Wonderfully offbeat film!

Sadly Over-hyped

Don't listen to the negative reviews

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This movie is all about the sword, spear and arrow action during 1375. When it comes to the story it's nothing special or deep but just decent. When a enjoy lead by Choi-Jung(Joo Jin-mo) who is a arrogant and straightforward general and also weak against pretty girls gets falsely accused for being spies. They are exiled to the desert by the Ming army. But they get attacked by mongols and they kill off the Ming army that the envoy is being transported by. But the Mongols spare the envoy which consists of Koreans. Soon they end up rescuing the princess of Ming. Who starts off as a bratty and spoiled person. From the clutches of the Mongols and decides to return her back to the Ming dynasty in order to get the misunderstanding straightened out. But also a silent warrior aid them as well that is proficient in wielding a spear. And love triangle issues as they try to run and protect the princess while defending her from the mongol clutches. So yeah nothing special and has been done before for the most part. But it's the cool character and the fight scenes that make up this movie. In fact Joo Jin-mo and Jung Woo-sung were in their prime in this movie. At the time when this movie came out it was pretty good but now it just seems a bit outdated. With poor editing and choppy fight cinematography. And the fight sequences aren't all that memorable. But thinking in the way of when this movie came out, I am going to give it a straight 7.7/10

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 have to say i wasn't expecting anything grand wen i sat down to watch this film. was it due to the subject matter? i really don't know. this part of Chinese/korean history is relatively unknown. i knew that the main contenders in asia like Korea, china, mongolia and japan had been involved in several wars against each other at some point but never really come across any films on the subject. however this film uses these circumstances to portray a struggle for survival and showcases the ultimate sacrifice for love, honour and protection of the weak. this film is beautifully shot and exceptionally acted, this includes every single actor/actress. the quality of this film is undeniable. at no point does the film get boring, what with the battle scenes, love scenes and in fighting of the main characters. may i make a note at this point that the actor who plays ga-nam is really familiar but looking on his file this is the only film he has ever done, it seems that a few of the actors are very limited in experience but it does not show. the relationships in this film are the main reason this film works, the characters are so believable because they squabble, complain and fight each other. they are in a difficult situation not of their own making, yet through their sense of honour and loyalty to their general they come through their own fears and give their all for the cause. i have to admit i wasn't expecting the cost to be so severe at the end, you'll see what i mean. however i think this adds to the films motto of self sacrifice for a better cause.you'll enjoy this film, no matter what kind of films you usually watch.

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