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¼ÐÃD: ¡m§ë¦Wª¬¡n7 Nov 2008 ­^°ê¤W¬M [¥´¦L¥»­¶]

§@ªÌ: Creamy    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-5 23:10     ¼ÐÃD: ¡m§ë¦Wª¬¡n7 Nov 2008 ­^°ê¤W¬M



Director Peter Chan
Cast Jet Li, Andy Lau,Takeshi Kaneshiro
Running Time 120 minutes
Film Certificate (UK) TBC
Cinema Play Date Fri 07 November 2008


In the year 1850, the suffering of the 430 million Chinese people under the corrupt rule of the Qing dynasty set the stage for the Taiping Rebellion. During the chaos of the decade long civil war, 50 million people died from either hunger or battle. In the fall of 1870, General Pang (played by Jet Li) stands high atop the city walls fully attired in governor¡¦s robes. Peering down upon the site of his inauguration, he is filled with dreams and ambition. Pang has taken a path of no return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new China. He could have changed the course of history¡K ¡KBut two bandits and a woman have changed the course of his life ¡V helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu (played by Andy Lau) and Jiang Wu-Yang (played by Takeshi Kaneshiro). The woman who comes between them is Zhao¡¦s wife Lian (played by Xu Jinglei). A born leader, Zhao Er-Hu is a man of honor. To ensure the survival of his village during a time of war, he leads a band of marauding bandits. They raid other impoverished villages, but leave their victims with enough to sustain themselves. Zhao maintains a code of honor even among thieves, as well as his compassion for the poor. Sharing his spoils with his villagers, he has earned their loyalty and respect. There were two loves in his life -- his wife Lian, and his little brother Jiang Wu-Yang who he adopted when Jiang was orphaned at 13. Jiang Wu-Yang is a charismatic outlaw, a cold-blooded killer full of romantic idealism. He possesses both the callousness and the innocence of youth. He is like an animal operating on instinct but also values the ties of brotherhood over his own life. When Pang takes an arrow for him in a battle against the Taiping rebels, Jiang owes Pang his life and develops an intense attachment to Pang. He worships Pang above all else ¡V including Zhao the brother who adopted him. After a Qing troop pillages Zhao¡¦s village, causing devastation, Pang convinces Zhao and his bandits to join the Qing army. Jiang agrees to the proposal under the condition that he joins their brotherhood. With the future interests of the village in mind, Zhao also agrees to make Pang his blood brother, and relinquishes his role as leader and ¡§big brother.¡¨ Pang¡¦s initial motive is to end war and restore peace to the land ¡V to do so he must first rise to power. With the help of Zhao, Jiang and their bandits, Pang establishes the Shan Regiment under the Qing army in the name of countering the Taiping Rebels. As his forces grow more powerful over the years so does his ambition. Corrupted by his hunger for power, Pang soon stops at nothing to eliminate his enemies and achieve his goal, including the massacre of 4,000 prisoners of war who Zhao vowed to protect. As a result, the brotherhood collapses. Zhao severs his ties with Pang while Jiang remains devoted to Pang, and his promise of a better future. But Pang¡¦s ruthlessness and his desire for Lian, leads inevitably to his murder of Zhao. Poised to become governor, Pang is about to ascend the platform for his inauguration, literally just a step away from the seat of power. But his past betrayals and the murder of his brother Zhao Er-Hu catch up with him. At the moment of glory, his life ends in the hands of an assassin ¡V his beloved brother Jiang.
§@ªÌ: Creamy    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-5 23:11     ¼ÐÃD: ¡m§ë¦Wª¬¡n­^°ê¹w§i¤ù

http://www.kewego.co.uk/video/iLyROoafYP5N.html

[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/bVgkTQqxSj4[/flash]
§@ªÌ: sara    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-12 18:44

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The Independent Film
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/film-also-showing-1002745.html


Sunday, 9 November 2008

The Warlords (127 mins, 15)
Another grim, rain-sodden epic of betrayal and brotherhood, 'The Warlords' stars Jet Li (whose suit of armour unfortunately makes him look like a penguin) alongside Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, as three bandits who become army generals in 19th-century China. Anyone who relishes mass impalings and dismemberings will get their money's worth, but the point of it all gets lost in a fug of slow-motion drizzle, mud, blood and gunsmoke.

[ ¥»©«³Ì«á¥Ñ sara ©ó 2008-11-12 18:49 ½s¿è ]
§@ªÌ: sara    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-12 18:49

Times Online

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5088853.ece


November 8, 2008  Kim Newman

The Warlords

Directors: Peter Chan & Wai Man Yip, 15, 125min

Stars: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro

On selected release, in Mandarin

In 1850 General Xinyi (Li), the sole survivor of the massacre of his troops by rebel forces, falls in with two bandits
(Lau and Kaneshiro). The trio become blood brothers and re-enlist in the imperial army, cutting through red tape to win victories
that make them more enemies on their own side than in the opposite camp. Xinyi, an idealist who hopes to improve the lot of all
the people, sets aside his conscience to order the massacre of surrendering soldiers, and becomes estranged from his comrades ¡V
aiming the film for a tragic climax involving multiple assassinations.

