An Empress and the Warriors (2008) Jiang shan mei ren (original title)

Director:

Siu-Tung Ching

Writers:

James Yuen (screenplay) &
Cheung Tan (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 March 2008 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

After the death of her father, a woman is forced to take over as empress and fight to save her kingdom.

Plot Keywords:

Empress | Blood | Poison Dart | Female Warrior | Love

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Donnie Yen	...	Muyong Xuehu
Xiaodong Guo	...	Hu Ba (as Guo Xiao Dong)
Zhenghai Kou	...	Teng Bochang (as Kou Zhen Hai)
Kelly Chen	...	Yen Feier
Leon Lai	...	Duan Lanquan
Weihua Liu	...	King Yan (as Liu Wei Hua)
Shan Zhang	...	King Zhao (as Zhang Shan)
Bo Zhou	...	Ao Jia (as Zhou Bo)
Jie Yan	...	Prince Zhao (as Yan Jie)
Daichi Harashima	...	Young Muyong Xuehu
Yi-Yi Yang	...	Young Yan Feier (as Yang Yi Yi)
Zhonghe Zhou	...	Tribal Priest (as Chou Zhong He)
Asoka Liu	...	Tribal Priest's Helper
Dong Dong Wang	...	Yan's Official (as Wang Dong Dong)
Xinyi Liu	...	Yan's Official (as Liu Xin Yi)
Jackie Wang	...	Yan's Official
Guoyi Chen	...	Yan's Official (as Chen Guo Yi)
Shengyu Jin	...	Yan's Official (as Jin Sheng Yu)
Xiaofei Sun	...	Yan's Official (as Sun Xiao Fei)
Li Min Deng	...	Yan's Deputy (as Deng Li Min)
Hongqing Guo	...	Yan's Deputy (as Guo Hong Qing)
Bo Peng	...	Yan's Deputy (as Peng Bo)
Yuan Li	...	Yan's Deputy (as Li Yuan)
Tian Hao	...	Yan's Deputy (as Hao Tian)
Zhi Peng	...	Zhao's Deputy (as Peng Zhi)
Kang Chen	...	Assassin (as Chen Kang)
Jie Zhang	...	Assassin (as Zhang Jie)
Zhiwei Liu	...	Assassin (as Liu Zi Wei)
Jianming Lin	...	Assassin (as Lin Jiang Ming)
Wang Xin	...	Assassin (as Xin Wang)
Jin Zhang	...	Assassin (as Zhang Jin)
Guo Chao Sun	...	Assassin (as Sun Guo Chao)
Zhiyong Xie	...	Assassin (as Xie Zhi Yong)
Guoxiong Yin	...	Assassin (as Yin Guo Xiong)
Jun Zhang	...	Assassin (as Zhang Jun)
Hailong Yin	...	Assassin (as Yin Hai Long)
Qiu Sheng Peng	...	Assassin (as Peng Qiu Sheng)
Lu Wang	...	Other (as Wang Lu)
Fu Xian Zhang	...	Other (as Zhang Fu Xian)
Qiu Sheng Zhao	...	Other (as Zhao Qiu Sheng)
Yuan Jia Pan	...	Other (as Pan Yuan Jia)
You Zhang	...	Other (as Zhang You)
Da Liang Qiao	...	Other (as Qiao Da Liang)
Weidong Zhang	...	Other (as Zhang Wei Dong)
Liang Chen	...	Other (as Chen Liang)
Yachao Wang	...	Other (as Wang Ya Chao)
Zhen Tan	...	Other (as Tan Zhen)
Yongsheng Wang	...	Other (as Wang Yong Sheng)
Wei Huang	...	Other (as Wei Huang)
Xiaoming Zhang	...	Other (as Zhang Xiao Ming)
Bing Yuan Li	...	Other (as Li Bing Yuan)
Hung Zhi Yan	...	Other (as Yan Hung Zhi)
Hai Jiang Zhang	...	Other (as Zhang Hai Jiang)
Xin Liang Jiang	...	Other (as Jiang Xin Liang)
Bing Bo	...	Other (as Bo Bing)
Xu Yang Liu	...	Other (as Li Xu Yang)
Yi Fan Xiao	...	Other (as Xiao Yi Fan)
Forest Zhu	...	Other
Xue Liang Zhu	...	Other (as Zhu Xue Liang)
Ying Ji Wang	...	Other (as Wang Ying Ji)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chen Zhi Hui	...	Diao Erbao

