Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003) Tian di ying xiong (original title)

Director:

Ping He

Writers:

Ping He (written by)
Rui Zhang (written by)

Release Date:

23 September 2003 (China)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

A Chinese emissary is sent to the Gobi desert to execute a renegade soldier. When a caravan transporting a Buddhist monk and a valuable treasure is threatened by thieves, however, the two warriors might unite to protect the travelers.

Plot Keywords:

Sword | Duel | Soldier | Fire | Combat

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Wen Jiang	...	Lieutenant Li
Kiichi Nakai	...	Lai Qi
Xueqi Wang	...	Master An
Wei Zhao	...	Wen Zhu
Bagen Hasi	...	Cao Jin
Tao Ho	...	Ma Gun
Linian Lu	...	Wu Lao'Er
Deshun Wang	...	Old Diehard
Haibin Li	...	Zao Zimo
Yeerjiang Mahepushen	...	Master An's Servant
Chuangao Hou	...	Guard
Yun Zhou	...	Jue Hui (The Monk)
Wei Li	...	Di Hu
Yuming Du	...	Rider A
Handong Wang	...	Rider B
Haiquan Yang	...	Baldy
Tuerxunjiang Zunong	...	Innkeeper
He Huang	...	The Emperor
Baozhong Sang	...	General Wen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tao He	...	Ma Gun'er

Directed by
Ping He

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ping He		written by
Rui Zhang		written by

Produced by
Song Bai	....	executive producer
Kuo-fu Chen	....	executive producer
Jia Fu	....	co-producer
Shirley Kao	....	assistant producer
Yan Sun	....	associate producer
Yi Wang	....	co-producer
Zhongjun Wang	....	producer
Zhonglei Wang	....	executive producer
Zhongliang Wang	....	co-producer
Yan Yiyun	....	producer
Huaiqiang Zhang	....	line producer

Original Music by
A.R. Rahman

Cinematography by
Fei Zhao

Film Editing by
Jing Lei Kong

Production Design by
Jie Teng
Gang Yang

Costume Design by
Xiaohong Yao

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound editor
Steve Burgess	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeremy Hoenack	....	sound re-recording mixer: English re-mix
Vic Kaspar	....	sound editor
Francis Ward Lindsay	....	sound editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Andrea Parkes	....	visual effects supervisor
Chris Schwarze	....	visual effects producer
Kerri Schwarze	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Wei Tung	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Saeed Adyani	....	still photographer

Music Department
Matt Dunkley	....	conductor
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Chris Goodes	....	music editor
Richard King	....	music scoring engineer

Other crew
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Peggy Lee	....	production controller

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
• Huayi Brothers
• Taihe Film Investment Co. Ltd.
• Xi'an Film Studio
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (in association with)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2003) (worldwide) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Columbia TriStar Film (Germany)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (TV)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• China Film Group Hualong Digital Film Production Company (visual effects)
• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Arrow Cinematic Group  camera and lighting equipment supplied by
• Beijing Film and Video Laboratory  film processing
• Cinevex  prints
• Complete Post  opening titles
• Czech Film Orchestra  music performed by
• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Panchthan Recording Inn, Chennai  music recorded at
• Rudolfinum Concert Hall  music recorded at
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound Trax Studios  audio re-mix
• Soundfirm  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

"Tian di ying xiong" - China (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | Canada:18+ (TV rating) | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Heng Dian, China

Company:

Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Rockets are used in the final battle at the fort. They did not exist in Tang times: gunpowder weapons were developed by the later Sung Dynasty.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Warriors of Heaven and Earth' (2003) (TV)

Incredible. Best movie I have seen in a long time.

This movie is the story of an Imperial Agent sent to bring to justice a murderer, his final mission before he is allowed to go home to his family in Japan. The murderer, a former army officer accused of mutiny when he refused to kill a group of women and children. The movie is the tale of their trek across the desert fighting against each other and with each other. The dialog was great, short and delivered impeccably by an incredible cast of characters. It has been a long while since I have seen such thoughtful, dramatic acting. The movie is shot mostly in the desert but it is all done beautifully and with exactly the right tone and feel. I enjoyed the period costumes and the fight scenes were extremely well choreographed. It is seldom that I watch a hollywood movie and come away feeling satisfied, I can only hope that Asia continues to pump out incredible movies like this one and that Hollywood will wise up and stop trying to feed me drivel like the Last Samurai.