ShadowGuard (formerly "The Blood Bond") (2011)

[AlbertV]

THE BLOOD BOND: SHADOWGUARD is getting a limited theatrical release in Hong Kong on January 27, 2011. The film is produced by Bey Logan, the first film under his new B&E Films Limted.

The film was shot last year and stars Phoenix Valen, Simon Yam, and Michael Biehn, who is also making his directorial debut on the film. It revolves around killers going after donors of a rare blood type, one needed to save a religious leader who hopes for peace. The leader's bodyguard finds a former US Special Forces operative who may be the last donor available.

The film's cinematography was done by Ross Clarkson, who worked on Isaac Florentine's UNDISPUTED II, NINJA, and UNDISPUTED III. There are martial arts fight scenes choreographed by Louis Fan Siu-Wong, Ken Ip (who assisted Xiong Xin-Xin on THE MUSKETEER) and Antony Szeto (WUSHU).

Here's the official poster:

There is a sequel currently shooting, entitled RED DAWN RISING. Phoenix Valen returns as the character from THE BLOOD BOND with Antony Szeto directing it. Pics are up on Bey Logan's official blog

[Guest Yi-Long]

Wow.... that poster just looks.... horrible.

[ShaOW!linDude]

Is it me or is Michael Biehn looking like Lance Henrickson's clone?

Waiting on a trailer before I say yea or nay to this.

[One Armed Boxer]

Waiting on a trailer before I say yea or nay to this.

Right here buddy....

ceXA-hxK7VY

& don't forget you can get Bey's book, based on his first draft on the movie as well -

http://www.alivenotdead.com/beylogan/The-Blood-Bond-My-first-novel--profile-1103797.html

I agree this is going to be a tough call, will I see it? Yeah. Do I hope it will be good? Of course. But do I have my doubts? Of course to that question as well.

Bey Logan's a great guy, and I hope my doubts are unfounded, he's a humble guy who himself has admitted in interviews that his past forays into the film industry have not been the successes he hoped they would be.

With that being said, my wish is that he's learnt from his previous mistakes (ahem...'The Medallion') and made an action packed movie. At the same time, having Michael Biehn as the director, a person who on the Dragon Dynasty DVD of 'Dragon Squad/Heat' openly says he had no experience of Hong Kong cinema, action or otherwise, before taking part in that movie and watching a few movies that Bey recommended to him, doesn't fill me with confidence.

[daisho2004]

This looks like a straight to DVD B-movie of the week! I'm sorry I didn't see anything that even made this movie look promising.

[ShaOW!linDude]

The chick is attractive. The action..........not so much. Hard to say.

I'm kind of wanting to like this movie but I may let some of you braver souls view it first.

[Karlos]

As much as I like a Logan as a writer on films, but not of films, every single movie I've seen with his name attached has stunk.

There's nothing here to make me think that's about to change.

I think Michael Biehn deserves better, too!

[AlbertV]

This is one I'll definitely try to see for curiosity purposes. I saw some on-set pics of the sequel to this film, RED DAWN RISING. The film takes place 4 years after THE BLOOD BOND and the pics I saw involves Phoenix Valen taking on a bunch of goons at a temple. It is to be the opening fight scene of the film. The fight choreography is done this time by Ken Ip (who helped with BLOOD BOND) and German Cheung (a protege of Sharon Yeung Pan-Pan)

[sen_pai]

A martial arts movie is usually bad when you got a non-asian in it playing a big role.

[One Armed Boxer]

A martial arts movie is usually bad when you got a non-asian in it playing a big role.

Well now, that`s a bit of a broad generalisation....what about Johnny Yong Bosch (`Broken Path`), Mark Dacascos (`Drive`), Michael Jai White (`Blood & Bone`), Scott Adkins (`Undisputed 3`), Mark Zaror ('Mirage Man'), Gary Daniels (`Blood Moon`), and Cynthia Rothrock (`The Blonde Fury`), to name but a few.

