Warriors of Heaven and Earth
I have not reviewed many Mainland Chinese films
on this site previously, but I wanted to include this one for a couple
of reasons. First, I really enjoyed it and think most Hong Kong film fans
will as well, secondly there are some people involved that are often associated
with the Hong Kong film industry – actress Vicky Zhao and action choreographer
Stephen Tung Wai, the score was written by one of Bollywood’s greatest
composers – A.R. Rahman – and Mainland Chinese films are finally becoming
much more commercially entertaining and deserve to be shown outside of
the art houses in the West.
Not that those morose and downbeat tragedies weren’t
wonderful films, but there are only so many times that you can watch Gong
Li – as beautiful as she is - being persecuted. The introduction of capitalism
into China has found a welcome mat in the film industry and the huge success
of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” from Taiwan sent a message to Chinese
filmmakers – epic action period films sell at home and abroad. Oddly, Hong
Kong with its vast experience in sword fighting films was unable to take
advantage of the Crouching Tiger phenomenon, but the Mainland has stepped
in with first “Hero” and now this film. “Hero” was nominated for Best Foreign
Film at the academy awards in 2002 and Warriors of Heaven and Earth was
China’s submission to the Academy Awards for 2003, but didn’t make the
final cut.
Directed by He Ping (Swordsman of Double Flag
Town, Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker), this is a tale of adventure
that is a fast paced mix of heroic wuxia and a John Ford western. It takes
place during the time of the Tang dynasty (618 A.D – 907 A.D.) and is set
in the majestic stark beauty of the Gobi desert. The production values
of this film are absolutely top notch, the story thrilling, the characters
distinctly defined, the panoramas at times are breathtaking and the action
scenes are plentiful. The only real note of dissent comes because of its
very similar story line to the Korean film, Musa. In fact, it follows Musa
to such a degree – though clearly a very different story – that it is hard
to imagine it is co-incidental. To my mind it doesn’t quite match up to
Musa – the action scenes lack the spectacle and over the top frenzy of
Musa – but at the same time the characters in this film are better etched
and more appealing than those in Musa.
Out in the barren western parts of China, there
is only a small modicum of Imperial presence and bandits, warlords and
Turks vie for power. The Emperor has sent one of his agents there in order
to bring some justice and to capture wanted bandits. Lai Xi (Nakai Kiichi)
is Japanese but has been working for the throne since he was a young man.
After many years in the West doing the Emperor’s work he has finally received
permission to go home to Japan – after one more assignment – to capture
an ex-Imperial soldier who mutinied and escaped with some of his men many
years previously. Word has come to the attention of the Emperor that Lieutenant
Li (Jiang Wen) has returned to this part of the world and the Emperor wants
him dead.
The reason Li mutinied was that he refused under
order to massacre innocent civilian prisoners and had to kill several soldiers
to escape from being executed. He parted from his men, but after many years
in exile he wants to come home. Lai Xi sets off for Beijing with an eye
open for Li, but also to escort Wen Zhu (Vicky Zhao), the daughter of a
dead general back to the capital. In the open desert an Imperial caravan
has been destroyed by a gigantic sandstorm and only one guard and a young
monk have survived. The guard comes across Li caught in the same storm
near death and saves his life. In return, Li promises the guard to help
him bring the caravan safely to Beijing.
This turns into a treacherous journey as it soon
becomes evident that the Turks and their hired killers led by the vicious
Master An (Wang Xueqi) are after something very valuable among the contents
of the caravan. Soon Li and Lai Xi come face to face to test each other’s
mettle – and after a draw – Li promises to continue this duel in Beijing
if Lai Xi allows him to keep his promise to lead the caravan. Lai Xi assents
and is soon in a position where he has to help keep Li alive so that he
can kill him in Beijing. It is the stuff of pure male heroic bonding. Li
also picks up some support – a tough old man, a young boy and in the nick
of time his four old friends show up – and with this small band of heroes,
he fights for his honor, for his pride and for God against a steely-eyed
and determined enemy that come at them in waves.
The first few minutes of this film are a bit confusing
until you figure out who all the characters are – and it takes some fifteen
minutes or so until the adventure begins, but once it does it is a near
non-stop rush filled with heady action, valiant men, stunning vistas, charges
across the desert, the clash of steel swords, sacrifice and the letting
of much blood. Both Jiang Wen (Devils on the Doorstep, The Emperor’s Shadow,
Green Tea) as Li and Nakai Kiichi (When the Last Sword is Drawn, Owls Castle)
as Lai are absolutely terrific as the two honorable and capable men who
come to respect each other and fight back to back. Also, very interesting
is Wang Xueqi (Yellow Earth) who gives a villainous turn that is worthy
of Francis Ng. I wish I could say that Vicky was made good use of, but
in truth though she is the narrator of the story, she does very little
but tag along until near the end of the film when she gets involved in
the fighting.
My rating for this film: 8.0