As a knight fighting in the Crusades, Jacob (Hayden Christensen) committed many misdeeds that left him disillusioned and war-weary. Years later at an inn somewhere in China, an opium-addled Jacob reluctantly intervenes when a group of murderous warriors threaten a beautiful maiden and a young boy. They turn out to be Princess Lian (Crystal Liu Yi-Fei) and her kid brother Mei (Bill Su Jiahang), rightful heir to the imperial throne since their father was murdered by their disgruntled older sibling, Prince Shing (Andy On). Lian asks Jacob to help them escape Shing's assassins. Over an arduous journey they rescue imperiled peasant girl Xiaolin (Coco Wang) before Jacob reunites with his old mentor, Gallain (Nicolas Cage) who now hides in the hills as a bandit chief known as 'The White Ghost.'
Outcast seems like an apt title given stars Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen have been exiles of late from mainstream Hollywood cinema. Both actors here return to Medieval times even though their last historical misadventures, Cage with Season of the Witch (2011), Christensen with Virgin Territory (2008), were poorly received. A Chinese-Canadian-French co-production, Outcast had no theatrical release in the USA but proved successful in China. Partly due to the pulling power of Hong Kong actress Crystal Liu Yi-Fei, billed more prominently on Chinese posters than her Hollywood co-stars. The film marks the directorial debut of veteran stunt coordinator Nick Powell. True to form he stages a fair few exciting action scenes despite a familiar over-reliance on jittery visuals and choppy editing that characterized his past work on The Bourne Identity (2002), The Last Samurai (2003) and The Three Musketeers (2011).
Far more sedate by comparison the Chinese actors, who all perform with cut-glass English accents, invest their comic book characters with amiable earnestness. Crystal Liu Yi-Fei, who had her first flush with the mainstream via a supporting role in the Disney-made Jet Li-Jackie Chan team-up The Forbidden Kingdom (2008), proves beguiling enough to suggest more Hollywood roles might come her way. Belying its direct-to-video reputation, Outcast flaunts a healthy budget through lavish sets and costumes along with an eye-catching array of scenic locations, sumptuously photographed by D.P. Joel Ransom. As one-dimensional adventure romps go it may well appeal to fans of Chinese genre fare.
