Best movie of this year hands down!

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I expected an epic tale of some kungfu heroes versus the tyrannical Japanese Imperial conquerors, in the modus of "Ip Man" but what I got was a CGI nightmare. Seriously I watched for 27 minutes just hoping that the special effects would stop long enough for some real kungfu fighting. It was so disappointing. Even the special effects were so wild and out of it. The director tried to piece together CGI with pseudo-anime style scenes, stitched together with a real boring plot line. I do not dislike CGI; don't get me wrong. I liked Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon although the bamboo forest flight scenes were a little corny, LOVE Kung Fu Hustle, with the guys who shoot darts off of their Chinese zithers and the lady with her Dyna-yell, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera; but this movie is a STINKER.

I'm not Chinese. I'm not a Wind and Cloud comic fan-boy. Perhaps these are the reasons that I can offer an objective opinion of this film?The first Storm Warriors (released as The Storm Riders) excited visually, taking wuxia film to an all-new level of excellence; however, it suffered from a weak, rushed plot, with references being made to characters and events non-followers just found bemusing, proving that there really is no right way to please everybody.This sequel suffered from the same flaws, only it wasn't so much as the plot being rushed this time around as it was the characters. The problem here is that for those who aren't already fans, nothing is known - and precious little revealed - about each individual, so when it comes time that we SHOULD be caring, it's not possible. But thankfully, the Pang Brothers' beautiful direction makes it something of an over-sight. I'll come back to this in a moment.The pacing is good for an action film, with no time wasted in getting down to the root of the story, which is basically an average episode of Dragonball Z anyway. True, action/kung fu freaks would likely pine for some more traditional choreography, but the Pang Brothers lift this film out of the chop-socky genre and into that of fine art, defeating art-house kung fu classics, The Blade, and Ashes of Time on style points by unanimous decision.Watching the film, it's interesting to know just how big a fan of the comic the Brothers are, for each shot is so lovingly captured, at points it almost looks like paintings in motion, and with their panel-by-panel method of storytelling, comics - if well done - could almost be deemed as such. And where CGI and after-effects are indeed the sine qua non for getting their vision of the tale across on-screen, where I may have argued in the past that such techniques "kill the art of film-making", here, they AMPLIFY it, breathing enchantment into every scene, every shot, every second, leaving something of wonder to the memory come the final credits.I could now go on about all of the awesome techniques the fighters use, and how the cinematography fully captures them - and indeed, they're well worthy of a mentioning - but instead I'll simply point out the obvious issues to address before one decides to give this a view:if you're uninterested by "style over substance", you won't enjoy this filmif you want an involving story, this film is not for youif you want Fist of Legend-style kick arse kung fu, watch something elseif, however, you want to give this film a real chance, you may just come away a little bit richer for having done so... I know I did.

Such a long wait since the first one. Storm Rider 1 was really good by the way - better story line, better flow, better pace, better romance, better music, more varied scenes(inside castle, forest where two groups of people meet, dragon cave, village, etc), much more character development (ie every characters seem to have decent screen time), adequate CGI - given that was some 11 yrs ago, and better acting - Yes, better acting! ie. Sonny Chiba was unparalleled as Lord Conquer. Even Wind and Cloud had deeper emotions, more expressive then, really.I would prefer the first one if not for the redeeming factors of Storm Riders 2 - more boastful, refined CGIs, much impressive and intense fighting choreograph which I enjoyed immensely. one battle too long, one ended prematurely if only it balances up a bit. Some scenes unnecessary, some over dramatized to a point of dragging which make you just wanna scream "just get on with it!". I suppose the script just could have been much better and more varied scenes than just those few bleak boring ones which at times, looked a bit fake. The ladies also don't have much scene impact, a little shallow.Overall, I don't mind watching it again purely for its fighting CGIs which was sheer indulgence. Everything else, I rather re-watch Storm Riders 1.

THIS visual feast inspired by comic-book writer Ma Wing Shing's 'Fung Wan' series is arguably the most highly anticipated Asian movie of 2009. Although some may see this as a sequel to the acclaimed 'Storm Riders' (of 1998), 'Storm Warriors' boasts a new storyline involving the same heroes with Aaron Kwok and Cheng Ekin reprising their roles as Striding Cloud and Whispering Wind respectively.However, the big buzz is the helming of the film by the Brothers Pang, the maverick duo who gave the world such hits as 'The Eye' and 'Bangkok Dangerous' (both Asian and Hollywood versions). Danny Pang was also involved with 'The Storm Riders' as its co-editor.The story arc is from the Death Battle comic book in which the evil Japanese warlord, Lord Godless (Simon Yam), wants to get his hands on the magical Dragon Bones so that he can rule China unimpeded and unchallenged. Godless manages to capture the Emperor (Patrick Tam) and imprison his warriors. Among the prisoners are Cloud (Kwok) and the elder statesman Nameless (Kenny Ho). Later, Wind (Cheng) comes to the rescue and the trio is badly wounded. Meanwhile, the heroes seek the help of the venerable Lord Wicked (Kenny Wong Tak Bun) who advises Wind to take the 'evil path' and master the martial arts skills he needs to save his nation from Godless and his son, Heart (Nicholas Tse). This 'Evil Wind' saga presents another subplot that is pursued in the second half of the movie.Just like the CGI-laden 2012, the Pang Brothers make no bones about Storm Warriors being anything but an expansive and expensive computer-effects film. Towards this end, the effects and stunts, backed by choral voices and thundering drumbeats, are fantastic and sometimes even breath-taking. The film-makers seem so proud of the fantasy-action pieces that they keep on repeating them, showing them in slow-motion and from different angles and close-ups. This drags the fighting sequences on a bit, making them lose whatever sense of urgency or danger they may have generated.However, the usual weaknesses of the Brothers Pang remain unresolved. The characters lack emotional depth, the story is rather confusing, and the lines can be lame at times. Wind looks as if he is being absorbed by the same black evil web that consumed Spider-Man - but with lesser emotional effect.Attempts at comedy flop, too especially when Lam Suet's Piggy King turns out to be underwritten. Still, the female supports, Charlene Choi (as Wind's love interest, Second Dream) and Tang Yan (as Cloud's aide's aide Chu Chu) are welcome eye-candy to offset the male-macho emphasis of the plot. All in all, a good attempt but not great. - LIM CHANG MOH (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)