Directed by
Siu-Tung Ching		(as Tony Ching Siu Tung)

Writing credits
James Yuen		(screenplay) &
Cheung Tan		(screenplay) (as Cheung Tan) &
Tin Nam Chun		(screenplay)

Produced by
Claudie Chung Chun	....	executive producer (as Claudie Chung)
Gin Lau	....	producer
Kim Wah Lo	....	line producer (as Lo Kim Wah)
Andrew Loo	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Lui		(original music by)

Cinematography by
Zhang Mu Liu		(as Liu Zhang Mu)
Ze Xie		(as Xie Zhe)
Xiaoding Zhao		(director of photography) (as Zhao Xiao Ding)

Film Editing by
Tracy Adams		(as Tracy Hall)
Ki-hop Chan		(as Chan Ki Hop)
Hung Yiu Poon		(as Poon Hung Yiu)

Production Design by
Chung Man Yee		(as Yee Chung Man)

Art Direction by
Ben Lau

Costume Design by
Dora Ng

Makeup Department
Tam Ying Kwan	....	hair stylist (as Tam Ying Kwan)
Siu Wai Ngok	....	makeup artist (as Ngok Siu Wai)

Production Management
Jian-Hua Liu	....	chief production manager: China (as Liu Jian Hua)
Yan Feng Mei	....	production manager: China (as Mei Yan Feng)
Xu Tian	....	production manager: China (as Tian Xu)
Yong Sheng Tian	....	production manager: China (as Tian Yong Sheng)
Chi-Wah Tse	....	production manager (as Tse Chi Wah)
Cuo-Lin Wang	....	production manager: China (as Wang Guo Lin)
Jian Rong Wang	....	unit manager: China (as Wang Jian Rong)
Ying Wang	....	external production manager: China (as Wang Ying)
Yang Wei	....	production manager: China
Yue Dian Yan	....	unit manager: China (as Yan Yue Dian)
Dali Zhang	....	unit manager: China (as Zhang Da Li)
Pu Zhao	....	production manager: China (as Zhao Pu)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gary Mak	....	first assistant director
Wai Man Yip	....	associate director (as Yip Wai Man)

Art Department
Man Chow	....	props master (as Chow Man)
Kai-Kit Chung	....	storyboard illustrator (as Chung Kai Kit)
Kam-Wai Dung	....	propsman (as Dung Kam Wai)
Siu Hung Lai	....	set dresser (as Lai Siu Hung)
Lok Man Leung	....	assistant art director (as Leung Lok Men)
Ching-Tam Ng	....	propsman (as Ng Ching Tam)
Kam-Shing Tam	....	propsman (as Tam Kam Shing)
Wai Cheung Tam	....	set dresser (as Tam Wai Cheung)

Sound Department
Michael J. Fox	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Goodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
XiaoHui Hou	....	sound recordist: China (as Hou Xiao Hui)
Terry Tu	....	sound premixer
Sam Wang	....	sound editor
Sam Wang	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Po Yan Chan	....	compositor (as Yan Chan)
Edward Pak	....	compositor
Joey Tang	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action director (as Tony Ching Siu Tung)
Ming Jian Huang	....	stunt choreographer (as Huang Ming Jian)
Yuk-Sing Ma	....	stunt choreographer (as Ma Yuk Sing)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hoi Yan Chan	....	gaffer (as Chan Hoi Yan)
Lok Man Chan	....	focus puller (as Chan Lok Men)
Wing Keung Cheung	....	grip (as Cheung Wing Keung)
Yat-Fai Cheung	....	dolly grip (as Cheung Yat Fai)
Yun Tai Ho	....	focus puller (as Ho Yuen Tai)
Lau-fai Lo	....	best boy (as Lo Lau Fai)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karin Chiu	....	assistant costume designer
Pat Tang	....	wardrobe

Other crew
Alice Chan	....	assistant to production manager
Henry Hayashi	....	adr voice replacement
Sherman Lai	....	post production assistant
Ellen Lam	....	production secretary
Kwok-Hing Lee	....	presenter (as Li Kuo Hsing)
Teresa Leung	....	production accountant
Leo Tam	....	making-of
Eric Tsang	....	presenter
Dong Yu	....	presenter (as Yu Dong)
Xiao Zheng	....	accountant: China (as Zheng Xiao)

