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The
poster for the Two Towers? No, it's a grand historical battle epic
(click to see it enlarged)
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A
heroic adventure that leaves Hollywood epics like "Gladiator"
choking in the dust, the Korean-Chinese saga "Musa" is
one of the most pleasing battle films I've seen in the past ten
years. It's a film rich with all the trappings of history but also
liberally adopts the iconic characters of comic books and the energy
of video games. It's a combination that works despite the movie's
length.
One
of the most expensive Korean films ever made ($7 million), it looks
like an $80 million picture by Hollywood standards. Filmed in desert,
mountain and seaside locations, it is gloriously photographed. The
costume styling alone in the production design will make any fan
of historical epics drift in the details.
Set
in the 14th century, "Musa" is the story of an expedition
of Korean diplomats and soldiers sent to the Ming (Chinese) empire
where they are imprisoned and then sent to exile in the desert.
However, on their way to their destination they are set upon by
Yueh (Mongol-like northern nomads) who are at war with the Ming
and are set free. After struggling in the desert they fall in with
a different party of Yueh and their prisoner, a Ming princess (Crouching
Tiger's Zhang Ziyi), and decide to free her in the hopes that they
can regain favour with the Ming. Unfortunately, this only compounds
on their tribulations as the Yueh hound them all the way to Korea.
If
you like costumes, horses, and men rushing at each other with swords,
you will LOVE Musa
The
richness of "Musa" is that this somewhat complicated state
of affairs is only the beginning of what becomes an evolving set of
conflicts not only between the various enemies but also within the
Korean party. Under stress from their flight, divisions within the
Koreans come to the surface between the aristocratic officers and
their general (Jin Mo Ju), the foot soldiers and their veteran captain
(Sung-kee Ahn); and all the soldiers with the non-fighters in the
party. With the inclusion of the Chinese princess, played imperiously
by Zhang Ziyi, yet more factions develop. Finally, also in the mix
is a brooding slave who happens to be a superb spearman (Woo Sung
Jung), the cliched hero in hiding.
WOO
SUNG JUNG Yes, he's another brooding loner hiding heroic fighting
skills, but ... hey, he's awesome!
While
some who have trouble with the film's length might be tempted to
gloss over the various character subplots, it is a credit to the
film's director and writers that these conflicts are not just background
filler but become larger in scope as the pursuit reaches its climax.
The most important conflict becomes the one between the spearman-slave
Yeo-Sol and the general Choi Jung. Both are intrigued by the Chinese
princess and inevitably become locked in a struggle of wills over
her and the direction of the party.
Fans
of action need not worry that Musa is a stuffy melodrama, however,
as the vast majority of "Musa" is one battle after another.
The fighting scenes are a blend of martial arts and, video game
moves. This is not wuxia acrobatics, though, it is bloody, arm-chopping,
gory combat played out with a variety of 14th century weaponry where
characters are as much identified by their outrageous weapons as
they are by their faces. Yeo-Sol, for example, has a long spear
that he sweeps around like a sword, cutting down dozens of opponents.
Others have their personal battle axes, bows, and ridiculously overbalanced
swords that scream action figure.
Director
Kim Sung Su manages to shoot the battles energetically with close
framing and quick cuts without losing coherency, something that
is very difficult to do in a chaotic battlefield. The horse stunts
are superior, with cavalry charging through clusters of fighting
men, horses stumbling and throwing their riders as their legs are
cut out from underneath them. There is no beauty in the choreography
here, only the brutality of hand-to-hand combat. Arms go flying,
heads pop off, men are sometimes impaled two on the same spear.
Any fan of "Conan the Barbarian" will be in rapture. Indeed,
I can think of no one better to film the next "Conan"
than Kim Sung Su.
ZHANG
ZIYI plays yet another princess waiting to be rescued. However,
in "Musa" she doesn't get to do much
If
there is any criticism of "Musa" it is probably that it
lags a fair bit between the battles. Unfortunately, the relationships
between the princess character and the two men vying for the right
to protect her are a bit lame. Zhang Ziyi doesn't do much more than
pout and look tragic. Don't expect her to replicate any of her feats
from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Also, if there's
too much of a good thing, it is that "Musa" has one battle
too many. The action is great but really one 'final battle' should
be enough.
This
Korean movie site has a lot of stills from "Musa".
On
DVD.
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