[DeathFuMaster]

Well now, that`s a bit of a broad generalisation....what about Johnny Yong Bosch (`Broken Path`), Mark Dacascos (`Drive`), Michael Jai White (`Blood & Bone`), Scott Adkins (`Undisputed 3`), Gary Daniels (`Blood Moon`), and Cynthia Rothrock (`The Blonde Fury`), to name but a few.

EXACTLY. American Martial Arts films have been great lately!!

A martial arts movie is usually bad when you got a non-asian in it playing a big role.

Just because the main character is a non-Asian, it in no way affects the outcome of the movie. Several things make a movie good(or bad), writing, fight choreography, acting, editing, etc, etc. So please never say just because a white guy is the lead role in a martial arts film that it is gonna be bad.

[blue_skies]

Well now, that`s a bit of a broad generalisation....what about Johnny Yong Bosch (`Broken Path`), Mark Dacascos (`Drive`), Michael Jai White (`Blood & Bone`), Scott Adkins (`Undisputed 3`), Mark Zaror ('Mirage Man'), Gary Daniels (`Blood Moon`), and Cynthia Rothrock (`The Blonde Fury`), to name but a few.

Too right mate. Another couple to add to this...

Daniel O'Neill (Bangkok Adrenaline) & Eric Jacobus (Contour)

[One Armed Boxer]

Eric Jacobus (Contour)

Kicking myself for forgetting this guy!

Maybe we can add Michael Biehn to the list as well after watching this movie....

Still haven't checked out 'Bangkok Adrenalin', instead I wasted my time watching 'City Under Siege'....you'd recommend it?

[ShaOW!linDude]

Still haven't checked out 'Bangkok Adrenalin', instead I wasted my time watching 'City Under Siege'....you'd recommend it?

Definitely. Horribly acting and a trite story line but the action shows a lot of potential for O'Neill. It's got some good stuff in it. You've seen better but you've seen a lot worse.

[massa_yoda]

I know first hand that Bey is an awesome and kind guy and I hope his company succeeds. I was sort of hoping for a more dynamic trailer though...Listening to many of Mr. Logan's commentaries, he seems to know what people like and don't like in movies, as I find myself agreeing with him most of the time, but this doesn't translate over to his own writing for some reason. With more creative input, these B&E movies should be better...SHOULD be...

[Guest Yi-Long]

I know first hand that Bey is an awesome and kind guy and I hope his company succeeds. I was sort of hoping for a more dynamic trailer though...Listening to many of Mr. Logan's commentaries, he seems to know what people like and don't like in movies, as I find myself agreeing with him most of the time, but this doesn't translate over to his own writing for some reason. With more creative input, these B&E movies should be better...SHOULD be...

Considering Bey repeatedly mentioned he can completely understand asian movies getting cut for western audiences, I really don't think he does seem to know what we want.

I'm kinda on the fence about Bey. I like his commentaries, he's got a shitload of knowledge, and he seems a nice guy, while at the same time I completely disagree on some of his opinions and think he's been horrible in the HK industry when it comes to his writing and his help with casting for movies. Also, he sure knows how to suck up to mediocre actressed for whatever reason.

Just looking at the leading girl in this trailer and her strange amateurish awkward posing after a move makes me wonder why exactly she was cast. It wasn't for her martial arts or acting skills, I bet.

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

OOOOUUCH...!!!!

Review from twitchfilms by James Marsh

In the interest of complete transparency this review should begin with the following acknowledgement. Way back in the middle of 2008 I attended two pitch meetings concerning an earlier incarnation of this project. I was invited along by the pitcher as a potential writer. I am not going to divulge to whom we were pitching THE LAST BLOOD, as it was called at the time, suffice to say that they were not involved in the final film. Nor, quite obviously, was I. I wrote no more than a couple of pages of a draft that in no part appears in the film, after which my services were no longer required. I was disappointed at the time not to be involved further, but I had been surprised and flattered to be invited along at all, so left with a smile and wished them and the project every success for the future. The reason I bring this up at all is to avoid any accusations of holding a grudge against the project or vengefully hating on it, because I don't. That said, THE BLOOD BOND SAGA: SHADOWGUARD is a flat-out terrible piece of filmmaking in almost every respect.

