MARTIAL ARTS/SAMURAI//WUXIA
THE GRANDMASTER – PG13
The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.
DRAGON INN
A heroic trio of outlaw warriors square off against sinister assassins at an isolated desert inn, in this dazzlingly restored presentation of legendary director King Hu’s wuxia classic.
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS – PG13
House of Flying Daggers is set in the year is 859AD as China’s once flourishing Tang Dynasty is in decline. Unrest is raging throughout the land, and the corrupt government is locked in battle with rebel armies that are forming in protest. The largest, and most prestigious of these is the “House of Flying Daggers”, which is growing ever more powerful under a mysterious new leader. Two local captains, Leo (Lau) and Jin (Kaneshiro) are ordered to capture the new leader and the two hatch an elaborate plan. Captain Jin will pretend to be a lone warrior called Wind and rescue the beautiful, blind revolutionary Mei (Ziyi), from prison, earning her trust and escorting her to the secret headquarters of the House of Flying Daggers. The plan works, but to their surprise, Jin and Mei fall deeply in love on their long journey to the House. Danger lurks in the forest surrounding them, and the wind is still, as if sensing the tension in the air. What lies ahead for Jin and Mei, these star-crossed lovers? If this is true love, then why are there plots in their heads, and secrets in their hearts?
HERO – PG13
A defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.
SEVEN SAMURAI – KUROSAWA
Seven Samurai[2] (七人の侍 Shichinin no Samurai?) is a 1954 Japanese Jidaigeki adventure film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The story takes place in 1586[3] during the Warring States Period of Japan. It follows the story of a village of farmers that hire seven ronin (masterless samurai) to combat bandits who will return after the harvest to steal their crops.
Since its release, Seven Samurai has consistently ranked highly across critics’ greatest film polls such as the BFI’s Sight and Sound, Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB polls.[4][5] It has remained highly influential, often seen as one of the most “remade, reworked, referenced” films in cinema.[6]
YOJIMBO – KUROSAWA
Yojimbo (用心棒 Yōjinbō?) is a 1961 jidaigeki film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of a rōnin, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune, who arrives in a small town where competing crime lords vie for supremacy. The two bosses each try to hire the newcomer as a bodyguard.
RAN R
A story of greed, a lust for power, and ultimate revenge. The Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji has decided to step aside to make room for the younger blood of his three sons, Taro, Jiro, and Saburo, the Lord’s only wish now being to live out his years as an honored guest in the castle of each of his sons in turn. While the older two sons flatter their father, the youngest son attempts to warn him of the folly of expecting the three sons to remain united; enraged at the younger son’s attempt to point out the danger, the father banishes him. True to the younger son’s warning, however, the oldest Son soon conspires with the second son to strip The Great Lord of everything, even his title.
– Written by Bill albers.bill@gmail.com
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON PG13
Legendary martial artist Li Mu Bai is tracking the murderer of his master. The poised and self-assured Li can handle anything — except his feelings for lithe, pantherish Yu Shu Lien. Jen Yu, the tremulous and spoiled daughter of the Province’s governor, is also fascinated by Shu Lien’s glamorous life: that a woman can have so many adventures and such freedom is marvelous to her. Though the refined Jen is soon to be married off into respectability, she harbors a sinister plan. By night she transforms into a masked and cunning thief, out to steal the Green Destiny, an invincible blade once wielded by Li. At the same time, Li embarks on his own quest to recover the missing sword, possibly the key to his master’s murder.