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Rating:  -
I can't fault the Bluray, the movie looks really nice. Too bad it is extremely boring - just rent this instead.
Rating:  -
My brother told me I should watch "Warriors of Heaven and Earth" (2003). Truth to be told, I was somewhat sceptic, as his taste in movies is somewhat different to mine. All the same, I must say that in this case he was right.
This film is quite original, due to the fact that it is set in 7th-century China, but at times seems like a Western. To make it a little stranger, there are some supernatural elements that fit the plot and make this movie something that you are not likely to forget.
One of the main characters is a Japanese warrior (Kiichi Nakai) that has been in the service of the Chinese Emperor for a very long time, and that just wants to fulfill his last task before returning home. Unfortunately for him, that implies finding and killing a Chinese outlaw (Wen Jiang) that used to be a soldier, but that was condemned to death when he refused to kill a group of women and children. The two warriors play a game of cat and mouse, but decide to make a short truce in order to defend a caravan carrying a holy object, that is being attacked by bandits that want to steal it.
There are plenty of well-choreographed fights, but also opportunity to think about themes such as duty and honour. You will also appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Gobi Desert, and the brilliance with which the director (He Ping) was able to tell this story.
From my point of view, this is not a film that will only please those highly interested in Asian cinema. I think that everybody that is fond of an entertaining movie will appreciate "Warriors of Heaven and Earth", even though those who like epic films will certainly like it more. Recommended!
Belen Alcat
Rating: -
He Ping's Warriors of Heaven and Earth starts off in traditional Eastern epic fashion and with a few similarities to Musa/The Warrior - one of its protagonists is a Japanese noble eager to earn the Emperor of China's permission to return home after 25 years in his service - but it soon develops into something much more satisfying: an all-out Western, and one that's played straight for once. It may be set along China's Silk Road, but the landscape is classic American Western, from pine valleys to buttes that could have come straight out of the smaller corners of Monument Valley. Even the Turks who attack the wagon train - sorry, camel caravan - at Red Rock Gorge do so with Apache war cries.
There are some imaginative action scenes, including a neat swordfight between the two protagonists on opposite sides of a log cabin's walls, and the classic Western friendly enemies archetypes transpose surprisingly well to an Eastern setting. It's a shame that the caravan's cargo has supernatural qualities, because the film really doesn't need the fantasy element, but the special effects are at a bare minimum, as is wirework for once. This made little impression at the box-office, but it's well worth tracking down. Great fun.
The extras aren't plentiful - 25-minute making of, music video and brief trailer - but are adequate enough.
Rating: -
The idea of a Chinese "western" is appealing at face value and I certainly appreciated the fact that the warriors in "Tian di ying xiong" ("Warriors of Heaven and Earth") were of a mature age. I could easily see this being the sort of story where you had the likes of John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Jimmy Stewart in the main roles. It was just when I though of any of those stalwarts dealing with mystical blue light that I found myself wishing this story had been a bit more straight foward. Then I remembered this was a Chinese film, which is why it is in Mandarin with English subtitles.
"Tian di ying xiong" is set during the Tang dynasty, when ancient China covered most of Asia. Lieutenant Li Zai (Wen Jiang) was a honored soldier in the Emperor's service until he refused an order to slaughter a group of Turkish women and children who had been taken captive. After escaping, the Emperor put a bounty on the head of "Butcher Li," hiring the Japanese assassin, Lai Qi (Kiichi Nakai) to finish the job before he will be allowed to return home. Li has disguised himself as a Turkish mercenary, protecting camel caravans traveling the Silk Road from attacks by bandits. While traveling through the Gobi desert, a terrible sand storm buries the caravan. The only ones who survive is a single solider, a young Buddhist monk ((Yun Zhou), and Li. Because the soldier saved his life, Li vows to protect the caravan until it reaches the capital. This is when Lai Qi catches up with Li and challenges him to a fight.
Appealing to the honor of the assassin, Li proposes a deal: Lai will make three attacks on Li, and it Li loses then they will fight there and then. But if Li wins he will be allowed to keep his vow and escort the caravan and then they can have their big sword fight. Li wins the wager, and Lai follows the caravan from a distance. When a local warlord, Master An (Xueqi Wang), starts attacking the caravan, Li and Lai become temporary allies. Then they learn the truth of what it is the young monk is carrying and the stakes become even higher.
This is one of those movies where what is arguably the best action sequence comes at the start, even though all we are talking about is a sword fight that takes place in (and through) a cabin. The key visual attraction becomes not the sword fights, but the vistas of the Gobi desert shot by cinematographer Zhao Fei ("Raise the Red Lantern," "Small Time Crooks"), accompanied by the music of A.R. Rahman and Qu Lixin. Most of the characters reflect well-established types, which explains why "Old Diehard" (Wang Dehun), ends up stealing a lot of the scenes. The main female character, Wen Zhu (Vicki Zhao), seems like she is going to be Li's love interest or perhaps another sword by his side, but neither pans out significantly.
He Ping ("Pao Da Shuang Deng") directed the film and co-wrote the script with Zhang Rui ("Dao ma zei") and he is clearly trying for something big. That is commendable, but there are just too many moments where he associates taking things slowly with making things great. Ultimately "Tian di ying xiong" relates better to the works of George Lucas than John Ford. Given the characters, the situation, and the locations, the net effect really should have been a lot more impressive.
Rating:  -
This is just to respond to the intellectually challenged fellow who made the claim that this film somehow demonstrates a Chinese failure to grok Buddhism. Does watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade convince you that Christianity is a mystery to the culture from whence the film sprang? At least try not to say stupid things, pretty please.
That aside, the film isn't very good. There are some nice scenic shots, but nothing else is particularly commendable. I didn't mind watching it, but I'm glad I didn't buy it.
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