Title: ZU WARRIROS (aka THE LEGEND OF ZU)
(2001)
Produced and Directed by: Tsui Hark
Ever been to the fair? A carnival? The circus? You’re treated to a dazzling spectacle, but you don’t exactly get to know the performers. Same thing goes for ZU WARRIORS, a film by Tsui Hark, often described as the “David Lynch of Asian Cinema”. More like the Blue Man Group of Asia, unless there’s an even longer version of DUNE out there that Alan Smithee wouldn’t put his name on. ZU WARRIORS is — surprise! — an ancient legend describing yet another ultimate battle of good versus evil. The good guys have a stereotypical wizened old man named White Eyebrows (who could really use a trimmer), along with a generic hero type and beautiful woman for the hero to love. They all fly around with swords and live for centuries, spending eternity honing their martial skills and looking enigmatically at each other. The bad guys consist of WETA’s leftover special effects, including a “blood monster” who looks like Willy Wonka’s chocolate river on a bad day, and Insomnia, a giant floaty skull made up of Stephen King’s Langoliers and that talks — eerily — like a very young child. Now this demon has potential! However, you don’t get to know anything about Insomnia, or anyone else, in this flick, and if there’s one thing that Joss Whedon has taught us, it’s that it’s all about character development, baby.
I believe in my heart that there is a plot buried somewhere in this film; perhaps you will be the lucky one to find it. ZU WARRIORS is cinematic cotton candy — heavy on the digital effects and fight scenes; not so much on the compelling characters or weighty script. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, then this is the flick for you!
DVD available from our fine friends at Another Heaven.
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