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The Legend of Zu

 
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The Legend of Zu

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  • Director: Tsui Hark
  • AMG Rating: starstar
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Movie Type: Fantasy Adventure
  • Themes: Fantasy Lands
  • Release Year: 2001
  • Country: CN/HK
  • Run Time: 104 minutes
  • MPAA Rating: PG13

Plot

Directed by Tsui Hark, The Legend of Zu is an adaptation of the 64-volume epic novel of the same name, and follows several warriors training in the mysterious Zu mountains. Somehow, the powers of the mountain are absorbed by the warriors and subsequently used to help combat the evil forces threatening the world's safety. When the mountains are invaded by a creature known only as the Blood Demon, the warriors must pool their skills in order to preserve humankind. The film features Louis Koo, Kelly Lin, Zhang Ziyi, Ekin Cheng, Sammo Hung, and Cecilia Cheung. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Review

Moving at a delirious pace and with constant mind-boggling CG effects, writer/director Tsui Hark's Zu Warriors is both a gleeful visual feast and a head-scratching mess. The follow up to his 1983 film Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, this film features mostly new characters and an all-new, completely confusing storyline once again taken from ancient mythic Chinese legends. Legendary martial arts star Sammo Hung plays the only returning character and gets the glory to be featured in scenes where his incredibly long white mustache flows several feet away from his face. His exact role in the overall story is one of an all-seeing great master type, and just adds to the overly complex nature of the film. Those familiar with Chinese mythology may even have a hard time keeping up as the film's nonstop CG effects and "slap you in the face" attitude become more abrasive as the film goes on. Hark's previous film work has always had a deliciously unpredictable, rapid-fire nature to it, yet here it backfires and almost ruins the entire experience. The film does feature several bright spots such as the amazing fight choreography by the always incredible Yuen Woo Ping, and the many scenes where our heroes gracefully fly in the heavens may bring tears of joy to super hero fans. While far from perfect, Zu Warriors is likely to stun any avid video-game player or hardcore enthusiast of the kung fu/sci-fi/fantasy film genres or anyone just simply wanting to see a guy named King Sky using a mystical Moon Orb weapon for a couple hours. Zu Warriors was acquired in 2001 by the Miramax studio along with Shaolin Soccer and Hero for an eventual American release. ~ Jason Gibner, All Movie Guide

Cast

Sammo Hung - White Eyebrows; Patrick Tam - Thunder; Wu Jing; Ekin Cheng - King Sky; Cecilia Cheung - Dawn/Enigma; Zhang Ziyi - Joy; Kelly Lin - Amnesia; Louis Koo - Red

Credit

Tsui Hark - Director, Marco Mak - Editor, Poon Hang-sang - Cinematographer, Herman Yau - Cinematographer, Tsui Hark - Screenwriter, Yuen Woo Ping - Action Director

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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Green Snake; Legend of the Liquid Sword; Nippon Tanjo; The Bride with White Hair; The Bride with White Hair 2; Legend of the Eight Samurai; Wind and Cloud: The Storm Riders
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Wikipedia: The Legend of Zu
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The Legend of Zu (Zu Warriors)

The Legend of Zu Poster
Directed by Tsui Hark
Produced by Brian Cox
Anant Singh
Tsui Hark
Written by Lee Man-Choi
Tsui Hark
Starring see cast list
Music by Ricky Ho
Cinematography Herman Yau
Editing by Marco Mak
Distributed by Hong Kong China Star Entertainment Group
United States Miramax Films
Release date(s) Hong Kong August 9, 2001
Running time 104 min.
Country Hong Kong Hong Kong
Language Mandarin
Cantonese
Budget $35,000,000 US (est.)
Preceded by Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain

The Legend of Zu (simplified Chinese: 蜀山传traditional Chinese: 蜀山傳; ) (also known as Zu Warriors in the United States) is a 2001 Hong Kong fantasy film produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starring Ekin Cheng and Sammo Hung. Zhang Ziyi also has a small role in the film. [1]

Contents

Plot

The film is set in a mythical mountain range called "Zu" which exists between Heaven and Earth. The mountains are populated by immortals known as Omei, who are in charge of keeping the peace and eradicating evil. An evil demon called Insomnia wants to rule Zu and the world below and starts to attack the immortals. Insomnia attacks several sects and destroys them, eventually arriving at Omei.

