Plot: What’s it about?
Conquer (Sonny Chiba) controls a rather large clan of Chinese warriors, and he seeks to gain access to even more people and lands soon. In order to do so, he will need all the elements to fall into place, which will not be an easy task. But with the guidance of a psychic seer (Lai Yu-Hung), Conquer now has access to information that will make his rise to immense power a little less rocky. According to the seer, Conquer’s expansion of his lands will hinge upon two people, Cloud (Aaron Kwok) and Wind (Ekin Cheng). If Conquer has the power of these two behind him, then his kingdom will be grand and extensive, but if he doesn’t then his days of power are soon over. In an effort to make sure his plans are not ruined, Conquer slays the parents of the two and adopts them, to raise and train them under his close watch. As the years pass, both of the men fall in love with his daughter Charity, who returns affections to both of them. But when Conquer makes the choice for his daughter, it seems as though Cloud and Wind will have some issues to discuss, and trust me, this is just the beginning for these two…
This is a film that I had heard nothing but great things about, so when this review copy arrived, I was ready to check it out for myself. I had heard about the fantastic battle sequences and the terrific special effects, to say my expectations were high would be understatement. I have now seen the film of course, and I can that even with my raised expectations, the movie blew me away and surpassed every one of my expectations. This movie runs about one hundred and thirty minutes, but it doesn’t seem like it with only a few slow spots. This film has excellent battle scenes, which come across in epic fashion due to the tremendous cinematography and effects. This is the first Asian film I have seen that uses extensive computer graphics and I must say the effects team has done an amazing job here. The effects are based for the most part on magical acts, which adds an element of realism to the storyline. While some of the effects seem primitive, most of them seem well planned and executed. If you like fantasy films, this an epic one that should not be missed. I recommend this film and disc with my highest possible commendation, and look forward to future releases of this nature.
This film was directed by Andrew Lau, who also served as the director of photography for this excellent movie. While the special effects are fantastic, Lau’s visual skills add even more the scope and impact of the film. It seems as though every scene was planned to perfection, with breathtaking placement, framing, and total composition. In addition to the camera’s work, Lau uses dazzling arrays of color to enhance the visual appeal here as well. This is without a doubt one of the most visually powerful films I have seen, simply amazing and a must see. Since this is a foreign language film, I can’t really comment much on the delivery of lines, but I can judge acting to a certain degree. The facial expressions and body language is very good, and the actors seem to work together well. I enjoyed the antics of Aaron Kwok (2000 A.D., Legend of the Liquid Sword) and Ekin Cheng (Tokyo Raiders, The Legend Of Speed), who are the true leads in this movie. This pair works wonders in the battle scenes, as well as handling the more subtle aspects as well. Every movie needs a good bad guy, and Sonny Chiba (Shogun’s Ninja, Black Magic Wars) works quite well as the nemesis in this one. And of course, what a movie be without a beautiful woman, and here we have the terrific Kristy Yang (A Man Called Hero), who fits the bill nicely.
Video: How does it look?
The Storm Riders is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. Since this is such a visual film, it was crucial that this transfer be near reference quality to do the movie justice. And I am pleased to say that this transfer is excellent, one of the best non anamorphic transfers I have ever seen. This movie is juiced with vibrant colors and they look amazing here, bright and bold hues almost flow right off the screen, but show no signs of smearing or bleeding. I also noted no signs of distortion within the flesh tones, which look natural at all times. The contrast is also terrific, with no visible detail loss and complex, well defined shadows. Aside from the lack of widescreen enhancement, I couldn’t find anything wrong with this visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release contains two Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, one in Cantonese and the other in Mandarin. If you don’t speak either of these languages, you’ll be pleased to find English subtitles have been included, as well as two different sets of Chinese subtitles. The audio is active and effective without forcing the surrounds. The material offers the chance for the speakers to kick in, and they do when needed. The music is a deft blend of ancient and modern types and fits the film quite well. While I don’t understand the dialogue, I can tell that it is clear and at a proper volume.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is a special edition release, and it is loaded with supplements. You’ll find guides to the characters in the film as well as the actors who play them, available in both Chinese and English. The disc also includes Cantonese, Mandarin, and international versions of the theatrical trailer, which is always nice. A thirty-three minute making of documentary is included, although it is in Chinese with no subtitles available. While the interviews seem lost, this is still worth watching since it offers some effects work footage and behind the scenes shots as well. A special effects reel, which runs a little over three minutes is also included. Here you’ll see many before and after shots of some of the special effects used. Rounding out the disc is a gallery of seven posters used to promote the film, which you can view.
