The sprawling Chinese epic “The Guillotines’’ offers a myriad of bloodthirsty ways to kill one’s enemies. One unfortunate fellow is drawn and quartered. Others are hanged or mowed down by firing squads. But the most bizarre way to go comes courtesy of a flying, razor-sharp disc that is launched from a distance and locks onto and decapitates its target.
It is the weapon of choice in this exhilarating import, which is set in long-ago China and revolves around an elite band of assassins known as the Guillotines. The gang is headed by Leng (Xiaoming Huang), a troubled dude who must do battle with outlaw Wolf (Ethan Juan) and his band of killers. But the plot is of little importance — the spectacular action and gorgeous landscapes and costumes are what matter.
The cinematographer is the prolific Edmond Fung and the director the respected Andrew Lau, whose “Infernal Affairs’’ (2002) inspired Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed’’ (2006), winner of four Oscars. It’s doubtful that Scorsese will redo this new Lau thriller, which is OK because the Chinese original is all fans need.