Moon Warriors Details

Sammo sets the trend

Once again ahead of his time director Sammo Hung combines martial arts with roamance and drama, beautiful scenery and lush costumes. Made in 1992 the film's influence reaches through to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'Hero' and 'House of the Flying Daggers'. And this one features a whale that get's in on the kung fu action! Ha! Never thought of that Ang Lee did ya?

Seriously, this is a very watchable film with an excellent cast (Andy Lau, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung and of course the whale :-) - but the film lacks something. Can't put my finger on what but it is not as emotionally engaging as recent films of this ilk. That said it is a thoroughly enjoyable watch with beautiful scenery and a fairly taught story (not always the case in martial arts dramas!).

Check out the DVD extras too - though the tribute to Anita Mui could've done with some footage of her concerts!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Moon Warriors

Over the years martial arts films have given me my fair share of moments that have made my jaw hit the floor... Bruce Lee's one inch punch, Jackie Chan falling from a clock tower and, in Moon Warriors, what can only be descibed as Free Willy goes kung-fu. This piece of credulity stretching lunacy aside Sammo Hung's film is a largely entertaining and enjoyable one with strong performances from Andy Lau, Anita Mui and the always excellent (and, it has to be said, raidantly beautiful) Maggie Cheung. The martial arts (by Sammo and opera brother Corey Yeun Kwai) makes strong use of wire work and the film as a whole cuts out the worse excesses of Sammo's usual shabby treatment of his female characters (see Iron Fisted Monk). Yes Moon Warriors is occasionally very silly indeed but, largely, that can't mar the fun experience of the film.