Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action epic offers teamwork messages amid brutal violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dragon Blade
What's the Story?
Somewhere around 50 B.C., the Protection Squad, led by Captain Huo An (Jackie Chan), attempts to maintain peace on the Silk Road near China. An army of Roman soldiers arrives, and general Lucius (John Cusack) picks a fight with Huo An. A sandstorm interrupts, and Huo An takes advantage of the situation to befriend Lucius. He learns that Lucius is a fugitive who's on the run from the evil Tiberius (Adrien Brody) because Lucius rescued Tiberius' younger brother from his sibling's jealousy and treachery. When the Protection Squad is betrayed and forced into labor, the outcast Romans help. A bond of friendship is formed, which may be all that protects the heroes from the vengeful Tiberius' awesome armies.
Is It Any Good?
This Chinese battle epic features exciting, show-stopping fight scenes, but the storytelling in between is almost non-existent, as if lazily looking for ways to kill the time. (Given that the official U.S. release of DRAGON BLADE was trimmed by 25 minutes, it's possible that the original 127-minute cut was more cohesive.) Chan headed up planning the fight scenes, and even after so many years in the business, he's conjured up some beauties -- including a sequence in which Huo An saves his family with a length of blue silk and another in which the captain practices a choreographed battle-ballet with his men.
While Chan gets some good moments with his heroic, dignified character, Cusack looks pained trying to get through his dialogue, and Brody winds up with the short end of the stick as the sneering, one-dimensional villain. Some of the bit players are even more abysmal, shouting random lines designed as padding. Indeed, the movie's rhythm and editing seem entirely arbitrary. Better to skip this and look for the original cut.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dragon Blade's violence. Which parts of the movie were thrilling, and which were gruesome and/or troubling? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
What are the movie's messages about cooperation and friendship? In what ways do characters work together well? Is there a disconnect having this kind of message in such a violent movie?
How does Huo An compare to other characters Jackie Chan has played? Is he a role model?
How is drinking portrayed in the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 4, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : December 22, 2015
- Cast : Jackie Chan , Adrien Brody , John Cusack
- Director : Daniel Lee
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : History
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violence
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate