The Warlords (Tau Ming Chong, 2007)

The Warlords, the newest historical epic directed by Peter Chan, aims for the heights of such war films as Saving Private Ryan stateside and Tai Guk Gi in the East (Korea to be more specific). Unlike Ryan, the depiction of the human consequences of war was more believable. Perhaps because only three characters overall were dealt with, or more to the point, I can empathize with Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro more (sorry, Tom Hanks).

During the Qing era, a series of brutal wars threaten to tear apart China to shreds; Jet Li, a tortured general, appears near the beginning of the film, as if escaping the jaws of hell, horrified at his lack of resolve during the first battle scene. Namely him being the only person left in his regiment to survive. Soon, he runs into a roving band of bandits, led by Andy Lau, in a beard equal lengths Burl Ives and Abraham Lincon, Takeshi Kaneshiro his loyal right hand man.

Chan directs this film in a grimy, hyper violent fashion, which is surprising because he is primarily known as a “rom com” director (e.g. Comrades: Almost a Love Story). I wonder then because of this if Chan could be counted on to draw out credible perfomances from heretofore stoic action stars. Example: Jet Li gave a modulated acting perfomance throughout the film; shame faced near the beginning for hiding under a bundle of his dead compatriots to escape a frenzied war zone to brutally ambitious at the end, striking through whatever or whoever stands his path.

One scarcely missed any action sequences from Jet but don’t worry, action fans, they are there. You want your action sequences with flying limbs, sliced off feet and solders blown to shreds by cannon fire, you’ve got it to your heart’s content.

On the downside, Andy Lau, who thankfully abandoned a tacked on beard from the beginning of the film, is called upon to give one of his weepy roles again, though his performance was rock steady but not up to his Infernal Affairs role (one hopes he does not become relegated to getting the Asian equivalent of Ben Affleck’s roles). Takeshi Kaneshiro surprisingly acquits himself well (meaning that he does not appear too pretty). The love triangle between Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Jinglei Xu seemed tacked on. I know that the filmmakers are trying a Titanic angle to bring in more of the female set but also could have been cut down to a nub without damaging the storyline.

Overall then, violent to a fault but with little to nothing to hold up its overreaching manic attachments to brotherhood and honor, I would give it a 2 ½ stars out of five.