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Date Posted: 13:50:26 09/09/04 Thu
Author: diana(usa)
Subject: East is east, west is west and they meet BY KEVIN THOMAS The Los Angeles Times September 8, 2004
In reply to: Wee(usa) 's message, "Warriors of Heaven and Earth review (www.haro-online.com)" on 10:47:04 09/09/04 Thu

(3 STARS) WARRIORS OF HEAVEN & EARTH (R). An adventure in Tang Dynasty China has elements that recall John Ford Westerns, but then its director, He Ping, is known for pioneering the "Chinese Western." A danger-filled trek involves two soldiers (Jiang Wen, Kiichi Nakai) escorting a general's beautiful daughter (Zhao Wei) and a monk carrying a much-coveted Buddhist reliquary. 2:00 (violence). The Angelika, Manhattan.



A grand, sweeping adventure set along the Silk Road in China 700 A.D., "Warriors of Heaven & Earth" combines elements of the classic trek Western with the pageantry and mysticism of Asian period sagas. This is not surprising because its gifted director He Ping is known as the pioneer of the Chinese Western.

A beautiful film with gorgeous natural locales, "Warriors of Heaven & Earth" is chock full of battles with bravura swordplay, a sandstorm, much evil plotting and colorful costumes.

To all of these elements He Ping brings a vibrant contemporary sensibility. "Warriors of Heaven & Earth" may be a period piece, but there's nothing antiquated about it except an overly populated, initially hard-to-follow plot. As with countless Asian period films, it's best to go along with whatever happens and trust that the plot will grow clearer.

A journey across the Gobi desert during the Tang Dynasty proves even more perilous than crossing Monument Valley in the 19th century. In place of Indians are Turkish hordes. But it seems there are more bad guys lurking along the Silk Road than there ever were along the Chisholm Trail.

The film opens somewhere along a Western frontier where skirmishes with the Turks are escalating. A general in command decides to send his beautiful young daughter Wen Zhu (Zhao Wei) back to the safety of the capital city Changan (present-day Xian). To escort her, he selects Lai Xi (Nakai Kiichi), a soldier who is heading east on his way back to his native Japan. But then new orders arrive, stating that he cannot go home until he hunts down an elusive criminal.

Lt. Li (Jiang Wen) is no ordinary criminal; he's a soldier who fought heroically under Wen Zhu's father until he refused an order to slaughter Turkish civilians. Since then, he and his men have worked as guards for trade caravans traveling on the Silk Road from India and Arab countries.

Although a superb swordsman, Lai Xi has his hands full - not only does he have to escort Wen Zhu while tracking down Lt. Li, he has to hire guards and protect a young monk carrying a unique and much-coveted Buddhist reliquary. In time Lai Xi and Lt. Li cross paths, fight to a draw and agree to postpone their big showdown until Lai Xi has completed his mission. But even with the support of Lt. Li, the travelers need more help to complete their journey.

The thought that Lai Xi and Lt. Li are headed for gladiatorial combat adds poignancy to a film that has a resonance and reflectiveness more typical of Westerns. Indeed, as Ang Lee did in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," He Ping brings to his tale characters who are more dimensional than the usual symbolic figures of traditional Chinese period epics.

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/ny-etsecw3958354sep08,0,6298546.story?coll=ny-nyc-entertainment-headlines

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  • Heaven Can Wait The action builds slowly in He Ping's Warriors, but it's well worth sticking out. BY LUKE Y. THOMPSON East Bay Express September 8, 2004 -- diana(usa), 13:55:46 09/09/04 Thu
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