Mulan

Hua Mulan
China (2009)
Starring:  Wei Zhao, Jaycee Chan, and Rongguang Yu
Awards:  Golden Deer (Changchun Film Festival 2010), Shanghai Film Critics Award (Shanghai Film Critics Awards 2010)

Mulan is another epic.  Epic in story, history, deeds, and the filming.  When I first watched this movie it reminded me of Joan of Arc.  It wasn't till a little later that I discovered Hua Mulan is a true historical Chinese figure dating roughly back to 300AD.

Hua Mulan, a woman who couldn't bear to see her aged father be called to battle sacrificed herself and went to fight for him.  Women of course weren't allowed in battle so she disguised herself as a man and took her father's place.  Legend has it that she fought for 12 years under his name.  A noble tale of sacrifice and honor.

I 100% enjoyed this movie.

Veer

Veer
India (Bollywood)
2010
Starring:  Salman Khan, Zarine Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff

As the poster says, it Veer is the epic love story of a warrior. The movie boasts some decent sweeping visual scenes as well as a multicultural tale.  Veer is a story of honor, betrayal, and love against the backdrop of a historically epic time in India.

Veer is a Pindari warrior whose father and tribe are betrayed by the British and Madhavgarh's King.  Fate one day brings Veer and his warriors to rob a train that will change the course of history for the Pindari.

Veer has extremely mixed reviews on all fronts, still I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Some say the final scenes aren't necessary, but I find some cosmic peace in the ending; others say the battles were unnecessary, I'm not sure how else one would portray this warrior without them; and still others yet say it was cheesy, every Bollywood romance has a huge element of that.  All in all I'd watch it again.  I hope Netflix soon brings it to the USA masses, I'd like to see Zarine Khan boosted into stardom and this first movie of hers referenced as one of her greats in years to come.

Quote: This story belongs to fearless the Pindari whose saga of bravery was not considered as a part of history by the British. But, they could not stop them from becoming a legend.

"What is the Greatest Thing for a Pindari?" - "Courage"
"And greater than courage?" - "Promise"
"And greater than a promise?" . . .

Ye yan - The Banquet

Ye yan - The Banquet
2006
China
Starring:  Ziyi Zhang, You Ge, and Daniel Wu

Ye yan, is credited with being an adaptation of Hamlet from China.  Ye yan
is about a prince who has turned his back on being a future ruler of his kingdom; he would prefer to study the arts then to take the crown and play aristocrat.

The Banquet is complete with back stabbing, forbidden love, poison, family struggles within the government, assassins, and a few good ass kicking scenes.  Wu Luan, the crown prince, has the cards stacked against him from the beginning.

This movie has some spectacular martial arts scenes.  If it is available in HD it would be worth the acquisition. For the lovers of martial arts movies and Chinese period flicks this is a must watch.  If you enjoyed Crouching  Tiger Hidden Dragon for the art and martial arts then you will most certainly enjoy this movie.

Quote:  "Why do you wear a mask when you perform?"
"It transports an actor to the highest state of his art.  Without a mask, happiness, anger, sorrow and joy are simply written on his face.  But, with a mask a great artist can convey to the audience the most complex and hidden emotions."

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