Hong Kong director Peter Chan is known for his love tales with
strong stories; Jet Li, of course, is a martial arts hero; Andy Lau
is the good-looking good guy; Chinese-Japanese heartthrob Takeshi
Kaneshiro is famous for his "flowery roles."
In "The Warlords," however, all the three characters - and the
director - break out of character and do themselves proud. The
film, screened for critics last Friday, will be released nationally
on Thursday.
Making the film, set during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64), is
a long-time dream come true for veteran Chan. It's a lavish remake
of the 1973 classic kung fu film "Blood Brothers" by Chang Cheh,
but kung fu isn't the key, though it's part of the mix.
"When I was a child, the story of revenge in the film 'Blood
Brothers' inspired me," says the 45-year-old film maker. "I have
always wanted to make a film like this."
But Chan made his name with sentimental true-life romance such
as "He's A Woman, She's A Man," and "Comrades: Almost a Love
Story." Two years ago he made the dreamlike musical "Perhaps
Love."
But he always wanted to make a big movie, a remake of "Blood
Brothers."
Many critics wondered if he was up to the task. Well, he really
is. Pre-release reviews were good.
There are big battle scenes, lavish settings and a tale of sworn
brotherhood, betrayal and revenge. The Taiping Rebellion was a
popular uprising against the imperial Qing (1644-1911)
government.
Director Chan says that much of the US$40 million budget went to
the portrayal of big war scenes. Li got 100 million yuan (US$13.5
million) for his role as a complex general - quite different from
his martial arts roles.
The story revolves around three sworn blood brothers - the
general and two Robin Hood-type brigands. It is based on a Qing
Dynasty story about the assassination of General Ma Xinyi.
?
Pang Qingyun (played by Li), a discouraged general of a defeated
army, encounters rustic Zhao Erhu (Lau) and Jiang Wuyang
(Kaneshiro), two chieftains of 800 brigands who rob the food stores
of the tyrannical government to feed the starving people.
Pang persuades them to join the army and promises a better
future if they fight the Taiping rebels. The three become sworn
blood brothers and vow never to betray each other. After winning
battles against the rebels from the south, they find the nature of
their brotherhood changes.
"Though it is a somewhat masculine film, the three male
protagonists are not always fearless and strong," director Chan
says. "They also have tears and show their usually hidden
fragility."
He considers the role of General Pang, who is ultimately
assassinated, especially challenging. But Li's performance is
superb and the director calls it "the biggest surprise."
"Pang is a very complex character, apparently ambitious and
tough but harboring deep insecurity," Chan explains. "Li
understands and expresses Pang's personality very well."
The 43-year-old Li isn't satisfied with fame as only a Chinese
kung fu star. A good actor is creative and changes over time, he
says.
"In recent years, we have had so many Chinese pictures with
dazzling martial arts stunts and romantic scenes - sometimes even
death is depicted as beautiful and artistic," Li says. "But Chinese
mega productions now need a breakthrough. They should be able to
provide new and realistic insights into human life and human
personality."
Li says revenge is the focus of the 1973 film "Blood Brothers,"
however, the new film is about more than revenge.
Many of the battle scenes are necessary to show the cruelty of
war and can arouse anti-war sentiments, says Li.
The film also represents a departure for Lau, usually the
upright, decent good guy - now he's a brigand. But his character is
similar in some ways to his own as a young man.
"When I was young, I was as reckless and hot-blooded as Zhao
Erhu," Lau says. "I am a person who trusts people easily, just like
Zhao. That's why his tragedy in the film moved me to tears."
"The Warlords" is Kaneshiro's second collaboration with Chan.
His role as a poor guy abandoned by his girlfriend impressed Chan
and he got the role of brigand Jiang Wuyang - also a big change for
him.
"When Kaneshiro stared at his ex-girlfriend in 'Perhaps Love,' I
read the mixed emotions of love, hatred and even a boyish innocence
in his eyes," Chan recalls. "That made me believe he was the right
one for Jiang."
Kaneshiro admits that his part in "The Warlords" is very
different from his former flowery and melancholic roles. For the
first time he appears with a mustache and wears the Manchu
hairstyle, shaved head with a queue.
"Jiang is uncompromising about the brotherhood," Kaneshiro says.
"It's not easy to portray his helplessness and perplexity after his
faith collapses. He assassinates Pang to prove the existence of the
brotherhood they once had."
General Pang is assassinated because he betrays his sworn
brothers and slaughters thousands of innocents who surrender to the
imperial forces.
Chinese mainland actress Xu Jinglei plays the only major female
character, Liansheng, and she is caught in a love triangle between
her simple husband Zhao and her lover Pang. The role is a catalyst
in the men's relationship.
"She has different emotions towards the two important men in her
life - for Zhao she holds tender, family love, but her affair with
Pang is driven by passion," Xu says.
"Chan has wonderful storytelling skills, which have made his
first big movie so appealing and touching," says Zhang Lei, a local
correspondent, who attended the pre-release screening.
(Shanghai Daily December 11, 2007)
