http://www.warlordsthemovie.com





Director: Peter Chan Ho Sun
Cast: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Xu Jinglei
Release Date: 13 December 2007

The film is set in the 1860s, during the Taiping Rebellion in the late Qing Dynasty in China. The story, based on an unresolved crime, tells of three sworn brothers who turn against one another over a beautiful woman.

This post has been edited by hiroshi: Dec 20 2007, 07:22 PM

Definitely going to watch this movie!

Jet Li becomes highest paid actor, shatters own record

Beijing, (PTI): Shattering his own record, celebrated action star Jet Li could get 100 million yuan (about US$ 13.3 million), the highest ever paid to an actor in a Chinese film, for his role in an epic battle movie, its director said.

Nearly half the budget of the film 'The Warlords' went to the cast, with Li cornering a lion's share, followed by Hong Kong star, Andy Lau (16 million yuan), Takeshi Kaneshiro (12 million yuan) and actress Xu Jinglei (2 million yuan).

Li was a "guarantee" for the global sales of the film, according to the director Peter Chan, who said the actor could command the equivalent of 120 million yuan in Hollywood blockbusters but he accepted less because of his friendship.

"Without Li, we would not dare to invest US$ 40 million in a Chinese language film," he was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

The 100-million-yuan payday still broke the record for a star in a Chinese film that the 44-year old Li, a former national kung fu champion, himself held with 70 million yuan for the film 'Hero', he said.

Li made it big in the celluloid world with Hong Kong films in the 1990s with movies such as "The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk" series before moving on to Hollywood.

'The Warlords', based on a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of General Ma Xinyi, is an epic about three blood brothers and their struggle amid war and political upheaval.

The film is listed for release on December 13 in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and southeast Asia and from next March in North America.

Wow...that was awesome!!! 1 movie get so much paid!!! Jet Li really Jet Li,say dun wan act some action movie~~~~~~now i know why he wan to act liao!~

did he said he don't want to act in action movie?

he only said that HE DON'T WANT TO ACT IN CHINESE KUNG-FU LEGEND'S CHARACTERS ANYMORE, he acted as Wong Fei Hong, Fong Sai Yuk, Hong Hei Gun, Fok Yun Kap, Cheong Sam Fung, and many more...Fok Yun Kap was his last kung-fu legend's character

I love Jet Li playing in historical movie, coz he is suite to wear those Chinese historic suit more than Takeshi Kaneshiro...

Saw the trailer in cinema and I must say it is quite awesome. I hope they don't censored too much the violence.

they said this is chinese version of The Lords Of The Rings. how u think?
i think i might be going to cinema to watch this movie.

Not another comparison with LOTR. Anyway, saw the trailer and looks good but definitely historically inaccurate. How come Ching Dynasty soldiers fight in trenches. Looks more like World War 1 than Taiping Rebellion.

Takeshi not cool in army costume...
he is modern guy look!

looks great...must watch hehe

I hope this one don't dissapoint. Looking at the fight scene, this may look messy.

there are not many chinese speaking director (apart from Zhang Yimou) that can make an epic movie with care. Most of them just lost it half way thru adn try to end it with some massive fight scene.

Tis week i will be pokkai jor...
Coz i nid to watch 2 movies, one is Warlords n the second one is I Am Legend...

Is it me or most of the modern Chinese movies now always are about 2 or more brothers/ best friends, killing/ turning on each other because of the love of a woman?

Makes me think that the writers have a 'all-women-are-devils' complex or something.

From the trailer, it looks like Takeshi is the modern type that had return from oversea (possibly Britain), Andy looks like a family man, and Jet looks like a rebel.

Can someone quote a summary of the story of the actual killy of General Ma Xinyi event?
Looks interesting, would love to know abit about it before watching the movie

who is the pretty woman ??!?!?

Well, if I am not mistaken the story is a remake of a 70's Shaw Brothers movie. I think its based during the Taiping Rebellion which nearly overthrow the Manchu's government until the the Ching Dynasty asked help from the western powers to quell the rebellion by setting up a modern army called "The Ever Victorious Army". OK enough of history, if this movie followed the old one, after the wars the three sworn brothers become generals and powerful in the government. At the end I think they fight each other because of a women. I forgot whether the women is the first brother or the second brother wife but basically one stole the others wife and killed him and the youngest brother came for revenge. Maybe this story will be different.

