The Lady Assassin (2013)

Vietnamese films are hard to find on our shores, especially martial arts movies filmed in 3D. The Lady Assassin is a feisty action adventure that uses cutting-edge technology, stunning locations and beautiful girls. Make no mistake; the female cast members of The Lady Assassin are lovely, and it is easy to forgive the film's textbook plotting and overambitious set pieces.

Deadly women with dark secrets, evil outlaws, corrupt officials and group bathing sessions are the order of the day here. Nothing too gratuitous that might upset the Vietnamese sensors, but there is more than enough titillation for those of us growing tired of wire-assisted wonderment. The Lady Assassin is one of the biggest box office hits in Vietnamese history. As long as one keeps expectations to a minimum, Western audiences can grasp.

Set in and around a traveller's tavern, The Lady Assassin tells the tale of a beautiful seductress and her team of lethal waitresses, who routinely slaughter the corrupt (and not so corrupt) government officials and business people who come their way before honing their skills in a volleyball game and washing each other down in a pool overlooking the sea.

When an innocent young woman - whose family was killed by an evil general - arrives at the tavern, they train her to become a skilled assassin to take bloody revenge. Additionally, you can join them for a post-match swim. Of course, things are not quite what they seem, and The Lady Assassin benefits from a blood-soaked, ultimately tragic conclusion. With its relentless juggling of balls and the occasional jaunty sing-along, the first hour provides plenty of lightweight escapism, but it does not hint at what is to come in the sombre finale. However, a second musical number lightens the mood somewhat.

Tang Thanh Ha, Ngoc Quyen, Kim Dung and Diem My provide plenty of eye candy, and the action sequences work much better than before. Do not get me wrong; the choreography is nothing special, and it's not surprising. The choreography compares unfavourably to Hong Kong cinema's high standard. However, the girls deserve praise for their commitment to the cause. They are not able to trouble Michelle Yeoh anytime soon, but what The Lady Assassin lacks in finesse, it makes up for in colour and creativity. And the bathing sequences. Obviously.

Even ignoring the stunning beauty of our alluring leads, The Lady Assassin is an excellent proposition for Asian cinema fans. The film has fewer locations - the trailer certainly hints at more scope - but the dreamy places are almost as striking as the girls on top. One will need help finding a better-looking action picture this year, for sure. Exotic locations are used extensively, giving The Lady Assassin a distinct and deeply rewarding visual elegance.

Besides the obvious attraction of the leading ladies, the performances are relatively strong. It is an energetic affair, with mild humour and playfulness running through its veins until things get serious. The characters bounce off each other well, injected with enough warmth and personality to prevent one-dimensionality. The Lady Assassin could never be accused of dullness. However, the direction gets grate after a while. Fortunately, things pick up in the final act, and the downbeat ending offers a change of pace that's both surprising and welcome.

The Lady Assassin will never be considered a genre classic - the action choreography rarely elevates above the ordinary, and the storyline is too simplistic - but there is plenty to pilfer from this lightweight endeavour. Gorgeous locations, beautiful locals and PG-rated titillation and tease. Oh, and did I mention bathing yet? Worth a look.