This is a noteworthy fantasy swordplay action movie in which hundreds of ninjas drop down from the sky like rain, but it’s set in a small, dusty town in the American West. Caught up in between those cowboys and ninjas, we’ve a swordsman from Asia who’s on the run and with a baby.
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At the start of the movie, Yang (Jang Dong-gun), a top warrior from the Sad Flute Clan has become the world’s greatest swordsman after killing the last greatest swordsman of an enemy clan. However, as he’s about to kill the last member, a baby girl, he changes his mind and flees with her to the American Wild West. Needless to say, this upsets the Sad Flute Clan and now they’re out for his blood and the hunt is on.
Although “The Warrior’s Way” is director Sngmoo Lee‘s first movie, he certainly puts a good deal of effort and passion into it. The cinematography looks impressive, especially the set designs, which are well thought out and detailed. His choice of music is also spot-on, and each scene has its own theme and the overall soundtrack fits in nicely to create the right atmosphere. This is both a New Zealand and South Korea production with a curious display of an international cast.
South Korean actor Jang Dong-gun, (“Friend”, “No Tears for the Dead” and “Rampant”) is a worthy choice for playing Yang, the swordsman on the run. Although he doesn’t talk much, his screen presence is enough for his character and besides, he handles the sword fighting action very well. After all, he’s the silent and deadly type.
The small town in which Yang settles down is actually a formal carnival town, populated by a number of interesting characters with hidden skills. Lynne (Kate Bosworth) is a knife thrower who takes a shine to Yang, who eventually teaches her swordsmanship. Ron (Geoffrey Rush) is the town drunk but he’s an expert marksman. Nonetheless, their hidden skills come in handy later in the movie when they all have to face the Colonel (Danny Huston) who comes to terrorize them and rapes young women with healthy teeth.
The character that stands out the most is the leader of the Sad Flute Clan, Saddest Flute, played by Shaw Brothers veteran, Ti Lung. Cladded in black and looking the part, he barks orders at his blood thirty ninja assassins into action, which they carry out silently. Unfortunately, his end fight with Yang is too short but it is filmed very stylishly with wonderful sound effects.
“The Warrior’s Way” doesn’t break new ground, in fact there’s hardly anything new here. Still, the concept of having cowboys fighting against ninjas is interesting and it’s executed well. The fights are of the ‘one slice, one kill, freeze frame and repeat’ variety, with digital blood sprays render in, reminiscent of Zack Snyder’s “300”, but they sure look good on the big screen. However, this is an entertaining, fun and slick action movie rich in atmosphere but underappreciated.