Hey, that doesn't sound bad at all -- its a great story indeed

If my guess is correct (according to the trailer), then its gonna be:


I hope there's gonna be some special effects like in HERO (Jet Li).
Yes, I'm a huge fan of special effects and computer graphics movies

gonna watch it on the pre-release..

hopefully its up to expectations...

wanna watch this movie cause look interesting also will watch i am legend..

I want to know this movie going to be shown as a mandrin version or a cantonese version ?

Most probably Hokkien.

With Tamil subtitle.

LMFAO

It says mandarin on GSC website

this movie is U or 18sg? at gsc website is u, but at gsc e-ticketing there shows 18SG.

saw it during the preview....awesome awesome film!!

it has it all...drama, action, suspense, thriller...

so go and get your tickets now folks!

what was it originally? mandarin or cantonese?

originally Mandarin....no Cantonese version.

watched it......overall, good flick!

*they should use better soundtrack for war scenes

This post has been edited by wiNd: Dec 13 2007, 09:30 AM

anyone? i want to buy the tickets online already. im 16 btw.

Cathay Cineleisure stated U

This post has been edited by wiNd: Dec 13 2007, 01:43 PM

Only like the scene got war. Other than tat, so disappointing.

Esp:

wanna watch this movie also,for those who have watched it,so how is it?

its based on true event...The Assassination of Ma

2 bad, i din read much bout China history

oh really?
than really must go and watch this movie.......

JESUS CHRIST i was so BLUR and i click on the SPOILER UNINTENTIONALLY

watched the movie during the afternoon. To me, its a good movie and Jet Li seriously was very evil for this one and after watching it, i was a bit sad aft4er watching the movie. I give it 4/5

aiya.....why is jet li the evil one......haha

going to watch this saturday..

no malay/english suititle ke??

This post has been edited by deale30: Dec 14 2007, 09:30 AM

got Chinese, English and Malay subtitles (nice fonts & in good order )

The movie is good, give it 90/100
Jet Li is so BAD in this movie ..

i would said jet li gone mad with power....good movie in overall.....

OK. I think I gonna watch it since review in this forum so good. Hope they dun cut much.

BTW, anyone seen the original shaw bros version before starring Ti Lung? I dun even seen the VCD being sold locally.

in that case,really want to watch this movie,want to see how bad Jet Li are....

Realli nice movie,i give 9 out of 10.See different jet li this time.

i wonder is there any fighthing screen in this movie?i so excited about wong fei hong fighting...

Jet li is so evil? Jet Li is mad of power? R u kidding me with this? He act in this way because he have no choice. He wanted to save the people but with great power come with great responsibiity. He is thinking as a general. The one that will save all the people. He wanted to help the poor people so much that he is willing to sacrified brotherhood. For him is what is 4000 soldier + 2 brotherhood then to millions of people. Naking, Suzhou etc etc.

But in the end, the people stil suffer in this movie as that time, it was rules by Qing dynasty. It's said that the empress is very cruel on that time. It was the last era of Qing dynasty.

hmm...i might give this movie a try

the subs are a lil bit too fast to read in this movie... make sure u pay attention listening, they use fairly simple mandarin.

Especially the opening stories. Not yet read half gone dee.. Movie subtitle wise ok la..

another great movie to watch...
takeshi n andy stand aside
jet li roxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!

hahhaa.....going to watch this movie...

This movie quite nice for me,I think it was the best among china made movie....The plot and storyline quite nice also.....You know what,when I see the war part,is like a dynasty warrior fighting...1 general slay them all...

great movie....

its really nice........

i rate it higher than I am Legend....

half part of urs is true....think as general ....make necessary scarifies if need.... but then the part....when Takeshi try to stab him...look at where jet li looking at.....its actually calling takeshi to step aside and dun force him....pretty obvious jet li just wan to get the power.....greed of power(to change the world)....i think he is.....

plus strengthen the point not to said he is evil but notice again the part when andy lau walk off from the suzhou the facial expression of jet li i must said absolutely nice.. ..mixed with happiness and envious and of cuz he also plan the worst and ready to receive death of andy lau......and mana tau andy lau takda mati

btw this story is based on true story at Qing dynasty(half true only lar)....

