HERO (2002)

An extraordinary story telling with the arrival of a nameless warrior (Jet Li) at the palace of King Qin (Chen Daoming). The warrior (or Nameless, as he is referred to in the film) is brought before the king to gift his extraordinary killing of (or as told to the king) the three King's would-be assassins, Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung), and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). Because of such heroic service, Nameless is allowed to sit within ten paces of the King and asked to provide the details of his victories. However, as Nameless begins to tell how he overcame the three assassins, Qin begins to smell something fishy in the narration, and senses that Nameless is not what he appears to be. (the story telling is done as we have seen in Akiro Kurosowa's Roshamon)

You can actually get the directors touch when the King identifies that nameless is one of the assassins and the others have helped him to reach 10 paces near the king (reason being Nameless can hit with surgical precision within 10 paces). The King gets to know this details due to the bad energy waving the candle lights apart (what a way to identify!!! i was wondering why 100s of candles have to be near the kings throne)

Broken sword educates nameless that the Kings step in uniting China with hard rules is very much required to form a nation and better not to assassin him, in the event broken sword and flying snow ends their life. Nameless finally understands the King and refuses to assassin the king even when the King volunteers to his death.

Nameless admits that the King has to live for a nation to form and volunteers to die as a martyr. The last scene with 1000s of arrows coming straight to the brave Nameless leaving just the mark of the HERO behind the fort doors is a remarkable directorial example.

The initial stunt scene with Nameless and Sky (Donnie Yen) is my favourite with visually stunning movements and cinematography. Donnie yen though comes for a brief time but leaves an everlasting mark in the film.

Its a spectacular Chinese movie released 2002 and came to hit the Hollywood around 2004 only, but still won all our hearts with its compassion and emotional story line.

Don't miss it.

Yesterday (2002)

Just another addition to my Korean movie collection. Its a kind of Police Story feature from Korea side. Not to forget it also contains a lot of sentiments and grievance. The Movie is a flashy and competently put-together South Korean take on futuristic sci-fi. It's essentially about a group of lab experiments, led by the biggest and baddest lab experiment of them all, coming out of the wood works in search of their creator, all in the name of revenge. Trying to stop them is tough cop Seok (Seung-woo Kim), who runs an elite police unit made up of tough cookies like May (Seon-a Kim).

The film takes you into the topic of genetic manipulation (something much advanced at the time of release to the movie fans)and human genome stuff). "Yesterday" is a thrilling sci-fi movie, with heavy doses of edge-of-your-seat action and emphasis on the word "thrilling". But because this is a South Korean production, all the characters have as much energy as a rock sitting on the beach. There are critcis who points out there are no emotions on the Cops face but i would praise the director on this front since it takes out once emotions to be an elite cop and that's what is projected in the movie (just check out the stone face of Kurt Russell in the Hollywood film "The Soldier"). One thing which i feel lacks in the movie is a better introduction on the Cops team or a proper back round would have maintained a level set with the audience.On the plus side "Yesterday" is a good-looking picture with slick production values. On the negative side the action is sometimes hard to follow and Min-su Choi ("Libera Me"), as the lead villain, is not very fearsome, even as he's wiping out Seok's team one by one by one. And with Hui-su leading Seok's unit to death en masse, the bad guy manages to rack up a pretty impressive body count.

Nothing less compared to today's Hollywood stuff the movie has the quality cinematography and action. Only thing is the story line is too vague to follow with a secret science project of genetic mutation to get an elite member of emotionless soldiers. Why and how come the project gets cancelled and why the patients or project samples escaped and how come the government didn't trace or wipe out them is all a question mark.

Its a movie still worth watching and hope if some Tamil directors like to remake the movie :-).

Bo bui gai wak (ROB-B-Hood) (2006)

This is the latest Jackie Chans movie i have seen. But let me set a level that this is not the usual Jackie style of action movie. It has the typical Asian family touch with it having a very caring but poor family for never-do-well compulsive gambler Fong (Jackie Chan), We have another latest addition to Chinese movie reviews starting this new year 2007.

