MOVIE REVIEW: STORM WARRIORS

CANTONESE - (PG13) - 10 December 2009 - Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Distributor: Universe Entertainment, GSC
Running Time: 112 minutes
Director: Danny Pang, Oxide Pang
Producer: Danny Pang, Oxide Pang
Writers: Ma Wing Shing
Starring: Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Simon Yam, Charlene Choi, Kenny Ho, Nicolas Tse
Plot: Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok is reprising their roles as Wind and Cloud respectively in the comic-adapted "The Storm Warriors", the sequel to the ever popular "The Storm Riders" 11 years ago. Evil Japanese warlord, Lord Godless (Simon Yam) is intent on conquering China. In an effort to succeed, he imprisons all of the Chinese martial artists and attempts to make them subjugate. Amongst the prisoners are Cloud (Aaron Kwok) and the martial arts elder statesman, Nameless (Kenny Ho). Thankfully, Wind (Ekin Cheng) comes to the rescue, but all three are badly wounded during the battle to escape. Chu Chu (Tang Yan) also shows up and takes a direct strike from Lord Godless when she jumps in to save Cloud. The remaining martial artists sacrifice their lives to save the trio as they believe they are the only hope to beat Lord Godless and save the country.

The Verdict

Green Tea Bern Says:

The fans may love it or hate it. After 11 years, the sequel to the most anticipated live-action film by Ma Wing Shin's legendary manhua Fung Wan has finally made its way to the theater but all I can said is - half promising, half disappointing.

The plot of the movie was loosely based on one of the popular story regarding the Japanese invasion, The Death Battle. In The Storm Warriors, Cloud (Aaron Kwok) and Wind (Ekin Cheng) will face the ruthless Japanese warlord Lord Godless (Simon Yam). To beat the tyrant, Wind was forced to learn a very dangerous evil kung fu while Cloud inherited the last of his master fine art, Nameless (Kenny Ho), creating a new sword style in the process.

Well, up to this point everything you expect in the movie is pretty much achieved. You have excellent display of swashbuckling and you also have some thrill and laughter to enjoy. The first hour into the movie proved to be somehow very promising, with the ability of the movie to try to tell the story in a fine and arranged pace. The plot make some sense but one can easily noticed how shallow and simple the story is. The journey to seek the Dragon Tomb looks like a piece of cake for Lord Godless and his son, Heart(Nicolas Tse).

However, many may also noticed that there are several action styles resembles the technique used on 2007's Zack Synder's 300. The animated-styles adopted somehow ruined the whole experience. The effects are the same, although not so much of limbs-severing and bloody gore can be seen. This is undeniably the same as the directors claimed that the effect software they used were the same as the one used by 300.

Let's face it, the story should have ended when the duo killed Lord Godless but instead the movie continues to showcase the desire to beat the evil in Wind after mastering the evil kung fu. Wind was completely possessed by evil arts and it was up to Cloud to save his friend. This is the part when I have to say that disappointment is inenvitable.

The focus on the final half an hour seems to be focus so much on the brawl between the two brothers but it was ended prematurely and abruptly. The story mode is hanging on all aspect - the outcome of the fight and where is Heart after that. No indications were made and audiences are left wondering what would have been happened.

Another critism from the critic circle seems to have been directed to the two lead female roles, Chu Chu (Tang Yan) and Second Dream (Charlene Choi). I personally think there is nothing wrong with both of them, maybe perhaps they served not much role in shaping the story. However, I have to give my appraisal to both Cloud and Wind. They looked more realistic, unlike the cartoonic figure they have from the first film.

In the nutshell, the movie plot seems too easy to follow and provide not much of an excitement. The only thing you would be fascinated in the whole movie is perhaps the special effects. The CGIs are nevertheless awesome considering the fact that it was made by an Asian film. Acting was fair while the movie is still rendered disappointedly in the end. If you are the fans, you may still love this comic adaptation but would not it be good if the story ended earlier?

THE RATING...

STORY - 2.0 stars

CASTS - 3.0 stars

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.0 stars

EFFECTS - 4.5 stars

OVERALL - 3.0 stars

Green-Tea-O-Meter: 12.7