This post has been edited by shadowofevil: Dec 15 2007, 06:09 PM

This movie worth watching..i watched it just now..very good!!!

Those of you guys wishing for CG and other effects, don't bother watching this movie. They're trying to make it as realistic as possible.

It's a bleak (killing others for survival, betrayal, etc) but great movie. It's not fair to say which actor is better than the other - Each of them : Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Takeshi did a good job potraying their characters.

I just watch it yesterday,quite nice!

The part where they pray the god and starts the 投名状,reminds me 桃园三结义 in the three kingdoms (but the difference is there are many ppl involve la)

I like some quote in this movie:

andy lau:弟兄们!

soldiers: 抢钱，抢粮，抢娘们!!!


我们拿了投名状，此不同生，但愿同死。

杀兄弟者，必杀之

投名状 MV


This post has been edited by b3rnard7: Dec 16 2007, 10:57 AM

Great Movie......

I Like It!

Spoilers Alert



This post has been edited by chibi_tenko: Dec 17 2007, 10:08 AM

Looks good, will definitely go check it out at the cinemas...

IMO, the subs are very good. Only thing is that the sub for the prologue (with all the chinese text) is a bit fast for some of the people but for the rest of the movie, the subs are surprisingly in good quality. I'm a banana so I depend on it.

There's chinese, english and malay subs.

for the Warlords.

BTW, I hate the phrase "Da ge shi dui de".


Spoilers Alert. Click at own risk :



This post has been edited by chibi_tenko: Dec 18 2007, 07:35 AM

If you were Jet Li, what would you think as a general will do? To divide the bread to 4000 more soldier of enemy that cant even last for 6 month as they are going for war at Nanking? Or you will think like Jet Li? He got to do it also. No choice. The massacre of 4000 enemie in Suzhou. Sad but true..

They played some good emotion side of the ruthless soldiers. The cinematography was excellent! Yes, it does looks abit like LOTR, especially the battle field. As for the fighting scene, not much was memorable to me since they used swords and pole axes most of the times.

To be honest, I hate the lead female character. I don't blame her for what she did, but its obvious that because of her, the brotherhood fell. darn! Thank god Takeshi ***** her. hehehee.....

Just because they hack and stab doesn't mean it's like LOTR lor. As for the swords and pole axes, it's ancient China wor.

I only like the quote in this movie,which is before the soldiers go to battle field.

抢钱，抢粮，抢娘们! (snatch their money,snatch their food,snatch their women)

This post has been edited by b3rnard7: Dec 18 2007, 11:50 AM

Was having high expectation about this month a few months ago when i saw the trailer,but it was huge disappointed.Especially takeshi kaneshiro keep repeating "BROTHER IS RIGHT" (in chinese) and the fighting scene dosent show much of the strategy mention by jet li...The script of the movie is quite boring...I hope next time they dun wasted those good actor "Andy lau,takeshi kaneshiro and jet li"...

Rating (2/5)

I recomemded you watch with low expectation...

This post has been edited by Belphegor: Dec 19 2007, 07:19 PM

It's a war movie and the director even emphasize during one of his many interviews that it is and will be a war movie.

No flying wuxia moves or pretty girls with flowing sleeves/dresses like in House of Flying Daggers or Hero.

With all due respect, if you want to rant, go ahead but be considerate and use a spoiler. Surely you have read the reviews before watching the movie and you will know that it's a movie about brotherhood and betrayal, then why go ahead and watch it only to rant about it?

This movie is not an epic movie but it's not that bad either.

Really? Then I should go and watch this. I thought I Am Legend would be the best show for the X'mas season. We'll see how Warlords goes for me.

OH GOSH! USE SPOILER LAH!!