Fong has only one thing more fearsome than debtors at his doorstep - having to coax a crying baby. Its a accidental twist in the film. Jackie and his tech side kick saves a millionaire are baby from a crazy lover (who dies in that incident). Unfortunately the three thieve (Jackie, his side kick and Jackies house owner-who is a master lock breaker) plans to steal a huge money from a millionaire and gets to grab their baby instead.But what if the baby becomes his golden goose to fend off his debtors? Can he overcome his phobia of diapers, milk bottles, and cloying lullabies? They come to a deal for 30million dollars with the father and another billionaire of the dead crazy lover (who turns out to be his only son).

The villain wants to take the baby thinking that its his grand son, but when the DNA tests proves the other way he turns crazy and orders to kill the baby. Oops as usual our Jackie come s to the rescue.

The film is very sentimental involves the love and feeling of a father to son, a Lover to his boy friend and the love for the cute little baby.

Hope to see this move in English again ;-) as we still got only the Chinese dialogue.

Once up on a time in China II (1992)

I have seen the entire series of Once up on a time in china. The most admired chapter is the second one since it has all my favourites :-), Tsui Hark, Yuen Wo Ping, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen.Tsui Hark's interest in the legend of Wong Fei Hung (a real life hero in the later part of 19th century china gave us the martial art treat. Its a tribute from the Chinese movie industry to their legendary hero.

Though Hollywood fans may not agree to the above point but this series of film brought me the interest to learn martial art and get the passion on martial art movie from my childhood.

Coming to the film, it starts at the end of the 19th century, revolving around the legendary martial artist and doctor Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li) arrives in Canton with his loyal attendant Foon (Max Mok) and love interest Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan) to attend a Western medical seminar. But,the entire region is swelling with hatred against the British influence on China with members of the White Lotus Cult, a religious group of extreme nationalists whose seemingly all-powerful leader (Hung Yan Yan) is stirring up his flock to kick all foreigners out of Canton.

The medical seminar is interrupted by flaming arrows loosed from White Lotus members and Fei Hung decides to return home amid concerns over the growing violence. Yet, after hearing of trouble at a foreign language school, Fei Hung and his companions rescue the young children and gets himself caught into a confrontation with the cult's leader. Fei Hung also assists a pair of rebels sought after by a local Chinese official (Donnie Yen). My most favorite fight scene in this film with Donnie Yen using the cloth as a pole to fight against Li.

Finally Li helps the escape of the nationalist and also destroys the cult leader liberating China as usual through his martial art skills

Other recommended movie in

Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Once Upon a Time in China III (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China V (1994)

Once Upon a Time in China & America (1997)

Last Hero in China (1993)

Bichunmoo - 2001

Yet another Korean epic piece that came in par with the Crouching Tiger and hidden Dragon (CTHD) from China. Unfortunately this Korean movie didn't get much appreciation as the CTHD a chinese movie, got.

The movie is a action, romantic epic drama that happens in 14th century Mongolian province.Orphaned as baby, Jin Ha (Shin Hyun-June) is the last survivor of Korean bloodline which have perfected the deadly art of Bi Chun Sword fight technique. When Adolescent Jin Ha and Sullie (Kim Hee-Sun) falls in love, they are blocked by Sullies father who is the evil Mongolian general (also the master behind Jin Ha family assassination). He is also determined to murder Jin Ha and take the Bi Chuns secret. To some extend he is successful but to his dismay Jin Ha comes alive after sometime with only aim in revenge.

The rest of the film deals on how Jin Ha and Sullie come together to meet their final destination.

To all those who wonder what this Bi Chun technique, its a deadly art where with the swing of the sword the air travels like a laser and cuts through every thing that comes in its path.

Its quite amazing and visually stunning. I wonder if we still have these techniques if this is true the world has lost a lot of valuable asset in martial arts world.

This is a romantic cum action movie worth an evening in weekend.

Bichunmoo (Korean) trailer

Tom Yum Goong (The Protector) -2005

Guys we have got a new rising star and a follow up in the martial legends Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie. For the first time in my life i started watching a Thai movie.

This guy from Thailand creates magical movements with his Muay thai Kick boxing style.A young fighter named Kham must go to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant. With the help of a Thai-born Australian detective, Kham must take on all comers, including a gang led by an evil woman and her two deadly bodyguards.

It seems that just for this films purpose Tony Jaa has reformed the Muay thai into Muay Kotchasan which merges the movements of elephants.

