SAVING GENERAL YANG (2013)

One of the most emotionally-involving films I've seen in some time, Saving General Yang tells an important story in Chinese history - the tale of the legendary General Yang Ye, who in northeast China in 986 A.D. was abducted by the Khitan army, in revenge for a supposed past wrong.  But the Khitan army won't stop there, for General Yang has seven sons and the real plot is to set a trap for - and slaughter - the seven sons (two of whom have never before been to war), crushing the Yang family for good.  The film becomes a tense race against time, as the brothers set out to find their father, facing their family's greatest enemy in the quest to bring their father home.  Even with great fight/action scenes, the relationship between the seven close brothers - to each other, as well as to their honored father - also sets up an emotional core to the film that elevates it to near must-see status, even for those who normally might not be fans of this genre.  LOVED IT. (not rated)  ****1/2

SAVING GENERAL YANG trailer