Writer: Anne Jamaludin

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Watch this if you liked: “300”, “Sin City”, “Hero”

"The Warrior's Way" might be a newcomer's directorial debut though it is indeed a movie that is more than what meets the eye. This movie's focal theme would be the duo of two most interesting fantasy eras: Eastern samurais and Western cowboys. Director Sngmoo Lee successfully combined what seemed to be a combination of 'sushi and steak' into the most delicious and rare cuisine ever served on a platter. It has everything every moviegoers out there would love in a movie: action, fantasy, adventure, gun-toting steampunk cowboys, ninja assassins who lived by the samurai code - and a nice pinch of gore and romance to make it delicious without overdoing it.

The movie has a very interesting opening scene where director Lee inserted a graphic novel-like narration and ambience with the graphics as well as special effects motivating the audiences to an exciting great start. The story follows a fallen rogue assassin who desired to put his bloody past behind and builds a new life. He had found himself at a rundown town named Lode where its meagre population (of 500) had suffered from violent suppression. Among them were a group of circus performers where the rogue assassin befriended a fiery red-haired Lynne, the circus head named Eight Ball and a drunkard named Ron. There were also some very memorable scenes which in particular bore some resemblances to old school Japanese animations "Lone Wolf And Cub" as well as "Samurai X" inside the movie that will make any fans smile in appreciation inside the theatre.

Jang Dong-Gun is apparently only the fourth Korean actor to be featured in a Hollywood movie and though it seems as if he was being cast in stereotypical roles before, Jang proved that Tinseltown will see a lot more of him in the future after his performance as the calm, poker-faced former Sad Flutes assassin in "The Warrior's Way". He is also touted as the first Korean to have a full-frontal feature on the movie poster, which could only mean Jang was given a major role and he deserved it. The heroine, Kate Bosworth who played Lynne (known more as Lois Lane) seemed to have polished her acting and she also sported a cute southern accent as well as having significant fight scenes in this movie from all of the ones she has ever acted in. Geoffrey Rush as Ron managed to touch a viewer's heart, no matter how short his scenes had been. Rush will bring laughter with some of his brief antiques, pumping up the audience in anticipation for his next "Pirates" movie to come out even faster.

Another praiseworthy aspect of the movie would be the brilliant costume designs where audiences who are familiar with the term 'steampunk' (a current craze amongst US costume enthusiasts) may see some eye-catching weapon and character designs in the movie implementing such mechanical 'fashion'.

"The Warrior's Way" is one movie no moviegoer should ever miss because it has everything that would suit any taste out there, especially for fans of Zack Snyder ("300", "Watchmen") since Sngmoo Lee might just be his new contender. Who knows maybe this time it might be the other way around - this movie should be adapted into a graphic novel very, very soon because it definitely deserves one.

Cinema Online, 06 December 2010