The film has some comedy going in line with the Thai born Inspector who helps Tony Jaa in his mission to retrieve his Elephant friend and its Baby. Finally he could just rescue the baby while the elephant friend is transformed in to a museum statue.

The story line is not so overwhelming except the concept of "save the elephants". What is more amusing is the extraordinary stunts performed by this start from Thailand.

In an interview it is said that Tony Jaa evolved himself to this level of gravity defying stunts watching his idol Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jacki Chan. The young Jaa believed all the stunts done using wires by this role models as real and started practising himself to attain such level. Finally what we see is all real action no wired or CG effects.

This dude really deserves our applause and encouragement.

Tony Jaa latest film Tom Yung Goong

Fearless - North American trailer

Fearless (Jet Li)-2006

Yet another treat from Jet Li. I forgot to mention it in the beginning of my blog. After a long time you can watch out the real lively stunts just like Jet Li in his earlier films rather than the much used CG in recent films.

Not to miss that this movie is based on a real legendary master Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Jin Wu Sports Federation and rose to become the top fighter in early 20th-century China. Li Plays Huo Yuanjia,the real life legend. He's a big-ego martial arts master (as depicted in the film i am not sure in his real life) who gets a tragic break, and then he goes to a metaphor farm where they teach him all about life,love and honor and discipline.

The director gives a lesson to all through the legend that life is not about just proving the strength and at what cost (his own family). Being humble is your strength which the master learns during his tenure as a farmer on the unknown farm land after the tragic death of his cute little daughter (i wonder how come people get such vengeance to kill a child).

The pride and desire to be the number one fighter in his province has cost his daughters life.

The master learns his lesson and returns to his home town around early 20th century and finds that the Chinese martial arts form is under stake with the foreign fighting techniques.

He gets in to action once again in the rings and proves he is the best (but this time he is more humble after learning life and its spiritual side). But unfortunately he is poisoned to death since the competitors find its not possible for them to defeat in fight.

Hope to see more such lively movie from Jet Li in future (but i heard that this could be his last :-( )Hope this aint true :-).

Warriors of Heaven and Earth(Japan Trailer)

Warriors of Heaven and Earth

This is yet another war drama from china, the Warriors of Heaven and Earth, stunning epic set during the Tang Dynasty with a touch of the supernatural. Leading the movie is Jiang Wen and Nakai Kiichi.If you had like "Brave heart" and "Seven Samurai" then you are sure to like this piece

The film's is an adventurous story moving around the safe transit of a Buddhist relic (which we later come to know as the holy remains of the Sakiamuni Buddha (probably Bodhhi Dama's bone remains).In this case, Lieutenant Li, or 'Butcher' Li as he has been unfavorably dubbed is a soldier who values honor over loyalty and rebels when ordered to kill Turkish prisoners,mostly women and children. Joined by several loyal soldiers under him, he disappears into the wastes of the Gobi Desert, earning a living by guarding caravans from the constant threat of bandits and Turkish raiding parties. After parting with his followers, Li inadvertently hooks up with a beleaguered caravan transporting a Buddhist relic to the emperor. As he reunites with his comrades while looking to hire swordsmen, Li is confronted by a government agent named Lai Xi (Nakai Kiichi) who is ordered to kill him.

The fight scene involving Li and Lai is stunining with eye canny moves from both the sides resulting in a draw (i liked the two men fight brave and honestly).The two duel to a draw and vow to resume their fight once the caravan has been safely escorted to its destination. The caravan is soon beset by determined bandits led by a skilled swordsman named An (Wang Xueqi). A desperate flight across the desert ends in an abandoned fortress where a bloody standoff with the bandits and a Turkish army takes place.

Both men are reluctant warriors who develop a respect for each other that is never really lasting. The final standoff battle between the bandits and the resisting force amidst the ruined fortress is amazing. The battle scenes shows the bravery and loyalty of Li's men towards his mission. Finally we have the Buddhist monk coming to action after he too is slained by An (yes the Buddhist monk regains his life for a short span with the power of the relic and kills all who sort over to take the relic on the way).

we can feel the holy chi with in us when the relic is finally settled down at the royal palace in China

The film has excellent action, cinematography, sound track. one thing which pings us is the magical portion of the relic which makes this movie more of a fairy tale rather than the real fight for honor felt in "Brave Heart" or "Seven Samurai".

I feel still this is one movie worth watching. what do you feel :-)