King Sky of Kunlun is in love with his teacher Dawn and she has just left him after disintegrating into dust. Before her departure, she gives him her weapon the Moon Orb and tells him that the Orb will lead him to her eventually. King Sky joins Omei in their fight against Insomnia. The Omei manage to corner Insomnia using their weapon the Sky Reflector and they defeat Insomnia. Insomnia retreats into the legendary Blood Cave, which is rumored to be able to suck away the powers of all those who come near it.

White Brows, leader of the Omei, decides to enter a new dimension to search for a new weapon to deal with Insomnia after the Sky Reflector is lost to the Cave. He leaves behind the Flame of Omei, which glows as he lives. His eldest disciple Red is placed in charge of guarding the entrance to the Blood Cave and alerting others if Insomnia emerges. King Sky oversees the affairs of Omei temporarily.

Red meets Amnesia, a little flower demon and is possessed by her. Amnesia takes control of Red and forces him to move against his will. Enigma of Omei is actually the reincarnation of King Sky's teacher and lover Dawn, and she has some faint recollections of their past. Enigma and Thunder attempt to merge as one but fail and Omei is severely damaged. Thunder is destroyed but a new human body is formed from the remnants of Thunder's soul. However, the new Thunder does not remember his past and does not know how to wield his sword.

Just as Insomnia prepares for another attack to destroy the immortals and rule Zu forever, King Sky confronts the possessed Red and attempts to force Amnesia out of Red's body. The forces of good and evil prepare for another showdown at Zu.

Cast

Reception

Box office

The film grossed HK$10 million in its theatrical release in Hong Kong.[2]

Distribution

Although Miramax Films bought the rights to distribute it in the US, the film was never released in theaters, despite advertising the US release with movie trailers (which appeared as previews & on the Apple website under Movie Trailers). It was eventually released on DVD on August 19, 2005 under the title of Zu Warriors.

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Those who praised the film mostly noted its thrilling action scenes and elaborate, computer-generated sets.[3]

References

  1. ^ Note: in modern Chinese pinyin, Zu is spelled as Shu. See Sichuan.
  2. ^ "The Legend of Zu". imdb.com. December 31, 2001. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286098/business. 
  3. ^ Carr, Kevin (September 18, 2001). "The Legend of Zu". 7mpictures.com. http://www.7mpictures.com/inside/reviews/zuwarriorsdvd_review.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-25. 

External links

v • d • e
Tsui Hark filmography
Director
The Butterfly Murders (1979) • Dangerous Encounter - 1st Kind (1980) • We're Going to Eat You (1980) • All the Wrong Clues (1981) • Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) • Shanghai Blues (1984) • Aces Go Places 3 (1984) • Working Class (1985) • Peking Opera Blues (1986) • A Better Tomorrow 3 (1989) • The Master (1989) • The Swordsman (1990) • King of Chess (1991) • Once Upon a Time in China (1991) • The Raid (1991) • Once Upon a Time in China II (1992) • Green Snake (1993) • Once Upon a Time in China III (1993) • The Lovers (1994) • Once Upon a Time in China V (1994) • Love in the Time of Twilight (1995) • The Blade (1995) • The Chinese Feast (1995) • Tristar (1996) • Double Team (1997) • Knock Off (1998) • Time and Tide (2000) • The Legend of Zu (2001) • Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002) • Seven Swords (2005) • The Warrior (2006) • Missing (2008) • All About Women (2008) • Detective Dee (2010)
Collaborating director
The Banquet (1991) • Twin Dragons (1992) • Triangle (2007)
Writer/producer
A Better Tomorrow (1986) • A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) • A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987) • The Laser Man (1988) • The Big Heat (1988) • Fight and Love with a Terracotta Warrior (1989) • Deception (1989) • Just Heroes (1989) • The Killer (1989) • A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990) • Spy Games (1990) • A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991) • New Dragon Gate Inn (1992) • Swordsman II (1992) • The Wicked City (1992) • Iron Monkey (1993) • The East is Red (1993) • The Magic Crane (1993) • Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993) • Black Mask (1996) • Shanghai Grand (1996) • A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation (1997) • Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997) • Master Q 2001 (2001) • The Era of Vampires (2002) • Xanda (2004)
Collaborators
Related media

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