“As long as the bridge is there, our mission still stands”
The Battle for the lake is over, the Americans are retreating. But for Wu QIanli (Wu Jing) and his men the 7th company of the Chinese People Volunteers, they will march from that victory battle to another. Their new orders, their new task, is to defend or if need be, blow up Water Gate Bridge. This plays a crucial part of the US Armies retreat from the area. As with the previous battle it is not just the horror of war they must endure, they must also fight the extreme cold, the lack of food, and proper clothing for the weather conditions. They march, on and take up positions at the Suman Bridge, constantly fighting to survive could this be their final battle?
I enjoyed Water Gate Bridge more than the first film, and there is nothing at all wrong with the first part. For me, this is so much better structured & paced; from the opening battle (which is where the first part ends) there is a slight pause until new orders are issued. Then the march to the bridge is as big as the battle itself, when they face the retreating US. The film is relentless from half an hour into it… This is a sequel, so we don`t have character set ups, we are thrown right into the heart of the film, which is the two brothers from the first film. We know them all too well - Wu Jing as Wu Qianli, with Jackson Yee as Wu Wanli. Wu Jing as usual gives a commanding performance, his character has not really changed much from the first film. The noticeable change and there had to be for his character, is with Jackson Yee`s Wu Wanli. After what he went through in the first film, it makes sense that he is now the hardened soldier that is not just fighting for his country but for his family. For me Jackson Yee is the main force heart that drives this film. That`s not taking anything away from Wu Jing but the film, this second part rests on both actors’ shoulders. As with the first film the visual and special effects are stunning seamless with the practical effects, this raises the battle scenes above most war films.
The one-on-one combat scenes have a more harrowing sense of realism with Water Gate Bridge, they as well as the battles are edge of the seat action, that leaves you fighting for breath by the end, its pulse pounding war action. The finale, the final push battle, shows acts of heroism that ignites the screen. All this plus the drama scenes that dazzle and balance the outstanding effects, we have here one pulse pounding war film that needs to be seen. The standout scenes for me are the toll the marching are having on the physical condition of the soldiers as they march into battle, something I think the first film maybe didn’t do. Also, the look on both commanders faces at the end of the film as they look onto the battlefields after the battle has ended – shows the emotional look back and on the tremendous waste of life that it took.
Five directors are credited the same as the first part, but I read that this is mainly made up of what Tusi Hark shot, that was not included in the first part. Don’t let that put you off seeing the film The Battle at Water Gate Bridge is a well-acted, containing spectacular visual and special effects that breaths realism into this most epic of war films, its Heroism that ignites the screen!