Thanks
Peter Chan	....	special thanks
Jessinta Liu	....	special thanks
Andrew Loo	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company
• BIG Pictures
• United Filmmakers Organization (UFO)

Distributors

• Mei Ah Entertainment (2008) (Asia) (all media)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Group Power (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Twin Co. Ltd. (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Genius Products
• Icon Film Distribution (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Multivision (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Centro Digital Pictures Ltd.  digital intermediate
• Cine Art Laboratory  film processing
• Cinerent  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• CyberPort Digital Media Centre  digital film output
• Hualong Digital Film Production Company  telecine
• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Kodak Cinelabs  film processing
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Media Business Service Limited  dialogue dubbing: Cantonese
• Soundfirm Beijing Co.  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

"Jiang shan mei ren" - Hong Kong (original title)
"The Kingdom and the Beauty" - International (English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some battle violence

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Hong Kong | China

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #45359) | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA (2010)

Company:

Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company

A Nutshell Review: An Empress and The Warriors

I guess a new Hong Kong trend is emerging. I recall that as a kid, there was the Mr Vampire movie, which spawned a slew of Chinese vampire movies in its wake. Then there was John Woo's A Better Tomorrow, which gave birth to a whole lot of brotherhood-amongst-thieves themed films. And then there was Once Upon A Time in China, which brought about a renaissance in martial arts movies based on historical or beloved fictional folk heroes. These days, we're living in the Warring period era, where we have a fixation with armour, and more armour, thanks to movies like The Myth, Battle of Wits, The Warlords, Curse of the Golden Flower, and more to come with Battle of Red cliff, and Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.

An Empress and The Warriors continue this trend, based on the state of Yan which is under constant warring with the state of Zhao. The titular characters here are Yen Feier (Kelly Chen) who becomes empress after the assassination of her Emperor father, and because of the unhappiness of rival generals over the appointment of Donnie Yen's General Muyong Xuehu as heir to the throne. So he refuses to partake in any more political schemes, and throws his support behind his childhood friend and unrequited love of his life, whose relationship with her is made even more complex as he has to train her to become a warrior, ala Mulan, in montage style.

And no thanks to her scheming cousin Wu Ba (Guo Xiao-Dong) who tries his very best in sowing discord amongst the court / generals, in order to see his ambition of sitting on the throne through. Another assassination attempt on the life of Feier, and we're introduced to the other Warrior from the title, Duan Lan-Quan (Leon Lai), who in actual fact looks like and lives like an Eastern Robin Hood, on a set that looks a complete rip off from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The inevitable romantic tangle between single beautiful princess and good looking doctor begins, and begs the question whether she still remembers her pledge to put country first.

In truth, there are many elements here from the Robin Hood folklore, besides the set, with the bows and arrows, ambush cum assault which was thankfully well done in keeping up the tempo, and a fight sequence atop floating logs that drew inspiration from Robin vs Little John. The romantic angle though was quite unnatural and unfortunately felt very forced, and bogged down the entire movie, with Feier in a dilemma choosing between two potential beaus, and each of them having reason to hold a candle for her. I was half expecting Bryan Adams to come belting out his hit single, but we're treated to a duet by the two leads (who are singers by the way), in what I believe could have a chance to top the mando-pop charts.

Action wise, you've got to leave it to Donnie Yen to deliver the goods. Alas, there's nothing too different here with the war battle sequences, as it again borrows heavily from its peers, in particular, Stanley Tong's The Myth (in fact, too much and too direct a reference), and cut down one too many horses (none were harmed of course). Yen did seem rather stiff under all that heavy metal, and there isn't any single fight sequence that stood out during battles, except perhaps for that token same-screen sharing scene with Leon Lai, or that flight into the forest (yet another nod in the direction of A Touch of Zen).

All that's left of this movie that's worth mentioning, are the beautiful, intricately designed suits of armour, so much so that even Leon Lai has a full suit just to aesthetically please the movie's poster, and the cinematography, credit due to Zhao Xiao-Ding, who also lensed House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower.

An Empress and the Warriors turned out to be a movie that's neither here nor there - a weak romance and a weak war action movie, and its storyline, which at times confounds because of its implausibilities in character motivation and loopholes, all add up to making this an average movie at best.