Warriors of heaven and earth torrent

Li shows up, giving Lai Xi the opportunity to fulfill his duty and head back to Japan. Murray Abraham impression , comes after the convoy with numerous cannon fodder Turks in tow. Their goal: the mysterious extra something in the convoy, which turns out to be an ancient Buddhist relic of untold power.

Cue Raiders of the Lost Ark theme music. The initial plot setup of Warriors of Heaven and Earth is compelling in that it recalls the same "downtrodden heroes protect a people's treasure" plotline as Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai. However, unlike that film, the prize here is not something mundane and irretrievably human, like the safety of a small village or some defenseless peasants.

The big McGuffin of this film is a religious artifact which is a deux ex machina plot device portrayed with jarring special effects and an importance that can only be described as Hollywood-worthy.

That the ancient relic possesses unknown power AND apparently can distinguish between good and evil makes the entire narrative arc of the film nearly perfunctory.

Why go through all this blood, sweat and copious death just to have a couple of glowing rocks solve all your problems? Warriors of Heaven and Earth has Spielbergian conceits, but the matinee thrills that Raiders of the Lost Ark brought to the screen don't exist here.

Simply put, this film is not inherently fun enough to warrant such a cheap and easy plot device. Luckily, the film makes up for its fantasy plotting with decent, solid characters and well-staged drama.

Also, there's enough action and tension to keep things interesting. Lai Xi and Lt. The action itself is no great shakes; Hong Kong action director Stephen Tung co-credited with Leung Mau-Hung gives us some wirework and high-leaping action, but by and large this is grounded, heavily-doubled stuff that is far more typical of Hollywood than a supposed Asian production. Their are threatened by Turkic nomad tribes, the caravans also by brigand bands.

Japanese scholar Lai Qimay not return home until the emperor is satisfied with his missions to retrieve refugees from the barren border lands. The last is competent imperial lieutenant Li, who was proscribed for refusing to execute Turkic prisoners. He now lives among fellow warriors for hire as caravan escorts. Please read the announcement on the front page.

Name required. Their are threatened by Turkic nomad tribes, the caravans also by brigand bands. Japanese scholar Lai Qimay not return home until the emperor is satisfied with his missions to retrieve refugees from the barren border lands.

The last is competent imperial lieutenant Li, who was proscribed for refusing to execute Turkic prisoners. He now lives among fellow warriors for hire as caravan escorts. Lai Qi and Li reach a gentleman's agreement to postpone their lethal duel till after the safe arrival of a caravan including a young Buddhist monk and his mysterious freight. When Turkic warlord Khan's daughter's hand seals an alliance with brigand sword master An, the only way out is trough the grimly dry Gobi desert.

Rated R for violence. Did you know Edit. Goofs Rockets are used in the final battle at the fort. They did not exist in Tang times: gunpowder weapons were developed by the later Sung Dynasty. User reviews 33 Review. Top review. A movie with potential that fails completely Warriors of Heaven and Earth is an interesting film due to the fact that it had so many great elements that just didn't come together.

The cast was fine, the setting and backdrop were fine, the outline of the story was interesting, but the ingredients of this picture did not mix. The problem with the film was timing, budget, and the script. Beautiful Scenery of the Gobi Desert and the far reaches of China.

The problem was the script. There was nothing unique, in fact the dialog seemed taken from other films. You have the two guys that are suppose to be opponents who become buddies aka 48 Hours who take on an evil warlord and his thugs and defeat them in Battle. The supporting cast the other warriors get picked off one by one like The Magnificent Seven. Vicki Zhao has a meaningless role in the film.

It is pretty much just stand around and look pretty and helpless and do a little narration work while you are at it. If you have Vicki Zhao in a film, you should use her. It is what you call a big budget B movie.