I couldn't agree more.

stupid movie la...talk talk talk..not my kind..i tot it's cantonese..and it turn out to be mandarin.
watched for 20minutes then i sleep until the end where the army shoot all the troops in the building and they chain andy lau.
jet li damn chibye. he kill andy lau to get the position n girl.but the most chum also jetli..at the end he kena stab and shoot.
but i like the idea they use etc, takeshi stab and army shoot jetli from behind with the canon fired up..wah...so nice.

I have the feeling that some of you guys here are purposely spoiling the movie for others who haven't watch it.

No one cares a damn whether you like it or not but please la, use a spoiler. Some idiot already spoil I Am Legend with their fantastic spoilers, don't spoil this movie for other people as well.

watch this movie yesterday!!

really awesome , especially the first war...wowowowwoowow
btw,..
...

wasnt jet li's fault!! blame the bit_h and the goverment!!!

not it is not Jet Li fault.. its the movie director fault XD

The audio presentation helped the movie a lot though the ending is quite typical and nothing really new IMO.
Overall, I think it's worth watching. They throw in action at the right time thus making the pacing of the movie very good.
Recommended watch!!
(Jet Li looks fat, Andy Lau looks like he is in that previous war movie and Takeshi Kaneshiro is as cool as ever)
Oh and whoever who worked on the english subs is really good at subbing. The translation is very very accurate. Kudos to the subber

This post has been edited by sayming: Dec 20 2007, 03:28 AM

I watched the movie last night. It was good.

its better than I am Legend.....

It's a good movie with a tragic story, with lots of emotion involved. Reminds me of one of Shakespeare's tragic stories.

Three man with different personalities and different vision, Pang(Jet) has a vision for a better China, better living for the poor, Zhao(Andy) just want to take care of his brotherhood and family while Jiang(Takeshi) is a firm believer in the blood oath they took, he also act as the buffer between Pang and Zhao when conflict arise.

Emotions and acting in this movie is top notch alright, all three are great in expressing their emotion.

Btw, those expecting lots of kungfu fighting and action shouldn't go watch this movie, as this is more of a tragic drama story of three blood oath brothers, having different personalities and vision and having conflicts and misunderstanding because of that.

depends ...some people think it otherwise

Well, I went to watch Jet kick ass and didn't leave dissappointed!

not to mention the killing scenes were like OMG hohoho, but cannot be compared to 300 killing scenes

Nice movie indeed, but just cant believe with so many killing scenes the movie is still rated as U

Note: I'm not against anyone opinion here.

After seeing some users comments. This is my comments on this movie.

I personally think this is a great movie in almost every aspect of a movie making. Some people said the movie is boring or too much dialogue and less action. I think they are probably people who cannot understand mandarin. Or know nothing about that that part of history involved.

This movie is based on real historic background of the "Taiping Rebellion" or also known as "The heavenly kingdom". This movie really amazed me for showing how it was during that period of revolt. I can finally see how the Heavenly kingdom soldier look like, armor etc and how is their warfare tactics. Especially the use of rifle and adopting the modern rifle formation. Storywise, this movie is top notch with deep plot of love, friendship, and personal greed. Even showing the political struggle aspect.

Acting wise, no need to say. All the lead actors are you all know who. This is a must watch. Comparing it with 300 is foolish as 300 are mostly CGI enhanced. This movie ia bout real warfare.

Nice movie? Just saw The Star newpapers gave them an 'A'.

Finally saw this movie today. Overall its quite a good war movies. It shows the really dark side of war where sometimes you really need to kill a lot of people to achieve peace. So no point comparing it to 300 because that movie is more video game than realistic. Also, it shows how corrupted and useless the Manchu dynasty at 19th century especially under the Empress Dowager. All the actors were good. I am especially impress with Jet Li. Never seen him acted so dramatic before. Only weak spot were Takeshi. He's acting is still good but he's too good looking to look like a bandit. Andy Lau were also good and I guess both he and Jet Li will get some award nominations next year. Overall very good Chinese movie. But those who expects a wuxia or action packed movie will be disappointed. As for story, not a very original story but this is expected since its a remake of a old Shaw-Brother movie and a few tv-series.

