If for no other reason, The Rebel should be applauded for how tightly the fight scenes are integrated into the story. Superbly choreographed and executed, the eye-defying twists, turns, kicks, and punches are delivered with brutal force and deadly intent. The characters are literally fighting for their lives, and we can almost believe that they are reenactments of true events. On second thought, belief would have to be stretched beyond credulity to think that any of the fight scenes could really have happened. But within the universe that has been created for the film, the action sequences feel authentic. Sure, the performers are glamorized and the choreography comes across very much as an extended showcase for them, but what a showcase! What enables the film to transcend the appearance of a show reel? Clearly this was a passion project for everyone involved, but rather than be satisfied with churning out a modern action spectacle featuring Vietnamese talent, director Charlie Nguyen and his filmmaking partners decided to cast a spotlight on a lesser-known era in Vietnam’s history. So even though the film falls victim to most of the cliches associated with “war-torn action adventures,” the setting helps distinguish it, as does the filmmakers’ determination not to pull any punches with the vision they had for the project. ...
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If for no other reason, The Rebel should be applauded for how tightly the fight scenes are integrated into the story. Superbly choreographed and executed, the eye-defying twists, turns, kicks, and punches are delivered with brutal force and deadly intent. The characters are literally fighting for their lives, and we can almost believe that they are reenactments of true events. On second thought, belief would have to be stretched beyond credulity to think that any of the fight scenes could really have happened. But within the universe that has been created for the film, the action sequences feel authentic. Sure, the performers are glamorized and the choreography comes across very much as an extended showcase for them, but what a showcase! What enables the film to transcend the appearance of a show reel? Clearly this was a passion project for everyone involved, but rather than be satisfied with churning out a modern action spectacle featuring Vietnamese talent, director Charlie Nguyen and his filmmaking partners decided to cast a spotlight on a lesser-known era in Vietnam’s history. So even though the film falls victim to most of the cliches associated with “war-torn action adventures,” the setting helps distinguish it, as does the filmmakers’ determination not to pull any punches with the vision they had for the project. ...