DVD Reviews

Little Big Soldier - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Aug 27, 2011, 17:46 GMT

Set during China s war period, Little Big Soldier is the story of a soldier (Jackie Chan) and a general (Wang Leehom) who come from opposing states and also have very much opposing views on the war and the world. Jackie Chan in one of his finest performances plays a soldier from Liang, who ultimately survives the war by playing dead. Lee Hom Wang plays a general from Wei, who ...more

“Small potato!” 

Little Big Soldier has been a project that Jackie Chan has been considering for a long time, some 20 years.  So long ago that he was originally tapped to play the opposite role than he plays in the picture.  It does hit some high notes, features some of Chan’s trademark stunts, but that ending seems not to jibe with what comes before it. 

An epic battle has occurred between the provinces of Liang and Wei.  So violent that only two soldiers survive: the cowardly Little Soldier (Jackie Chan) and the more skilled Big Soldier (Leehom Wang) who also happens to be a general.  After one last battle to defend his clan’s flag, the exhausted Big Soldier passes out and when he awakens he is bound by the cunning Little Soldier. 

Little has other plans for Big in that if he returns him to Liang then Little will be hailed as a hero, but more importantly to Little he will be given five acres of land and be allowed to set out the rest of the war.  So Little begins the long trek to get back to Liang with the less-than-cooperative Big in tow. 

However, Prince Wen (Steve Yoo) and his bodyguard Wu (Du Yuming) are after them to make some harm come to Big and they will encounter other obstacles along the way, including a mysterious woman (Lin Peng). 

Little Big Soldier is really a buddy movie.  Our two soldiers start off complete opposites, yet they come to appreciate one another.  Big Soldier is a general and more apt to sacrifice his life for his kingdom whereas Little Soldier has been drafted and more apt to play dead to save his own life.  Little even has a cache of fake weapons and injuries to ensure that marauding soldiers think him dead and pass him by.  This is how he makes it though the horrific battle, of which we only see the bloody remains of. 

Both Chan and Wang play their opposites well.  Wang with patriotism and conviction and Chan with style as well as cleverness.  We’re even treated to several well staged, by Chan no less, fight sequences.  I especially liked one where Little and Big fight over a sword but it turns out be a surprise in the end.  Everything is set against a warlike background and has a surprising sweep to it.  What might be a bit jarring is how the film ends.  It’s both ironic and not what you’re expecting – a little bit of a downer. 

Not that the film leans more towards action than comedy, but I didn’t see the bit of melancholy that comes before the credits roll.  All in all, Chan does what he does best even if he is in the secondary role but such character parts may be easier since he isn’t getting any younger (none of us are). 

Little Big Soldier is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1).  Special features include 2 trailers (4 minutes total) in high definition.  In standard definition you get a 3 minute Jackie Chan music video and a 14 minute making of.  Disc two is a DVD copy of the film. 

Little Big Soldier feels like a mini epic that has great performances, scenery, and action scenes.  Chan plays his part well and even stages some of those fun action bits to boot. 

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