling as they repel one enemy attack after another. Meanwhile, the citizens of Shanghai’s opulent International Settlement on the other side of Suzhou Creek keep a wary eye on the siege. As the Chinese soldiers’ situation worsens, a dormant patriotism awakens, inspiring citizens to assist them.
The Feel-Good Part
While there are scenes of English dialogue scattered throughout, the production crew’s international tastes are on display.
The Disappointing Factor
The story unfolds daily, and there are so many characters to keep track of that it becomes a bit hazy. The Japanese characters are entirely undeveloped.
In-Depth Analysis
When Imperial Japanese soldiers invaded Shanghai in 1937, the Chinese Nationalist Army’s 88th Division, which decreased drastically, was stationed in a warehouse there. It was known as the Defense of Sihang Warehouse and played a vital role in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Even though the force consisted of less than 500 officers and soldiers, the number of troops was exaggerated in the media to conceal the correct number from the Japanese, giving rise to the legend of the Eight Hundred Heroes. The scenes are shot beautifully in crisp, bright, and vivid colors, with much credit going to cinematographer Yu Cao and the magnificent visual effects by a Sino-American team of special effects companies. It is also, predictably, violent and gory, with every bullet shot marked by a splash of blood and frequent close-ups of injured, dying, and dead soldiers. It is unabashedly patriotic, but the good thing about it is that it is not afraid to discuss China’s battlefield losses. Unfortunately, due to censorship, in this case, the role of China’s political leaders at the time, the film you will see is not the version intended by the director. Omission of 12 minutes from the original cut was reported, with additional scenes cropped or reframed to remove specific insignia or references.
Star Power
Du Chun (Xie Jinyuan) plays the inspirational commanding officer. Tang Yixin (Yang Huimin) plays the only significant female role in the film. Jiang Wu (Lao Tie) and Wang Qianyuan (Yang Guai) are a pair of tired but amusing veterans who are the film’s most memorable characters.
Overall Opinion
It is a well-made war film with great technicalities, but the two-hour-long duration can be tiring.
