Touches You

Instant Favorite.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Years before the likes of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON breathed new popularity into Chinese cinema, films such as MOON WARRIORS were championed in the east and pretty much missed in the west. It's a shame, because MOON WARRIORS pretty much whups the backside of Ang Lee's movie in every respect; it's a pacier film, better shot and more interesting, with brighter performances and typically wonderful direction from Sammo Hung. While the plot is familiar stuff – some nonsense about an exiled king and his evil brother – this film's strength lies in the execution, which is second to none.Brightly coloured and vibrant throughout, MOON WARRIORS is a gorgeous film to watch and it helps that the cast members all give very good turns. I was particularly pleased to see the underrated Andy Lau in the film (the most interesting actor in HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), as he's cast as the heroic lead here and he gives a very good turn. In fact, almost all the actors are good, especially Anita Mui as the love interest. The exception is Maggie Cheung, whom I just find to be irritating no matter what film she appears in.In terms of action, this is a decent film with many satisfying set-pieces. The opening ninja attack in the bamboo forest is classic stuff, and it's followed up by some engaging combat that makes full use of wire work for effect without looking stupid. Sammo knows his stuff and, combined with the input of Corey Yuen, this is a film in which the action always satisfies. There's also a few choice special effects, including the amusing bit where a severed head is shot by a burning arrow and some other gory instances. Andy Lau provides some comedy as the simpleton villager turned king's saviour, and I even enjoyed his FREE WILLY-style interludes with a peaceful whale that he has adopted as a pet (although the whale's intervention at the climax is a very predictable one). All said and done, MOON WARRIORS is a fun film that's difficult to dislike and, despite a few slow spots in the second half, I had a ball with it.

MOON WARRIORS is without doubt one of the best examples of Wuxia (not "sword and sorcery" as some reviewers have labelled it) cinema. Wuxia, as I've noted in my other reviews, is a genre akin to the Japanese samurai movies, in that it is about honour, loyalty and the code of the warrior as much as it's about kick-ass fighting. There should always be a bit of romance in Wuxia movies as well, something that's almost always missing from its sister genre, kungfu films ...If the story seems a tad corny to Western sensibilities, that's probably because Wuxia films take their inspiration from the traditional writings of the Qing and Ming dynasties. But then, STAR WARS (a film that MOON WARRIORS resembles) is pretty corny too, and we don't love it any the less.Starring a whole flock of Hong Kong pop singers (Andu Lau, Kenny Bee and the late, great Anita Mui), MOON WARRIORS is chock full of astonishing moments. The "ninja" attack as Yuet (Anita Mui) and her ladies-in-waiting fly their kites and the 14th Prince's (Kelvin Wong) incredible skill with the bow when he ignites the logo that reads "Heaven and Earth" (not his name as another reviewer writes).It should also be pointed out that Sammo Hung also cast his female leads against type deliberately. It would have been more obvious to have cast Maggie Cheung as the delicate princess who knows martial arts but has never used them before and Anita Mui as the hardened assassin. But Sammo is a film-maker who avoids the obvious.MOON WARRIORS has just about everything - great action, epic storyline and it's achingly romantic - and seems to work best for those who are not kungfu film fans and thus have no preconceived expectations.But the killer whale - what was Sammo thinking of?

After seeing this film I fell in love with Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui. I adore the style, the costumes... The acting in this work is brilliant. I highly recommend this film even if you are new to the Hong Kong style.

very well done period swordplay fantasy film.The fisherman in his simplicity is a true hero.The unrequited love that dominates throughout is well executed.Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui can duel all day long..Awesome.The villain is well played his skill is evident.musically the score is great..definitely worth seeing love,honour,pace..and great wire work must definitely put this film up there with the better made one of the genre..All hail King Sammo....