Shinsuke Sato and action choreographed by THE DONNIE YEN!

First off this movie opens with one of the most beautiful action sequences I've seen in a long time (and I have seen my share). The film is about a somewhat derelict clan which has been overthrown and who are now elite mercenaries. There is an opening monologue that explains it but it goes by pretty fast and is a lot of information that is somewhat unnecessary. Short and sweet, it's about the princess of the clan who wants to escape from those who killed her mother. She gets involved with a guy who is some sort of freedom fighter against the mysterious new empire but who also wants to escape.

Anyway, what this film boils down to is lots of jaw dropping action in the first half hour, then 45 minutes of character development, recovery, and emotions which are a bit overplayed and then a final battle, of course. A lot of people sneered at the slow middle because the emotions were a bit overdone but I feel that it gives the film balance and to make it more of an action movie with little heart would be to take away from the story (which is apparently adapted from a Manga series).

Donnie Yen of course delivers amazing techno style battles with mostly swordplay and I was kind of disappointed that the guy with the chain doesn't have more scenes. Oh yeah, the film takes place in a sort of post-apocalyptic future Japan which is hinted at in the style of the interiors, the costumes, and the fact that when they go into the city there's humongous towers everywhere and some derelict skeletons of buildings that look like roller coasters. There's also a rocket train that blasts through nonchalantly through the middle of the film which excited me since I thought maybe they'd have a fight on but alas, no.

It truly is a beautiful action movie just, don't expect a lot of action but the little that is there is truly amazing.

THE CLERKINCOW