Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 108 minutes
Release Date: September 20th, 2024 (China) / November 8th, 2024 (USA)
Studio: Well Go USA Entertainment
Director(s): Haofeng Xu & Junfeng Xu
Writer(s): Haofeng Xu

There will be no fight.

Kids these days: entitled, rebellious, and easily offended. At least that’s what the elders are probably saying about Shen An (Jacky Heung) and Qi Quan (Andy On) in 1920s Tianjin. They’re all about tradition and they’ve taught the next generation to follow suit. It’s tough to do so when the world around them is changing so rapidly, though. An’s father realized this and did all he could to steer his son away from martial arts completely. His prize pupil Quan could take over the academy while An lived a good life away from the chaos. Except, of course, that pushing him away only stoked the fire to prove he belonged even more.

Filmmakers Haofeng Xu (who also wrote the screenplay) and Junfeng Xu present a collision of old and new school with 100 Yards. The assumption is that Quan will maintain the status quo (the title signifies the duty to protect all who live and work that distance from the academy’s doors), but his plans reach much further. An doesn’t necessarily care, but knows he can use this friction to his advantage by provoking a personal fight. While the elders agree to a proper closed-door duel (only hoodlums fight in the street), pride and rage ultimately guarantee decorum gets ignored. The outside world is fascinated with martial arts and demand to watch. The “young masters” bow to the pressure and calls of cowardice.

The result is a fascinating spectacle because the feud between An and Quan has the passion of a brawl while still maintaining the respect of competition. Neither necessarily wants to kill the other (or have blood on their hands) and the dispute that serves as the catalyst hardly matters once tempers rise. They’re going to battle to know in their own hearts who is better. Just because the fight itself might provide an answer, though, doesn’t mean the result is everything. There are still issues of allegiances both quid pro quo and familial in origin. Fairness and loyalty aren’t thrown out the window so easily—even if a couple gunshots creating chaos from those connections render the victims soon forgotten.

What we receive is a series of sparring sessions amidst the gradual reveal of secrets to show how thin the façade of traditionalism has become. You get a couple wherein you assume the fight is fair before one side (or both) reveal, in figurative Princess Bride fashion, that they’re “not left-handed.” Then there are a couple where An and Quan get a little too big-brained for their own good by trying to trick the other only to end up tricking themselves. And, finally, we get the climactic scene teased in the poster with An going against an ambush of men to inevitably engage in one last one-on-one versus Quan. Will it be winner take all? The answer might not be theirs to give.

Don’t therefore expect too much craziness. It all takes place in one locale and the fights are always “fair” with combatants adhering to the honor system when outmatched. Yes, the main bout leaves many unconscious or gasping for breath, but the script is very intentional in ensuring no one dies unless by natural causes or a bullet. Because even though gamesmanship and deceit are wielded, honor remains a crucial piece to the puzzle as far as proving one’s worth in martial arts circles. There’s something refreshing in that truth—especially since An and Quan’s egos are big enough for us to believe they would betray that code. Maybe it would settle their dispute, but real change is bigger than just them.

---

Andy On and Jacky Heung in 100 YARDS; courtesy of Well Go USA.