Main Cast: Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Sonny Chiba, Kristy Yang, Shu Qi
Release Year: 1998
Country: HK
Run Time: 126 minutes
Plot
Cinematographer Andrew Lau directed this Hong Kong martial arts fantasy from a Manfred Wong screenplay. Wong based his script on a Chau Ting screenplay adapted from the long-running manga by Ma Wing-shing. Martial arts ruler Lord Conqueror (Sonny Chiba) adopts two youngsters as disciples, and a decade later, the two -- Wind (Ekin Cheng) and Cloud (Aaron Kwok) -- are rivals for the affections of the Lord Conqueror's daughter Charity (Kristy Yang). When they duel, Charity is accidentally killed, and Cloud loses an arm. Muse (Shu Qi) takes care of Cloud, and her father gives Cloud his own arm for future fights. Wind seeks some magical stones, needed to help him in his duel with the Sword Saint (Anthony Wong). Filming began May 1997 in China's Sichuan province with CGI effects added by Hong Kong's post-production house Centro, co-producers of the film. This manga has been serialized since 1989, but only the first third has been adapted here. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Michael Tse - Frost; Anthony Wong - Sword Saint; Lawrence Cheng - Jester; Roy Cheung - Shaolin Monk; Lai Yiu-hung - Mud Buddha; Alex Fong Chung-sun - Wind's Father; Yu Rongguang - Cloud's Father
Credit
Cyrus Ho - Art Director, Lee Pik-kwan - Costume Designer, Cheung Siu-kin - First Assistant Director, Wong Wai-hung - First Assistant Director, Raymond Yip Wai Man - First Assistant Director, Andrew Lau - Director, Mak Chi-Sin - Editor, Pang Fat - Editor, Manfred Wong - Executive Producer, Jessinta Liu - Executive Producer, John Chu - Executive Producer, Li Zhu'an - Executive Producer, Chan Kwong-wing - Musical Direction/Supervision, Wong Ka-nang - Production Designer, Andrew Lau - Cinematographer, Raymond Chow - Producer, John Chu - Producer, Centro Digital Pictures - Special Effects, Tsang King-cheung - Sound/Sound Designer, Manfred Wong - Screenwriter
While the film was released in the United States, it was so heavily edited that many had trouble following the events. As a result, it is still often sold in pirated formats with the original cut.[citation needed]
The evil Lord Conquer, head of Conqueror's Clan, is given a prophecy from a prophet named Mud Buddha. It is said that if Conquer finds two young children by the name of Wind and Cloud he will have good fortune. Mud Buddha tells Conquer to look for him 10 years later so that he can tell the rest of Conqueror's fortune. Conquer issues an order that every boy with a birth chart matching Wind's or Cloud's must become a disciple of the Conqueror's Clan. Both Wind and Cloud are found, and Lord Conquer's servants murder their respective parents.
Ten years pass, and Wind and Cloud are now both fully-grown and highly-skilled martial artists. Lord Conquer raised them as his own children. He is angered by the disappearance of Mud Buddha and sends his men to find him. After Mud Buddha is found, he reveals that his two disciples will either join or destroy Conquer.
Seeing that Wind and Cloud can lead to misfortune, Lord Conquer uses his daughter, Charity, to cause Wind and Cloud to fight each other. There was a love triangle involving Wind, Cloud, and Charity. Lord Conquer tried to kill Wind and Cloud in their duel, but killed his own daughter instead when she tried to protect Wind and Cloud. Cloud and Wind's relationship with Lord Conquer sours, after Cloud loses an arm to Conquer in combat and Wind is poisoned by Conquer's minions. Fortunately, Cloud is found by helpful villagers, one of which whom donates his arm to replace Cloud's loss.
Wind and Cloud then work together to destroy Lord Conquer. Together, they defeat the evil warlord, finally exacting their revenge and fulfilling Mud Buddha's prophecy The film ends with letter name has : 'THE END' and final end credits play at close theme song has : Keajaiban Cinta vocal by : The Sisters at singers as Shireen Sungkar and Sharon Jessica.
It was announced that Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok would return 10 years after the original Storm Riders for a sequel, reprising their respective roles as Wind and Cloud. It was confirmed that the film will be helmed by The Pang Brothers and will follow the Japanese Invasion story of the Manhua.
