SHADOWS OF AXIAN LEGENDS

K O R E A N M O V I E S S P E C I A L

A small, secluded, bay with floating shacks is used by small amounts of city folk for their weekend getaways.

A silent, unnamed, woman caretakes the bay, providing food. transport and prostitues [ when she have no wish to supply herself ] for the weekend 'guest'. Not many offend or disrespect the silent woman, those who do are soon despatched by either fishing hooks, or an icepick - and this is all done by some mysterious, underwater, force.

Along comes a 'refugee' from the city, escaping an unknown fate. Alone in a shack their attempts to get accquainted are both touching and repulsive - Romeo and Juliet this is ot as this turns into one the most gore fest movies to ever come out of Asia [including Japan - see the Ring and compare].

This is NOT a film for anyone who is squeamish or uncomfortable with screen violence. A haunting and powerful film which may just underly the nature of human relatioships - minus all the emotive elements.

1375 : China - There is a complete breakdown of diplomacy between the Yuan and the Ming Dynasties. Coryo, a kingdom of Korea, has dispatched dipolmats and soldiers to assist in the peace making negotiations. Believeing them to be spies they are exiled to the further most regions of a desert - far from home.

The Coryo soldiers, and diplomats, engage in a battle with Yuang soldiers - their escape is hard won and they continue to head for home. En route they meet the Yuan soldiers again..., this time the Yuans have a Ming Princess as a captive. The Coryo soldiers engage in battle, yet again, to rescue the Princess.

The Coryo soldiers are now set with the problem of returning the Princess and leaving China in one piece.

Although missing the 'grandeur' of Bi Chun Moo this is worthy effort on Korean history and a DAMN FINE MOVIE which I urge to see. Zhang Zi Yi's last performance was in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

1992 : North Korean Training Camp - Using LIVE ammnumition and LIVE TARGETS, the soldiers are trainning to be the ULTIMATE SOLDIERS, the most superior killing machines known to man. A female operative, Lee Bang-Hee, is sent on a mission to kill her target in South Korea. Years after the success of her mission, Lee is still on the loose. A South Korean Agent, Ryu, is sent to find and capture Lee but Lee has undergone plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, back in North Korea, Park - a renegade commando - has crossed the border to steal a shipment of CTX explosives. Ryu has now got two imperitives to deal with..., the tracking of Lee and the arrival of Park.

Add to this an upcoming football match between North and South Korea and the emrgence of Lee, intent on using the oppurtunity to wreak havoc, and you have a fast-paced, in-your-face, action thriller the likes made Hong Kong the action capital of the Asia Film World.

Set during the Han Dynasty this Hong inspired swordplay, action flick, concerns the love triangle between Jinha, Sullie, a Mongol General's daughter and the General's concubine. The two lovers, Sullie and Jinha, become separated after the death of Sullie's Mother. After her death a string of rivals and accusations, conflicts and misunderstandings cause Jinha and Sullie to grow further apart.

With Sullie's absence Jinha falls for the General's Concubine and thus, the triangle is complete.

Based on a late 80's, Korean comic by female artists, Kim Hye-rin, this film has, by all accounts, been better recived than Crouching Tiger by most fans of Hong Kong movies. Full of sumptous colours and exotic scenery and choreography this film has an MTV style of editing and all the trademarks of HK's cameras [ and stunts ].

This is truly a rare movie by Korean standards ; lavish sets, highly stylised action sequences, special effects and a huge budget to match anything curently being produced by Hong Kong or the States.