History Film / Swordsmen

* ToBeLawfulOrGood: [[spoiler:The MoralDilemma that Xu Baijiu faces, as he gradually realizes Lu Jinxi truly has reformed himself.]]

''Swordsmen'', also known as ''Wu Xia'', is a 2011 film directed by Creator/PeterChan and starring Creator/DonnieYen and Creator/TakeshiKaneshiro.

* ManInWhite: Detective Baijiu dresses in bright white.

''Swordsmen'', also known as ''Wu Xia'', is a 2011 film directed by PeterChan and starring Creator/DonnieYen and Creator/TakeshiKaneshiro.

Thus begins a martial arts thriller that touches on themes of law versus good and destiny versus free will.

Not related to the similarly-titled fanfic, ''FanFic/{{Swordsmen}}'', nor the 1990s ''Swordsman'' trilogy.

Not related to the similarly-titled fanfic, ''FanFic/{{Swordsmen}}''.

''Swordsmen'', also known as ''Wu Xia'', is a 2011 film directed by PeterChan and starring DonnieYen and Creator/TakeshiKaneshiro.

* HeelFaceTurn: Lu Jinxi, from [[spoiler:his being a cold-blooded killer many years ago, as the NumberTwo member of the 72 Demons]]. And later, [[spoiler:the detective becomes this, as he changes from being an antagonist to Lu Jinxi to a friend and ally]].

* BadassNormal: Xu Baijiu does not know martial arts beyond his acupuncture skills, but [[spoiler:he manages to defeat the Master using needless and lightning, at the cost of his life.]]

* BittersweeterEnding: [[spoiler:Detective Baijiu is dead, Jinxi has lost an arm, and the 72 Demons are still free. However, the Master is dead for good, and Jinxi can live peacefully with his family from now.]]
* BloodFromMouth: [[spoiler:Baijiu's death.]]

* CombatPragmatist: Tang Long disarms the Madam and dominates her by using small joints manipulation when she is distracted with her sword lodged on the wall.

* InspectorJavert: Baijiu becomes increasingly distrustful paranoid towards Jinxi, and soon gets obsessed over uncovering his true identity.
* KnightTemplar: Baijiu, especially to Lu Jinxi. The detective explicitly states that law is the only source of true justice in the world, but Lu Jinxi has been trying to establish a new life free from his former crimes, through his personal repentance.

* MaskOfSanity: Possibly; it is not clear whether Baijiu is clinically off his rocker or it is just an artistic device to show his inner thoughts, but aside his quirks and obsessions, we actually see sides of his mind taking physical shape and talking to him as evil clones.

* NerdGlasses: Baijiu has them.

* OldMaster: The Master of the 72 Demons. His qiong is so strong that he cannot be hurt by the impact of baldes, and he also can throw people clear across the room. The old man is practically TheJuggernaut.

* SanitySlippage: When Baijiu attacks Jinxi with a bladed agricultural tool, almost killing him, in a paroxism of frustration and conviction about his theory.

* OldMaster: The Master of the 72 Demons. His Qi Gong is so strong that he cannot be hurt by the impact of baldes, and he also can throw people clear across the room. The old man is practically TheJuggernaut.
* SanitySlippage: When Baijiu attacks Jinxi with a bladed agricultural tool and almost severs his arteries.

!!Tropes used in this work:

!!!Setting, Plot, and Themes

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:The detective gives his life to turn the The Master into a lightning rod. It's worth it.]]

* {{Wuxia}}: The setting--with small rural tribes and secret martial artists--is effectively this, even though the detective's western clothing is unusual for the genre, and the film is technically set in the early 20th century.

!!!Characterization
* BadassNormal: [[spoiler:How do you expect a mere detective and coroner with knowledge of physiology and acupuncture to aid in a fight against an extremely skilled martial arts master? Well, he could try some acupuncture needles. And then he could try some more needles. And get killed in the process...but actually help them win.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Considering that a random paper mill worker named Lu Jinxi killed a skilled fighter and bandit who was on the most-wanted list, the detective deduces that Jinxi is not what he seems.
* GoodIsNotNice: Xu Baijiu once released a juvenile offender to foster care, thinking said offender had reformed. The offender proceeded to poison his foster parents and almost Baijiu himself. Since then, he has resolved to not let people off the hook of the law easy, and to keep any instinct of mercy or kindness out of his work.
* HeelFaceTurn: Lu Jinxi, from [[spoiler:his being a cold-blooded killer many years ago, as the NumberTwo member of the 72 Demons]]. And later, [[spoiler:the detective becomes this, as he changes from being an antagonist to Lu Jinxi to a friend and ally]].
* LawfulAnal / KnightTemplar: The detective, especially to Lu Jinxi. The Xu Baijiu explicitly states that law is the only source of true justice in the world, but Lu Jinxi has been trying to establish a new life free from his former crimes, through his personal repentance.
* OldMaster: [[spoiler:TheDon cannot be hurt by the impact of blades and can throw people clear across the room. This old man is extremely dangerous.]] He's practically a LightningBruiser, exhibiting excellent offense, defense, and speed.
* TheDon: The Master of the "72 Demons" gang of assassins.

!!!Metacontext
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The movie has a {{wuxia}} setting, as indicated by the Chinese title of the film. Averted, however, with the English title, since the film has relatively few swordsmen.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Director Peter Chan cited the 1967 movie ''Film/OneArmedSwordsman'' as a major inspiration, and he and Donnie Yen decided to indirectly reference that movie in this one.
* WholePlotReference: largely a remake of [[spoiler:AHistoryOfViolence]].
----

Thus begins a martial arts thriller that asks touches on themes of law versus good and destiny versus free will.

* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:The detective gives his life to turn the The Master into a lightning rod. It's worth it.]]

''Swordsmen'', also known as ''Wu Xia'', is a 2011 film directed by PeterChan and starring DonnieYen and TakeshiKaneshiro.

* GoodIsNotNice: Xu Baijiu once released a juvenile offender to foster care, thinking said offender had reformed. The offender proceeded to his foster parents and almost Baijiu himself. Since then, he has resolved to not let people off the hook of the law easy, and to keep any instinct of mercy or kindness out of his work.
* HeelFaceTurn: Lu Jinxi, from [[spoiler:his being a cold-blooded killer many years ago, as the number two member of the 72 Demons]]. And later, [[spoiler:the detective becomes this, as he changes from being an antagonist to Lu Jinxi to a friend and ally]].

* SpiritualSuccessor:
** Director Peter Chan cited the 1967 movie ''Film/OneArmedSwordsman'' as a major inspiration, and he and Donnie Yen decided to indirectly reference that movie in this one.
** Plotwise, largely a remake of [[spoiler:AHistoryOfViolence]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: Director Peter Chan cited the 1967 movie ''Film/OneArmedSwordsman'' as a major inspiration, and he and Donnie Yen decided to indirectly reference that movie in this one.

Setting, Plot, and Themes

Characterization

Metacontext

''Swordsmen'', also known as ''Wu Xia'', is a 2011 film directed by PeterChan and starring DonnieYen.

Liu Jinxi (Donnie Yen) is a father with a loving wife and two young children, and works at a paper mill in early 20th-century rural China. So why is detective Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) investigating him? Thus begins this martial arts thriller film.

* OldMaster: TheDon cannot be hurt by the impact of blades and can throw people clear across the room. This old man is extremely dangerous.
* TheDon