Entertainment

Turn of Sun Yat century

Jackie Chan steps away from zany martial arts into military mode for this sweeping, if exhausting, historical epic set at the turn of the 20th century. Chan’s 100th film, which he co-directed with cinematographer Zhang Li, begins as the Qing Dynasty, which has ruled China for 2 1/2 centuries, is in decline, its subjects starving.

Huang Xing (Chan), a leader of the insurgent revolution, brings his experience with Japanese modern warfare into battle against the dynasty’s army, while his more political compatriot Sun Yat-Sen (Winston Chao) — later the republic’s first provisional president — heads overseas to drum up funds.

“1911” looks every bit the gorgeous, big-budget war drama, but its meticulous depiction of the Xinhai Revolution, and the names and ranks of the many personalities involved, may be slow going for anyone not well-versed in this chapter of Chinese history.

Smaller-scale scenes — such as when Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen) and her 7-year-old emperor son burst into tears, causing the entire royal court to drop respectfully to its knees — are fascinating, but they’re rare.

Chan’s one hand-to-hand combat moment leaves you wishing he’d thrown in a little more old-school Jackie action.