Tsui Hark’s take on the Chinese national epic about 30 PLA soldiers taking down a 1000-strong bandit army strips out the ideology and makes it all about the action. That means heaping helpings of tiger attacks, a Lord of the Rings-sized mountain fortress, bandits wearing black lipstick, ski attacks, a tank, a fight atop a crashing biplane, a New York City traffic jam, and Tony Leung Ka-Fai sporting an outrageous fake nose. A spectacular bandit siege of a snowbound village reminds us that the cinematic craftsmanship of this 3D true believer remains unequalled. Tsui ensures that not a second goes by when something isn’t shooting, stabbing, exploding, or leaping off the screen.

Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Tony Leung Ka-fai will not be able to attend this screening.