Set in the fictional South East Asian country of Purma, a country in the throes of a military coup, an attack is made on a much-respected religious leader, the Bagwun, which he barely survives. Only a blood transfusion will save his life, but the Bagwun's blood type is incredibly rare and all the available donors have been assassinated. All except for John Tremayne (Michael Biehn), a washed-up ex US military man, who now resides in the dangerous, rebel-controlled North of the country. The Bagwun's personal protector, Deva (Phoenix Valen) decides to go it alone, track down Tremayne, and persuade him to help save the Bagwun's life, only to discover he is an embittered, alcoholic deadbeat who don't believe in nothin' no more.

The first, painfully obvious problem with SHADOWGUARD is that it was clearly made on a shoestring budget that continually limits what they are able to do onscreen. Now, I'm fine with a film having shoddy effects, or being rough around the edges because it was made on the cheap, so long as the director and crew are inventive with it. SHADOWGUARD clearly wants to be an all-out 80s action movie in the vein of RAMBO or COMMANDO, but simply doesn't have the necessary resources or expertise at its disposal. There are numerous gunfights throughout the film, but it appears that at no time was a weapon actually fired. Actors can clearly be seen jerking their arms to simulate recoil, with muzzle flare and gunshot sound effects added in later, which is fine if you're making a student film, but not when it's a real production with internationally recognizable actors in it, like Michael Biehn and Simon Yam.

Much of the action seems to have been filmed in and around the same building, shot from different angles to represent a number of different locations. The big finale takes place at a hospital in the Purmese capital, a hospital that only has signs in English and appears to have only one bed, curtained off from the main reception area. When the climactic gunfight takes place, the FX department appear to have gone all-out and rigged the walls of the corridors with squibs. This is plainly obvious, as you can see exactly where holes have been cut out of the wall and then painted over in a colour vaguely approximating the rest of the set.

The other baffling aspect of the film is Michael Biehn, who not only stars, but also directs and is credited as one of the film's six writers. Has his star really fallen so far that this is the only work he can get? Surely, if Steven Seagal can still manage to be gainfully employed then Biehn can do much better than this. In all fairness, he looks to be in fantastic shape. When we first see him, he is clad only in a pair of natty old boxer shorts - and the man is ripped! Perhaps it's been a while since he's had a hot meal, but there is not an ounce of fat on the man. His line readings are certainly the best on display too and he does his best to sell scene after scene of risible dialogue, although I swear you can see him wince at the cliché-ridden clunkers on more than one occasion. As far as Biehn's directorial style goes, I would have thought years spent working alongside James Cameron and Michael Bay - master orchestrators of high-octane spectacle - would have paid off in some small way, but I guess not. To say his input was anonymous, would be the highest compliment I could pay the director.

The rest of the cast only helps to make Biehn stick out like a lost soul stumbling through the darkness, with Simon Yam visibly gritting his teeth through every one of the brief few minutes he is onscreen. The supporting cast of random goons, grunts and hospital staff showcase a baffling array of accents and ability - not just in acting, but simply in managing to speak their lines at all. Soldier #1 may rattle off his dialogue with the proficiency of a West Coast Asian American, while Soldier #2 can barely enunciate a single word, but precious few among them are able to deliver anything approaching an authentic performance. There's also a brief cameo from Michael Wong as a helicopter pilot, and one can't help but wonder if he is only in the film because the filmmakers wanted to play with his chopper. Which brings us to the film's heroine, Deva, as portrayed by Phoenix Valen.

There is no denying that Valen is gorgeous to look at, but her acting range never extends much beyond a furrowed brow or a doe-eyed pout. She has an inexplicable trans-Atlantic accent for a girl who supposedly grew up in the bosom of a man who can barely get his lines out, and at no point do we believe her to be the naïve warrior she is purported to be. The intention was clearly to anchor the film around a gorgeous but deadly martial artiste who could break hearts and kick butt simultaneously, but while Valen has clearly had plenty of kung-fu and tai chi training, she is let down by sluggish and laborious choreography that makes her fight scenes look more like a self-defense demonstration than a highly-skilled fight to the death.