As for things I don't like, historical accuracy, its totally inaccurate. One thing for sure, no way trenches is implemented during 19th century China. The director made this all up so that the some of the war scenes looks more like WW1 which looks more dramatic. It also show that the Taipings were so well organised where historically, the Taipings adopted mostly guerilla warfare at the begining and not so organised since most of them are peasants. They might have used rifles but definately not rifle formation. In fact its the opposite that happen. The Manchus Ever Victorious Army trained by British might have used those rifle formation. This is another thing the I guess the director made up to make the war scenes look good. Another thing that is wrong was how the Manchu army was so ill-equipt at the end of the Rebellion. At the beginning of the Rebellion, the Manchu army was caught off-guard and were ill-equipt but definately not at the end of the war. Anyway, a bit off topic, the Taipings lost at the end of the Rebellion not because of the Manchu army but because the Taipings themselves have became more corrupted than the Manchu Dynasty and power struggle within the Taipings caused many of the better generals killed and Hong Xiuquan at the end became paranoid and probably mad.

It is a good movie but those who's expecting a Heroes/House of Flying Daggers-esque movie, kindly avoid watching this movie. Like I've pointed out in my previous post, there's no pleasing colours and flying above bamboo forests scenes. Everyone's dirty and crude and etc - as expected when one is engaged in a seemingly unending war with no food and water to drink and clean themselves.

Overall it's a very nice movie. It's the first chinese war movie that doesn't involve fantasic wuxia or overkill of CGed scenes. As for some of you guys who kept complaining there's not many Jet Li fighting scenes - this is a war movie. Not a wuxia movie. Why would a general run all over the place and use kung fu to fight one-on-one?

i was afraid this one will end up like those period movie that build up good but end up lost but happy to say i am wrong and pleasantly surprise that this rank among the best chinese language movie i've seen.

First of all this is not another HK offering. The moment the movie start and i saw the color, i got a feeling this is gonna be a serious one.

go watch this one. it basically has everything from action to drama and hardly any dull moment. Its actually a pretty complex story and the director manage to pull it out just fine.

i was wishing those fight scenes are better choreograph especially those one-on-one. HK is never short of good Kung Fu choreographer.

great movie..i like the ending which the message of the story clearly told..did anyone hear gladiator soundtrack during the first battle?..me and my bro was like is'nt tat gladiator..

i dun understand...y they dun just let the 4000 thousand ppl go?and one thing , is jet li good or bad?some said good, some said bad?is he bad really bcos of he is forcing to be bad?i dun think so, from start till end i think he just using his brothes...

The most obvious reason is they don't have enough food to feed another 4000 people. If he let them all go, they would probably go back and join the Taiping forces in Nanking. So it will be more difficult for them to take Nanking later. Even if the 4000 do not join the Taiping forces, they would probably become bandits and rob and take from the normal citizens of of the city since Jet Li's forces will be leaving the city and leave it defenceless and lawless. From my point of view, Jet Li is not really a bad. Its war and the 4000 is enemy soldiers. Its the brutality of war and it happens throughout history. Anyway, nobody remembers who you massacre after the war as long as you win the war. Yes in this movie, Jet Li is ambitious but the only way to make real change is to be in power.

house of flying daggers is a stupid movie....

Sorry, didn't read all posts. Is this movie in Cantonese or Mandarin?

Jet Li's character is a victim of war. his intention may be good in the beginning. Being a field soldier, he saw the bloodshed and poverty. so when presented with a opportunity to right what is wrong, he took the chance. along the way, he got greedy and what started well end up with the mother of all evil... GREED.


In a way, the movie shows us the ugly side of war. you can't say what Jet Li did was wrong nor he is right. During war, people kill one another for survival. its also the very reason why we should not resort to violence to settle any disagreement.

That's why I said, those who's expecting movies like HOFD should not watch this movie. Some people like movies like HOFD - pretty faces/long flowy sleeves blown by wing/gravity defying wuxia moves above bamboo forests, etc etc.

I've noticed that some of the ppl with negative comments about this movie were expecting movies like that. As for disliking the movie because it's in Mandarin - that is one of the stupidest excuse ever. It's like dissing a Japanese movie for being in Japanese.

It's in Mandarin, which I think is good. It'll be weird if it's dubbed.