Fridae

Peter Chan is easily one of the best � if not the best � Hong Kong directors working today. His films Comrades: Almost A Love Story, Going Home (the segment in the horror triptych Three Extremes II) and Perhaps Love transcend their respective genres to become minor gems, or even classics in their own right. Who better to direct this ambitious US$40-million costume drama than the man who is adept at helming a film of any genre?

Boasting some of the most spectacular battle sequences in Chinese films, Warlords is set in mid-19th-century China where the country is ruled by the vicious and corrupt Manchus. The Manchus had invaded the country from the North to establish China's last imperial dynasty.

Amid the political and social upheavals, three sworn brothers rise up to fight fearlessly against the Manchus. The three are Ma Xinyi (Jet Li), who dreams of ridding the country of the Manchus, Cao Erhu (Andy Lau) who is the leader of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebel group, and Zhang Wenxiang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) his lieutenant. Their sworn brotherhood helps them win battles, but it eventually leads them down the path of tragedy...

From its first frame to its last, Warlords is a pleasure to look at. The production values, from the sets and costumes to the musical score and cinematography, are extremely high. The fight sequences that dominate the first half of the film are beautifully choreographed and stunningly shot. The second half of the film becomes more emotional and intellectually-driven as it goes in depth to examine the traits of the three men, who each represent different aspects of the male personality.

High-octane yet intelligent, Warlords is the must-see movie of the week.