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The Warlords (First Print Edition) DVD
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List Price: N/A
Our Price: $12.96
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Bonzai Media Corp.
Directed By: Peer Chen
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Feature: 1 disc package (region 0 NTSC)
Format: DVD Region
Label: Bonzai Media Corp.
Manufacturer: Bonzai Media Corp.
Number Of Items: 1
Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Bonzai Media Corp.
Region Code: 0
Running Time: 127
Studio: Bonzai Media Corp.
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Features
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1 disc package (region 0 NTSC)
English Subtitles
Mandarin Audio Only
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Editorial Reviews:
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It's a heroic tale of three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval. It is based on "The Assassination Of Ma", a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of General Ma XinYi. The story was filmed by Zhang Che in 1973 as "The Blood Brothers".
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Which version of The Warlords did you watch?
Comment: I really enjoyed watching The Warlords, so much in fact that I decided to buy it - something I rarely do. However, after searching Amazon and choosing a seller (hissarlikway) I discovered I was sent a bootleg copy of The Warlords. The item was described as follows:
The Warlords (First Print Edition) DVD [DVD] (2008) Andy Lau; Takeshi Kaneshiro
Condition: New
Seller note: BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED FAST TRANSACTION
However, even though seller states "BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED" it became clear shortly after starting to watch it that this DVD was edited for television viewers. Many important scenes are missing including what the central characters did to become blood brothers (clue: they didn't just swear allegiance to each other). Also in my version, three-fourths of the way through the movie, a TV station logo popped up in the lower right hand corner of the screen. Finally as far as editing and missing scenes go, the epilogue subtitles are missing and you'll never know how the story wraps up.
This is a great movie and I still recommend watching it but you don't want the copy that has important scenes missing. Don't buy it unless the seller can authenticate it is not a bootleg copy. I found that "Factory-sealed" just means the counterfeiters have some shrinkwrap equipment. Buyer Beware!
FYI: The original, unedited movie I saw was bought in Hong Kong and brought over to the US by a friend.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Dark Let Li ---Arguably His Best Performance Ever
Comment: If you are looking for a film similar to "Hero", "The House of Flying Daggers," or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" then "Warlords" is DEFINITIVELY NOT what you want to watch. In the first three movies, you have actors defying the laws of physics as they fight like string-puppets and show supernatural stamina.
Warlords is nothing of the above. It is set during the Taipeng Peasant Revolution (circa 1850-1875), which was the largest uprising in Modern History. It took the lives of 70 million people ---surpassing the staggering death toll of World War II. In this scenario, ordinary people had only two choices: to arm themselves in order to steal food from others --or to die of starvation. This film is a story of betrayals, massacres, and rivalry. It opens with a scene of General Pang (Jet Li) who lost his troops to a rival army. Pang is the only survivor. He had committed a terrible dishonor: he pretended to be dead while his brothers-in-arms were butchered. The disgraced General Pang is tormented by his terrible act of cowardice. In time, he joins a gang of bandits lead by Zhang, and Zhao. Then Pang teaches these farmers-turned-soldiers how to fight against the odds with such cruelty and disregard for human life that shocks even throat-cutters like Zhang and Zhao. The three, by means of a bloody ritual, became blood brothers. This act would help the three to survive in an unforgiving and deadly country side. In due time, the three brothers became enemies as old oaths are forgotten...
Customer Rating:
Summary: This is not a
Comment: In "The Warlords," another rendition of the classic Chinese tale of loyalty and betrayal of three brothers, we see evidence of something many may not realize: when not hampered by his horrible accent, Jet Li can act, in fact, for this role he received an Asian Film Award nomination for Best Actor. He may not be a Deniro or a Denzel, but he's at least got that certain intensity that makes Clint Eastwood. We do not, however, get to see what American audiences know Li for, his martial arts prowess.
As winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards both for best film and best director, Peter Chan ("The Eye," 1 through infinity it seems), we see here an exemplary piece of cinema which demonstrates the high quality of movies coming from China today.
The cinematography is well done, costumes are excellent, epic battle sequences are choreographed beautifully and the characters and complex character relationships are well developed, sincere and sympathetic. In addition to Li, we see moving performances by Andy Lau, a winner of numerous Asian film awards, and Takeshi Kaneshiro, both who Americans may know from "The House of Flying Daggers."
If you are looking for a "Jet Li movie" you may likely find yourself bored. Despite the war background of this movie it is, at heart, a
drama, and a very good one at that.
[...]
Customer Rating:
Summary: Coming of Age
Comment: There's the Jet Li that we know from American movies and the expectation of international audience towards what he's offering us and the Jet Li, the actor who's coming of age in his Asian context. The blood brothers in this instance are played by the major stars of the Asian scene now: Takeshi Kaneshiro (father from Taiwan & mother from Okinawa), Andy Lau (a superstar in acting & singing in Asia) & Jet Li. I agree with other reviewers to say that the background premise of Taiping Rebellion is an excuse of us seeing the three brothers come together at turbulence time of famine & poverty in China to find redemption by beating the opponents. For history buffs, you would probably appreciate that this is the origin of triads in China. Then, you also learn about warlords siding together and later, ganging against one another all in the name of power. Jet Li's character, Pan Chin Yun commands with his head whilst his second brother rules from his heart (Andy Lau). The movie is narrated by Takeshi's character who seems to be the ever loyal and impartial party between two idealogies. No matter how talented people are, they are simply being played and manipulated by crafty politicians behind the scene. As one said, power corrupts and it corrupts wholeheartedly which in the end simply bringing to the destruction of the bond of three brothers. A definite epic with twists and turns, with a dash of complexity that's more rampant now with Asian movies offering. It seems Chinese movies have definitely coming of age and no longer its genres are limited to Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige's offerings. A very well-made movie with international backers & affiliations. At the end of the day, I suppose Asian audience is still yearning for those two dimensional action movies whilst this movie is more historial and political in context. Highly recommended.
Customer Rating:
Summary: THIS ONE NEEDS LESS SLASH AND BASH AND MORE PLOT AND CHARACTERIZATIONS
Comment:
. . . And understandable motivation, better editing and oh yes, some logic.
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