Mo gong (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung

Writers:

Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung (writer)
Ken'ichi Sakemi (comic)

Release Date:

23 November 2006 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

Story centers on a battle during China's Warring States Period, a series of civil wars, which spanned from the 5th to the 3rd century B.C. Based on a popular Japanese manga, which was in turn based a Japanese novel inspired by Warring States history in China.

Plot Keywords:

Strategy | Based On Comic

Awards:

3 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Ge Li - the Mohist
Sung-kee Ahn	...	Zhao Commander Xiang Yan-zhong (as Sungki Ahn)
Zhiwen Wang	...	King of Liang
Bingbing Fan	...	Liang Cavalry Chief Yi Yue
Si Won Choi	...	Prince Liang Shi (as Siwon Choi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Siu-hou Chin	...	Liang General Niu Zi Zhang (as Siu Ho Chin)
Tin Chiu Hung	...	Zhao General Gao He-yong
Shaan Price	...	Yuan Yu
Ma Wu	...	Royal Tutor of Liang
Nicky Wu	...	Liang Archer Zi Tuan (as Qi-long Wu)
Lixiao Yang	...	Girl spy

Also Known As:

A Battle of Wits (Hong Kong: English title)
Battle of Wits (International: English title)
Bokkou (Japan)
Muk gong (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:133 min

Country:

China | Japan | South Korea | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

China

Company:

Boram Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where the two scouts escape from the enemy camp after the soldiers spot them, the surrounding light changes from pitch black to broad daylight. (Obviously someone forgot to put the filter on the camera lens.)

Gripping war epic

"Battle of Wits" seems to be based on a comic that is based on a famous period in the history of China! Everything in the movie looks authentic! The action is done as realistic possible! So no wire fu or any kung fu for that matter! This is not a martial arts movie! People who expect this will be disappointed! There is just enough action to make a point! The movie is indeed about strategy and tactics as the title suggests! Even when the pace of the movie is slow at times there are some surprises that will keep matters interesting! The love angle is beautifully done and not distracting at all! We have Andy Lau to thank for that because he really is superb as Ge Li! At first he is distant and passive like a monk! When he is explaining his philosophy to a slave he rescued, he realizes that he should show his love for Yi Yu (Bingbing Fan)! Also his prayer for peace is convincing! He is trying to avoid bloodshed as much as possible! When he is forced to kill a large number of enemy soldiers he begins to doubt whether he has taken the right action! This doubt makes him very human and very likable! He even makes an impact on the commander of the enemy troops! "Battle of Wits" is not without flaws! The battles are not that intense and massive as you would expect from a movie like this! And the pace is too slow at times! But in the end the result is that of a war epic with a very powerful message!