This epic of 19th-century Chinese history, a loose remake of the kung-fu classic Blood Brothers, is notable for its spectacular battle
scenes, and for giving Li, hitherto known for blandly cheerful martial arts heroes, a chance to tackle (very well) a serious acting role as the doomed Xinyi. Hordes of extras are trampled into the mud or filled full of arrows, while sinister old men plot to maintain the
status quo. More impressive than enjoyable, with a mile-wide streak of melodrama.
§@ªÌ: sara    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-12 18:54

Morning Star Online

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index2.php/free/culture/film/the_warlords_15


(Thursday 06 November 2008)   JEFF SAWTELL

The Warlords                 

Directed by Peter Chan

BETWEEN 1850-70, while Britain was establishing its eminence as an empire, China was undergoing a bloody civil war that
resulted in some 50 million dead and the end of the Ching dynasty.

The film claims to be based upon a true event in 1870 when Governor Ma of Liangjiang was assassinated by Jiang Wenxiang.
His death remained a mystery, despite an investigation ordered by Empress Dowager Cixi.

Peter Chan's version of events has all the mythic majesty that we have come to expect from Chinese films,
with the added attraction that it's presented as an epic, brutal reality.

Jet Li excels as General Ma, the last survivor of a battle on behalf of the Ching dynasty against the rising Taiping rebellion,
which was undone by treachery in the ranks.

A chance meeting with a woman (Jinglei Xu) revives his interest in living before he saves the life of a bandit (Takeshi Kaneshiro)
who, in gratitude, introduces him to his blood brother and the woman's husband (Andy Lau).

Three men and one woman - it's an ideal recipe for a tragedy and Chan doesn't disappoint,
creating a memorable movie about the corruption of power that stands comparison with Shakespearean tragedies.
§@ªÌ: sara    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-12 18:59     ¼ÐÃD: REVIEW: THE WARLORDS

Journal 24

http://www.hornseyjournal.co.uk/content/haringey/hornseyjournal/whatson/story.aspx?brand=ISLGOnline&category=whatsoncinema&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatsonhcej&itemid=WeED05%20Nov%202008%2014%3A06%3A59%3A853


05 November 2008 - JUSTIN MATLOCK

REVIEW: THE WARLORDS   

IF you like your Eastern cinema on an epic scale then THE WARLORDS (15) is going to be right up your ally.

Featuring Asian cinema heavyweights Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, a massive budget and an endless supply of extras, this tragic war drama - based on true events - offers spectacular battle scenes although it's more than a little confused in the story department.

Set in late 19th century China, Li plays General Pang who, after surviving a battle that kills his entire army, teams up with two bandit leaders to help the Qing government fight the Taiping rebels.

But it's not long before cracks start appearing in their blood brotherhood as Pang's decisions become increasingly cold-blooded.

Propelled by some hardcore battle scenes - complete with limbs flying in all directions - the film itself falls apart when director Peter Chan takes a breather from the action.

Li is great as the idealist leader who is gradually corrupted by power but he's the only one with anything close to
a defined character.

We learn next to nothing about the two bandit leaders - nor do we get a firm sense of the history of the period -
meaning it's difficult to really care when everything begins to go wrong.
§@ªÌ: sara    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-12 19:04

seenit.co.uk

http://www.seenit.co.uk/the-warlords/112323/


The Warlords

By Martin Hoscik ⋅ November 6, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment


The Warlords is a Chinese language movie set against the backdrop of civil war in 1860¡¦s China.

Jet Li stars as General Pang who at the start of the film has just suffered a huge defeat and is severely injured.
After being nursed back to health by a local peasant women the General falls in with bandits Zhao Er-Hu (Andy Lau)
and Jiang Wu-Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro).

What follows is a powerful story of courage, loyalty and betrayal in which Pang rises to power before disappointing
those who followed him.

This is a visually stunning movie with a wealth of great locations and some truly impressive crowd and battle scenes and
something about the tone of the ¡¥night before the battle¡¦ scenes reminded of the Matthew Broderick film Glory.

About 35 minutes into the film is a huge battle sequence, the action is relentless and bloody but never overdone and
the choreography is nothing less than awe inspiring. This is complimented by a rousing soundtrack

It would be a pity if people dismissed this as a martial arts film (not really the case) or allowed themselves to be put off
by the fact that it¡¦s a Chinese language film because its actually a thought provoking and intelligent film, well written
and decently acted. And let¡¦s be honest, the number of new films one can say that about grows shorter every year.

Ideal if you¡¦re in the mood for something a little different from the usual Hollywood offering.

The Warlords opens at cinemas on November 7th
§@ªÌ: littlejan    ®É¶¡: 2008-11-21 12:51

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§@ªÌ: ÀR¨à    ®É¶¡: 2008-12-1 22:10

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