Axis of War: The First of August

In 1927, as civil conflict tears the country apart, an alliance of revolutionary forces keeps pushing forward against entrenched warlords and feudal powers. When a rebellion flares up in the strategic city of Nanchang, commanders on both sides prepare for a decisive clash that could reshape the wider struggle. The film follows a lineup of military leaders and soldiers as they plan attacks, patrol streets, and try to hold morale while the first of August approaches, setting the stage for an intense, large scale confrontation that will test tactics, loyalties, and endurance without resolving every political question.

Released in 2007 and directed by Song Yeming, the film assembles a cast portraying real historical figures, including Liu Jin as Zhou Enlai, Hou Yong as He Lung, Ray Lui as Ye Ting, Waise Lee Chi-Hung as Wang Jingwei, and Wu Weidong as Zhu De. The production aims for period detail with expansive battle sequences and ensemble staging.

Commercial performance and distribution details are not widely reported, and no reliable worldwide box office totals are readily available. The movie did not register as a major international release, and public financial records remain limited.

Critical response has been mixed, reflected in modest audience scores and sparse reviews. Viewers who appreciate large scale war scenes may find the military staging and uniforms of interest, while others note uneven character development and a heavy focus on action over deeper political nuance. The film emphasizes themes of strategy under pressure, sacrifice, and the fog of large scale combat, rather than personal backstory.

By dramatizing the Nanchang fighting and featuring portrayals of key historical personalities, the movie sits within a tradition of Chinese historical war films that revisit formative moments of modern history. It hasn't become a widely cited milestone internationally, but it may appeal to audiences curious about early Republican-era conflicts and cinematic treatments of revolutionary battles.