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Guardians of the Ancient" runtime reduced, version edited following audience feedback
Báo VietnamPlus
29/08/2026
08:00
The production team stated that they have invited director/editor Ham Tran to join in editing a new version of the film, reducing the runtime by 20 minutes to 135 minutes, with the expectation of increasing the dramatic tension compared to the original cut.
Phim "Hộ linh tráng sỹ" giảm thời lượng, sửa bản chiếu sau phản hồi khán giả
Information from the production crew of "Guardians of the King: Secret of the Dinh Tomb" indicates that the film will have a new, shorter, and more concise cut to better meet audience preferences. Accordingly, director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh will collaborate with director and editor Ham Tran to adjust the pacing and refine the content of the work.
As a rare historical fantasy film with large-scale investment and featuring many notable names in Vietnamese cinema, "Guardians of the King" has received significant attention from the film community. However, since its early screenings on August 25, the film has received mixed reactions regarding its lackluster pacing, somewhat disjointed plot developments, and romantic and family subplots that distract viewers from the main story of the seven guardians... Most of the audience, while acknowledging the production team's efforts, still summarized it in two words: "Regrettable."
Đạo diễn, nhà dựng phim Hàm Trần.
Acknowledging audience feedback, the production team stated in an announcement: "The heartfelt feedback from the very first audience members during the early screenings has brought the production team a lot of emotions. We understand very clearly that a film only truly fulfills its mission when it touches the hearts of its audience.
With a receptive spirit to improve, the producers have decided to re-edit a new version, shortening it by 20 minutes compared to the initial theatrical release, focusing maximally on increasing the rhythm, condensing scenes, and heightening the dramatic tension in every moment."
Thus, the new version of "Guardians of the King" will be reduced from 3 hours and 5 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes, a runtime that is more "viewer-friendly" and common for complex genres like historical epics and grand spectacles.
The new version will be screened in cinema chains in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from the night of August 30, 2026, two days after the official release date of August 28, and will subsequently reach other provinces and cities. Ham Tran is famous for his entertaining thriller films such as "How to Fight in Six Inch Heels," the "Demon Eater" series, or most recently, "Air Strike."
The 52-year-old director/editor frequently collaborates with Charlie Nguyen and Johnny Tri Nguyen as a screenwriter on films such as "The Rebel," "Clash," "Fool for Love," "Long Ruoi," along with many other collaborative or self-edited projects. With his seasoned experience, Ham Tran was chosen by the "Guardians of the King" crew, who trust him as "one of the veteran and excellent 'editors' of Vietnamese cinema".
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