Back To The Past: A Continuation For The Fans

Back to the Past is the cinematic continuation of the 2001 hit Chinese series ‘A Step into the Past.’ Picking back up after where the series left off, the film sets the stage by offering audiences a refresher in the form of a very fast and disjointed recap of the events of the series. Following the series, the film finds Hong Siu-lung (Koo), and his family, living peacefully. Meanwhile, Ken (Michael Kiu Wai Miu), after losing everything and being wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, leads a group to travel back to the Qin dynasty to help clear his name and reclaim everything he lost by usurping the throne. As the six states of the Qin dynasty, long united under Emperor Ying Ching (Lam) are threatened by a new time-traveller, Hong found himself drawn back in. From there, the past and present collide as he and the Emperor, battle new and familiar threats to protect the empire and the future itself.

When it comes to a film like Back to the Past, it is a hard one to analyze without the proper context. For those unfamiliar with the original source material, this may present a steep learning curve. Perhaps the best comparison to this film is that of the MCU, where its respective entries gain a lot more with further context into the source material. While it barely stands on its own, it still feels like a direct sequel, albeit one released roughly 25 years since the premiere of the original television series. That being said, fans of ‘A Step into the Past’ will likely find plenty to enjoy here, otherwise, the film is sure to leave much of the uninitiated feeling alienated.

Fairly goofy overall, characters scream over-the-top catch phrases as they fight. Similarly, the film lacks any real subtlety or anything in the way of nuance, with every character also over-explaining their motivations. Not wasting any time, the epitome of this is the opening, where a character explains their time travel plans rather bluntly. On the other hand, the action set pieces and IP mining does feel more akin to a superhero movie. Not doing it any favors, the film has a muted gloss to it, across every scene, that make it all feel stale. In addition, several action set pieces that involve characters simply being thrown around, where the film suddenly decides to employ slow motion, already look dated.

In spite of its goofy tone, the performances remain fairly compelling, admirably channelling the kind of energy Back to the Past is clearly aiming for. Another plus is its visuals, culminating in gorgeous sweeping cinematography, featuring several scenic shots of China, and its striking blue sky. If only the film’s visual effects matched the artistry of its camerawork. Delivering a lot of depth of field in every shot, this may have made it more entertaining to look, but fails at making it into something worth investing in on an emotional level.

While fans of the franchise will probably get the best use out of Back to the Past and as a continuation of the television series, it gets the job done. However, for the most part, the barrier between it creates between it and audiences prevent the level of emotional investment needed to make the film feel like a theatrical experience that anyone could go see.

still courtesy of Well GO USA Entertainment

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Brett Schutt

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