Product Description

From the team that brought you the acclaimed 'Brotherhood' comes the epic, record-breaking box office smash. Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man s journey in search of truth and honour during a Civil War where China saw one of its bloodiest battles. Winter 1948: Captain Guzidi leads an infantry unit consisting of just 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. Their orders are to fight until the retreat assembly call is charged. That call never comes. After many long hours of defence and with ammunition running out, men are falling hard and fast. The realisation dawns on Guzidi that the call might have been missed in the heat of battle, contributing to the deaths of those under his command. Waking in hospital after a brutal campaign Guzidi believes the last of his men sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement. But he is shocked to discover they have been deemed missing or worse, deserters. He returns to the site of the battle, determined to prove the existence the 46 heroes he fought with and honour their glorious deaths. Featuring some of the most intense battle scenes ever captured on film, 'Assembly' is a cinematic experience like no other.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1854 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-05-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 124 minutes

DVD Description
From the team that brought you the acclaimed 'Brotherhood' comes the epic, record-breaking box office smash. Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man s journey in search of truth and honour during a Civil War where China saw one of its bloodiest battles. Winter 1948: Captain Guzidi leads an infantry unit consisting of just 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. Their orders are to fight until the retreat assembly call is charged. That call never comes. After many long hours of defence and with ammunition running out, men are falling hard and fast. The realisation dawns on Guzidi that the call might have been missed in the heat of battle, contributing to the deaths of those under his command. Waking in hospital after a brutal campaign Guzidi believes the last of his men sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement. But he is shocked to discover they have been deemed missing or worse, deserters. He returns to the site of the battle, determined to prove the existence the 46 heroes he fought with and honour their glorious deaths. Featuring some of the most intense battle scenes ever captured on film, 'Assembly' is a cinematic experience like no other.

Special Features
- an epic 15-part "making of" feature (75 mins) including the story, the special f/x, the music, the origins, representing the war, the battle, and much more. - interviews with the cast, crew and technicians that brought this mesmerising epic to life - theatrical trailer

Synopsis
Featuring some of the most intense battle scenes ever committed to celluloid, ASSEMBLY re-enacts the true story of one man's path during one of China's most bloodiest civil wars.

Customer Reviews

Heavily over rated.
I'm afraid my review for this item is incomplete because to be honest after 30 minutes I was totally ditracted. I found myself unable to concentrate or immerse myself in the film. The acting was wooden and the story seemed unable to follow a theme. Perhaps not one for the casual film buff but maybe one for the afficiado instead.

A strange war film
A strange war movie for the theme: Red China versus Nationalist China battles in late '40 after WWII (for the european eye is yet difficult see differences between the two army's soldiers in battlescenes).
A strange war movie for the plot: a first time of blood and guts with same well done action scenes (and same errors in equipment, guns and horrible "Sherman/Pershing" tanks)and a 47 man company (like 47 ronin ?) betrayed and sacrified. A second time of remembrance and respect for the fallen brothers in arms.
A good film if you like a strange movie.

Brilliant - China's Saving Private Ryan
This film tells the story of a Chinese Communist division, which found itself completely out numbered and surrounded by Chinese Nationalists during the the Chinese civil war. The commanding officer of the Communist's, Captain Gu , is told that his men can only retreat if he hears the bugle "assembly" call in the distance. During the battle, Gu's men tell him they think they have heard the assembly call. However, Gu did not, and thus orders them to stay and fight. As a result, everyone is killed, except Gu, who is recovered barely alive from the battle field after the eventual Communist counter attack.

Following the end of the Chinese civil war, the Communists win, but unable to find the bodies of Gu's men, the division is listed as "missing". This means that their families are not entitled to the generous financial compensation they deserve. Gu swears to prove his men really did fight to the last men, and thus get the recognition they deserve.

The battle scenes are heart stopping, and there is everything for the war film fan. From close quarter urban fighting to fighting a desperate defensive action, the film has it all. One feature of note is the battle gore, which even by the standards of war films is strong. We see limbs flying off, and soldiers bursting as they are hit by artillery shells. Nothing is left to the imagination! In places, it makes the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan look tame.

All in all, this film is definitely one of the best war films I have ever seen. Some viewers may not like the subtitles (the film is entirely in Mandarin) but other than that, it is one every war film will enjoy.