I do like a good historical epic and it's a truth that nobody makes them quite like they do in Asia. Over the past decade, the genre has flourished since the success of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and while I don't like that particular film very much, I've absolutely adored some of the others that have followed. These titles include HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS and CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. As a viewer, I'm always drawn slightly away from the wuxia genre (I'm no big fan of the wire work you see in these movies) in favour of the grittier, more realistic genre films like THE WARLORDS. MUSA is such a film, a Korean epic that focuses on realism and crucial believability throughout.In essence it's a familiar story about a group of highly skilled and diverse warriors attempting to protect a princess while battling an evil general and his small army on their tale. Some say it's like Kurosawa, with the superficial similarities to SEVEN SAMURAI on show. I disagree. MUSA is a firmly modern, action-focused epic which is all about the battles and the swordplay, and anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken. The good news is that these scenes are tremendous, veering on the right side in terms of the editing, which is fast but allows you to actually see what's going on. The battle choreography is stupendous and there's all manner of fighting involved. There's a particular emphasis on cool weaponry (high-powered bows, a massive spear) and also on the wounds inflicted by these cruel weapons. This ain't PG-fare; it's one of the bloodiest historical epics out there and I'm still trying to figure out how they achieved the brilliant arrow-in-the-neck special effects.It's a rare film that succeeds through action alone, but there's far more to MUSA than just that. The simple journey storyline allows for plenty of character arcs and development, and it's refreshing to see a film where characters aren't as clear cut as you might expect. People make mistakes and people die because of those mistakes, but these flawed characters are all the more gripping because of that. My favourite is a case in point: Joo Jin-mo's general, who's a truly noble good guy despite the errors of judgement he sometimes makes. The rest of the cast don't disappoint either, and Zhang Ziyi is particularly good in a role that allows her to take a break from the martial arts for once.There are three main backdrops to the unfolding story, and each of them seems fresh and unique. The first is a shifting desert landscape, the second an extensive woodland, and the third a ruined castle on the coast. There's a particular emphasis on the visual scenes and the costumes look stunning. Despite a long running time, this is engaging throughout, building up to a classic climax in which many of the good guys die bloodily and heroically. As a film, MUSA blows SEVEN SWORDS clean out of the water.

1375. Nine Koryo knights are stranded in the middle of nowhere after a disastrous diplomatic mission. They have dozens of regular people along with them, and they need to get back home, through an andless desert. Peril and strife follow them all along the way, as they get to know each other. Then a woman appears.Aesthetically the movie is superb. All of the sets are created perfectly, the costumes are exquisite and the camera-work spot on. As is to be expected of modern korean drama, the actors portray heavy emotion and the plot is often melodramatic. Each one of the many characters is a metaphor representing something much larger than itself, often in satire of contemporary society. The storyline as a whole is an adaptation of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, with many parallels between personae between the two. See for yourself to decide who you think is who. Can you guess Teiresias?

I watched Thai movie Bang Rajan last night.I thought it was a very good movie.I come from Europe so I didn't have much chance to watch Asian movies because I am not a fan of martial arts movies.But I came across a trailer of Bang Rajan and since I like watching war movies I watched it.I was surprised how good is Asian cinematography so I started looking for another good movie.I found something better-GREAT MOVIE.Musa the Warrior is excellent movie and only because of this movie I created an account here to write down these words.Great battle scenes,beautiful scenery,excellent music and unexpected ending-everything it needs to great movie as this one.Gladiator is my favourite movie but this movie is my second favourite now.PS:I have finished watching this movie just ten minutes ago and I had to write down this review immediately!

I recently had occasion to rent this film "MUSA (The Warrior)", from my local library. I think I vaguely remember a small blurb about it in the local paper some time ago, but never got around to seeing it. Boy, was it my mistake to miss THIS film on the big screen... (I'm going to rent it again).Click on the link below, and you can read the various synopsis' of the film and all the essential elements of it. http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0275083/#commentEssentially it takes place in 1375 and involves the Koreans and the Chinese and the the fighting they do against the ancestors of the TARTARS, the early Mongols. Story: Excellent. FX: AWESOME. Characters ensemble: Very Good. It appears that they spared NO expense in the effects dept, nor, in the costuming & weaponry dept. How is it related to this list? It really helps one understand the developments and influence the early Mongols (and the East in general), had on the TATARS, and other Eastern influences that ultimately crept into Polish culture. Since I am the first person in U.S. History to re-enact the Polish Winged Hussars, I found this back information very relevant to my research. There was a similarity between this film and say 'With Fire & Sword', for instance. I saw some parallels, in the characters and themes, although in *entire scope*, this film blows away Fire & Sword.Although there is gratuitous war carnage and decapitations and severed limbs in battle, blood by the gallons, arrows shot gratuitously into necks, eyes, heads, throats, etc.... I believe it is not gratuitous for the sake of itself, rather a necessary element for the storyline. War, especially back then was a gruesome deal, and to see it truly within it's context is very much an eye-opening thing. Although I highly advocate that the members here interested in early research SEE THIS FILM!, do NOT, let your kids see it. It's too intense for them. You'll really love the battle costuming, weaponry, bows, even down to the accurate stirrups used and pointed-toed boots used by the later generations of Eastern foes of Poland.Subtitles are in Chinese, Korean and English. English being the best for us. If you can FIND a copy of this DVD to own, DO IT! It BELONGS in your home research library's. In either case, SEE THIS FILM! Feedback anyone? Cheers, Rik