Author from United States
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all, this is not your ordinary action movie, so don't expect any fast pace kung- fu/martial arts in here. There are action scenes, but they're more like spice to add to the story than the main purpose of the movie. Have you questioned why the all the scenes looked so artificial? All the actions was in slow motion? You can find every kind of stereotypes in here and the plot is extremely predictable? Because THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT.
Think of this movie like.. a folk tale that you read in a Hans Christian Anderson's book. You open the book, it talked about a warrior's journey. He ran from the bads, he met friends, he found peace, he fought with the bads to protect the peace. Finally, he fought with the biggest enemy which is himself. He realized he can't stay, he continued his journey. End of story. It is a folk tale story that's translated to the big screen.The main thing is the humanity that lied underneath. Anyone who expected more than that, really didn't grap the main point of this story.
We went to watch this movie on my friend's 21st birthday. And yes i have seen people left in the first 30 mins of the movie. But if you don't stay till the end of the movie, you're missing the main point of it. I liked it, most of my friends liked it, only one didn't like it. Therefore, with this type of movie, you either hate it or love it.
This movie was directed by a Korean director, and this is his DEBUT. I thought this is pretty good for a debut product. If anyone familiar with Korean movies, unlike other movies, Korean movies tend to be really slow pace, since they take their time to develop the story, as well as the nature of the characters. Therefore, Korean movie usually have deep meaning behind the scenes, and the characters development is richer, but you won't know unless you stay till the end. This movie is no exception.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the oddest movies I have ever seen, 13 December 2010
Author from Bellingham, WA USA
Let me preface by saying I'm not really into Kung Fu movies, or Westerns or these movies with all these amazing fight scenes that seem to have a cult following.
But, on a rainy Saturday I wanted to kill some time and this movie fit the bill. It was one of the oddest films I have ever seen.
It's basically a Kung Fu Western set in a world that is reminiscent of Tim Burton.
This movie is solidly decent, and will keep you entertained. It's definitely not the best movie I've seen all year. It's probably not the best movie I've seen in the last two months, but it wasn't terrible.
Granted, I looked at my watch a few times in the first half hour. It gets going a little slow, but it picks up and its solidly decent. Adequate entertainment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Few thoughts here, 13 December 2010
Author from USA
From the beginning to the end the movie kept me on the edge of my seat. Since "kick ass and avatar" I haven't felt this way. Choreography of the fighting scenes, overall editing, and the directing were fantastic and flawless. As an Asian I really appreciated the fact that the movie attempted to break some of the main stream movies norm. When was the last time we saw a white girl falls in love with an Asian guy. I can't remember. I personally got tired of Asians portrayal of kung fu fighting emotionless, not full, plastic characters like Jet Li and Jackie Chan do. Yes this movie is all about kung fu and flying. However it has well developed characters that painted the picture more vividly. I want to see a main stream movie with an ordinary Asian main character. And this movie had some progress towards my wish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dirty Harry With A Sword, 13 December 2010
Author from United States
PLEASE DON'T WATCH THIS FILM IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR: A Script, Plot, Intelligent Story, or Oscar nomination material. This film is about entertaining and fun. I mean the Best Ninja clan coming from Japan to a ghost town with a ex-military Colonel with a disfigured face, plus his evil posse. What more do you want. Don't analyze the movie. It's impolite to dissect your dinner at the table. The best warrior of a ninja clan is defeated by Yang (Dong-gun Jang) of the other clan, making him the best warrior. Well it turns out the other guy had a daughter who was a few months old. Ordered to kill the entire clan, Yang decides not to take the life of the girl and he heads out west to meet an old friend. Yang's Clan starts a search for him and the girl. Not knowing where he is they wait until they hear the dead souls from Yang's sword when it is unsheathed. Fun film and time goes by fast. Cast: Dong-gun Jang - Kate Bosworth - Geoffrey Rush - Danny Huston - Tony Cox.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weird but engaging, 12 December 2010
Author from United Kingdom
This is the weirdest movie I've seen for some time. Think choreographed martial arts ninja movie, crossed with spaghetti western, telling a story from the old Kung-Fu TV series, set in that semi-derelict town built in the middle of a pile of sand from Jonah Hex (assuming you were the other person who saw Jonah Hex), filmed in the style of 300. With Geoffrey Rush playing the Lee Marvin character from Cat Ballou. Kate Bosworth channeling Doris Day as Calamity Jane (Ya dang varmint!"), and Danny Huston playing (another) bizarre villain. Oh, and for reasons which completely escaped me, there is a circus in town, which is building a fairground (very slowly) in the expectation that this will bring the crowds and rejuvenate the town. Well, they get the crowds alright - the first crowd is murderous outlaws and the second crowd is murderous ninjas. And neither of them appears to be there to have fun on the carousel.
This felt very much as if it was an adaptation of a comic, but I'm not sure it was. It is beautifully photographed - very striking visually - fairly violent, often quite amusing, and always engaging. The warrior - Yang - is played emotionlessly by Dong-gun Jang, a name which may mean something to you if you follow martial arts movies, but which means nothing to me.
And it's left open for a sequel. I'd happily go to a sequel, I quite enjoyed this strange film.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inexplicably overrated movie, 12 December 2010
Author from United States
I don't understand why this is such an overrated movie. Let's go step by step:
1) Claim of visually stunning is overrated 2) Absolutely everybody's acting is overrated 3) Storyline is predictable and uninspired 4) sword action is absolutely terrible. Mostly you hear swoosh sounds and see blood flow 5) Dialogues are flat, and drawn out 6) The so called action is overrated. Not very clear about who's fighting who and why. No matter how many bad guys die, they always reappear in same number in the next scene. 7) Movie ends on an unexplainable note. 8) If possible don't watch it. If impossible watch is for free and try to sleep through it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Style over substance mix of genres will bore some delight others, 12 December 2010
Author from Glen Cove, New York
Kung Fu Spaghetti Western about a warrior from the East sparing the life of a baby of an opposing clan and fleeing to the American West with the baby in tow.
Its a form over content film that mixes genres and styles into something that is going to be loved by some and hated by others then again depending upon mood ones attitude may change.
The visual style is very much a manga infused style that comes from doing the film on blue/ green screen backgrounds. Everything is real, yet hyper stylized. Weare dealing with arch-types and characters and not really real people which is fine. Arguing against the film because it isn't realistic is kind of missing the point, this is the cinematic equivalent of a boo hiss vaudeville show.
The film riffs and borrows from dozens of films both from the east and west. From Lone Wolf and Cub, to Django, to 300 to Casshern to Immortel to well take your pick.
I like it but I don't love it. Part of the reason it didn't really work for me is Kate Bosworth who gives too mannered a performance. If she hadn't tried so hard it would have been better.
I do think it's worth seeing, however I'm kind of torn in that the vistas look good on the big screen but the film isn't really worth paying full movie prices.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
start -- fight, baby, shooting(guns&knives), village, war --end, 12 December 2010
Author from India
I guess this movie doesn't even deserves long review. So here is a very small one....
movie start -- small fight, baby, shooting(guns&knives), village, again small fight -- movie ends...
yeah this is it, the movie ends with utter disappointment. I basically don't like crouching tiger and hidden dragon for a lot of flaws in the film, but now i feel it much better than the warrior's way.
Fantasy effects sucks following with comedy, action and yeah FIGHTS which plays a major part in ninja assassin movies. The only good thing about the movie is the baby's role.
Anyways, wait for this to come out on DVD at best. Believe me, this is not nearly as cool as it could. Decide urselves....
