Brothers Oxide and Danny Pang are known for their rampage in getting their itchy little hands into CGI, with varying results. It's not that they lack creative vision, it's just that the size of their budget doesn't always allow for good results. With Storm Warriors it's a completely different story. Epic in every way, it confirms that the brothers are capable of proving their usefulness. And they really prove it.
The Storm Warriors have quite a legacy. The original saga began as a manga, which later led to a TV series, an animated film, and one feature film. In the East, this is a huge franchise, which, unfortunately, never took root in the West. This makes it a little harder for newcomers to fully embrace the Storm Warriors universe, despite the Pang brothers' efforts to make it more accessible to outsiders.
While the Pang Brothers' film is not a direct sequel to the first film, it does feature a familiar key cast and characters. It is a rather complex web of intrigue, drama and tragedy, presented on an epic scale. The plot, as such, is a bit complex and confusing, but the film is not. Brief bursts of plot advancement push the film forward, covering the gaps between huge lulls and huge scenes of carnage. Considering the scale, Oxide and Danny's film turned out to be surprisingly simple and pure.
Storm Warriors begins with Cloud and Wind working together against a villainous warlord seeking to find a sacred item that will guarantee his rule over the Central Plains. Cloud and Wind have failed to defeat the enemy and are in desperate need of replenishment. Seeking to increase their fighting skills, they go their separate ways in what turns out to be the longest lull in cinematic history.
Visually, the Pang brothers' creation is impressive. Despite the 300D CGI backdrops, which at times look childishly simple and cheesy, the Pengs more than pull it off with some superbly executed fantasy combat spells and some truly stunning art direction. The carnage at the beginning of the film is based on the same combat aesthetic as in XNUMX, but done in a style more reminiscent of animation. These beauties must be seen with your own eyes.
The later fights have a smaller scope, and the fights themselves look more generalized. And yet, the equally stunning “liquid smoke” effects justify the almost obsessive filling of almost every episode with them. Sadly, the one-on-one fights look rather poor in comparison, and the camera moves are too jerky to impress the viewer. However, such scenes are rare and do not detract from the overall visual splendor of the film.
The soundtrack is too epochal for such a film. The brothers know how to use electronic motifs, but, unfortunately, you can’t tell from the film. The harmony of the main melody has too many gaps, and the notes themselves are a bit exaggerated. The acting isn't much different either: Kwok and Cheng couldn't even handle a film like this. On the other hand, Yam, Tse and Suet helped save the situation a little. And although only Yam has a key role, they are all able to add significance to the picture to some extent.
Storm Warriors is an action game created with an emphasis on style, epic drama and visual effects. The plot is there only to move the viewer from fight to fight, and the result of the epic scenario proportions is quite tragic. It lacks even the slightest attempt to truly engage the audience or evoke genuine emotion in them. Only “cool” and grandiose magic spells.
I have no doubt that the Pang brothers made the right choice in making this film. Moreover, such a story does not need serious execution. The plot is just filler and the less of it, the more emptiness.
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Storm Warriors is definitely not a masterpiece, but in truth it delivers near-perfect entertainment with some stunning art direction. It contains such grandiose and complex fights that I have not seen for a long time. That's why I don't really pay much attention to weak acting or lackluster soundtrack. A worthy addition to the original film, but one that needs to be handled with care. If you need an epic with a plot that is serious to the point of absurdity, then watch all sorts of “Matrixes”, “Lords of the Rings” and “Avatars”.
Author: Onderhond
Source: Twitch
Translation: EvilDollaR
PS “Storm Warriors” was left without translation, because there are too many possible options, and the original name “Fung Wan 2” is nothing more than parts of the names of the main characters (Nip Fung and Bou Keng Wan).
You can watch it once
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