The Princess Blade
ADV Films | Release Date: August 8, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
10
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
89
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
The Princess Blade opens with one of the most note-perfect action sequences ever committed to film. Read full review
80
Washington PostStephen Hunter
It's all story, character and dazzling martial arts violence, as orchestrated by fight choreographer Donnie Yen at breakneck speed. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterRichard James Havis
Original and thrilling martial-arts choreography, a lean, hard-driving story and solemn atmosphere make The Princess Blade -- a futuristic tale -- stand way above the pack. Read full review
60
Washington PostDesson Thomson
It suffers from a dreary middle section. Great movie, mediocre script. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
With its stylized, near-surreal comic-book look and roots, The Princess Blade has all the makings of a cult film. Read full review
60
Village VoiceEd Park
Yuki's streamlined revenge story (the furious, elegant choreography is by HK maestro Donnie Yen) has in its modest dimensions a surprising grace. Read full review
60
Film ThreatBradley Gibson
Yumiko Shaku as Yuki is small, beautiful, and stunningly sexy while she plies her deadly skill like a dancer. Her self-assured poise and large expressive eyes say everything that the minimal dialogue doesn’t. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Adventurous viewers will find this unusual genre hybrid an intriguing experience, and Donnie Yen's fight choreography is breathtaking. Read full review
60
VarietyDerek Elley
A martial arts fantasy in modern dress, but set in an unidentified country and era, The Princess Blade is a tough toasted sandwich with a soft filling. Read full review
60
The New York TimesDave Kehr
Not quite good enough to jump out of the pack of Asian swordplay movies but is too well crafted to sink into utter anonymity. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
This is a movie about excess. It's excessively long (at least it feels that way), the slo-mo is used in excess (so are the swords), and our heroine, Yuki (Yumiko Shaku), when she does emote, is excessively weepy for a coldblooded assassin. Read full review
50
New York PostV.A. Musetto
Can't decide if it's a martial-arts thriller or a sappy soap opera. Read full review
40
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
Despite its origins, nearly every visual and storytelling idea in this green-and-black-tinted martial-arts fantasy seems to derive from "Mad Max," "The Matrix" and/or "The Lord of the Rings." Read full review
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