SHADOWGUARD really has nothing to recommend it and is frequently more often an endurance test than a slice of throwaway entertainment. The plot is poorly conceived, and filled with characters who are frankly illogical. It is never revealed who Tremayne is, why he is living in the dangerous part of Purma, or why the military, who we are told "don't take kindly to strangers," have allowed him to live there for so long. That any woman, let alone Deva, would be accepted as personal protector to the country's most senior monk makes no sense, nor that someone who attracts the attention of everybody in any room she ever walks into would be able to mount any kind of secret mission without being instantly noticed. The dialogue is leaden and cringeworthy, the sound mix uneven and littered with hiss and lacklustre ADR, the performances are never anything more than tolerable and the production values so low it makes the Max Fischer Players look like Merchant Ivory. Frankly I'm distraught that, with no press screenings held, I was forced to pay US$8 for the privilege of enduring this disaster. But that said, my financial contribution no doubt went a considerable way to helping the film recoup its production costs. We can only wait with baited breath to see what future installments of THE BLOOD BOND SAGA have in store for us.

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

To be honest, im not surprised by this scathing review. And if you followed Bey's AnD blog, you'll know that the final product was not what he had intended.

But that doesn't really excuse the fact that he more or less ripped off the (highly entertaining) Wong Jing flick, The Last Blood, as the basis for his story. Especially considering he rarely has anything good to say about Wong Jing in his commentaries. I suppose he wrote the novel to kinda redeem himself, and show his initial vision of the story.

Though I can't really comment on either, since I have not seen the movie or read the book.

I like Logan, but I have yet to see a project with his name on it, that reflects the knowledge and passion that is so evident in his commentaries. I know the movie business is a bitch on wheels, and rarely does a writers original vision equal the finished product..... too much business, too much beaucracy, too many cooks spoli the food etc. But for a man in his position (ie his own production company) It has to be do-able to produce something better than previous efforts. I hope he does in the future.

[BLfan]

LOL - For a guy like Bey Logan who lives and breathes HK films, it is astonishing that every film associated with him has been poor.

[Guest Yi-Long]

LOL - For a guy like Bey Logan who lives and breathes HK films, it is astonishing that every film associtated with him has been poor.

You're wrong. It's not HIS fault. HE knows that his movies are great for an ASIAN audience!

We're western, so we're different. Once his movies have been cut up, dubbed, and they've put a new soundtrack on it, I'm sure we will all love his flicks as well!

[blue_skies]

Kicking myself for forgetting this guy!

Maybe we can add Michael Biehn to the list as well after watching this movie....

Still haven't checked out 'Bangkok Adrenalin', instead I wasted my time watching 'City Under Siege'....you'd recommend it?

Definetly mate, Dan O'neil is brilliant in this. Don't expect much from the story, acting etc but the action's very good, very entertaining. One of my fave MA films of 2010. grab a couple of beers , sit back N' enjoy

[Jesse Smooth]

I read the novel Bey wrote. I liked it. I have faith in his projects since he's doing them himself.

[DiP]

Biehn shares his experiences of working in China and with Bey Logan on The Blood Bond: Shadowguard. The links to the interviews below have just started a small controversy between Biehn/Biehn fans and Bey/Bey fans.

http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2011/07/michael-biehn-talks-losing-control-of-the-blood-bond.php

http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2011/07/bey-logan-responds-to-michael-biehn-on-the-blood-bond.php

[Guest Markgway]

So I take it a director's commentary is out of the question?

[Guest Yi-Long]

Well... the trailer already looked like it was gonna be another extremely piss-poor movie, so I'm not surprised at all.

I would have been surprised if he said he thought it was all awesome, in which case we could all speculate about Mike being a doped up junkie...