Can Xiao Zhan recreate the classic in The Legend of the Condor Heroes?

The 2025 Chinese New Year season has seen a lot of attention paid to “The Legend of the Eagle Shooting Heroes: Chivalry”, directed by Tsui Hark and starring Xiao Zhuan. Adapted from Jin Yong's original novel, the movie focuses on Guo Jing's growth and transformation. Xiao Zhan's performance as Guo Jing, who grows up from a clueless teenager to a hero, is highly anticipated.

Xiao Zhan shows the versatility of Guo Jing, conveying the character's inner struggle through subtle emotional changes. He said he resonated with Guo Jing's persistence and kindness and was able to better integrate into the character. However, some viewers thought the characterization was slightly thin.

Tsui Hark's martial arts style is unique, and the movie's war scenes and special effects are shocking, especially the duel between Guo Jing and Ouyang Feng. However, some viewers questioned the realism of the special effects and the coherence of the plot, and thought the narrative was a bit rushed.

The film centers on the theme of “Chivalry is for the country and the people”, showing Guo Jing's sense of responsibility and deepening his understanding of the spirit of chivalry. However, the balance between emotion and war still needs to be strengthened, which affects the overall feeling of the movie.

Xiao Zhan's performance in the film is worthy of recognition, injecting vitality into the classic character, but there is still room for improvement in the narrative and special effects. Whether or not the movie can reinvent the classic is yet to be proven by time. This movie provides new ideas for the development of martial arts movies.