It’s easy to be a little wary of a movie like Jade Warrior going into it. The film never got much of a theatrical run here in the states (if it did at all), and who could know what to expect from a martial arts co-production between Finland and China? Who could know what to expect from a Finnish movie at all? Well, apparently what you can expect is a somber, hypnotic tale of love and loss crossed with a kung fu movie, which is generally known as a genre that often puts style over substance. With a captivating story, pretty terrific acting all around, and a few fights scattered throughout the movie, Jade Warrior is surprising mix that could manage to entice both the martial arts and art house crowds.
Perhaps the biggest hurdle to get past in this movie is its plot; featuring time shifts from ancient China to modern day Helsinki, a legend about the son of a blacksmith who will vanquish evil, and a machine of sorts called the Sampo, which is either the source of all happiness or a gateway to hell. The movie doesn’t always seem concerned with filling you in on what’s going on as much as it wants to give you beautiful images, often telling its story through wordless passages or through minimalistic dialogue. Once this barrier of the movie’s story is passed through though, and you just accept what the movie is giving you, what follows is a rewarding and ambitious experience.
A lot of the credit for the movie’s success has to go to actor Tommi Eronen, who carries this film on his back quite well while playing the dual-role of both sad sack modern day blacksmith and fearless half Chinese warrior, sent to slay a demon threatening to rule the Earth. I was impressed at how both characters are similar but still different in many ways, their outlooks at very different places. The modern character Kai is easy to identify with, as he deals with the recent breakup of his girlfriend. When this legend is presented to him he thinks it ridiculous, but this fairy tale is better than the reality he now knows. The ancient warrior Sintai is a man that simply wants to know what it is to live like an ordinary person before going out to meet his fate, but then finds that the simple life he is wanting is not so simple after all.
While Eronen is quite good, the best part of the film is simply the somber tone it presents to you. While much of the film takes place in ancient China, there’s an aesthetic that runs throughout the movie that that reminded me of European folktales. Often these tales were lessons on humanity, but would often not end happily. When Sintai must go to face the demon, these moments in the movie are not necessarily heroic as they are poignant. His gift for accomplishing his mission is nirvana, but he would like to know the love of a woman before leaving this existence. This legend is instead a sort of opportunity for Kai, who has lost his drive for life with the loss of his one true love.
It’s this story and general sadness that drives the picture, definitely outweighing any moments of action, which has some of the martial arts sequences in the film being more serviceable than exciting. The film makers were obviously going for more dance-like sequences than any sort of visceral excitement, but at a certain point some of the scenes seem like little more than just dancing. On the other hand, acting is pretty terrific across the board, especially from Krista Kosonen and Zhang Jingchu, women that have a heavy hand in both sides of this tale. I also very much like Markku Peltola as Berg, a mentor for Kai who has dedicated his life to this legend, and takes another important role in the film’s ending.
Jade Warrior is a picture that surprises with just how emotionally gripping it can be. The movie’s messages about love and destiny are simple ones, but by showing how they can drive us or destroy us are truths the movie is trying to reach for. Jade Warrior tries to find a nice balance of trying to entertain you with its messages and how odd it is without being off-putting. The mix of European and Chinese film making is an odd one, but in the ends up coming together for a satisfyingly unique experience.
The print on this disc is quite nice, with deep blacks and good enough clarity and detail for a standard definition disc. The sound is also good and gets the job done.
Behind the Digital Effects of Jade Warrior – This is a nice little Featurette, which covers just how subtle the use of CGI in this movie can be, as well as the shots of a giant army of monks. This is nice, but I really would have liked something that covered the story development for this film.
Trailers
Jade Warrior shocked me with just how good it is. Like a European folktale mixed with a modern Wuxia adventure, this is a fascinating movie with a terrific emotional center. This isn’t a great DVD extras-wise, but likely the best that you’re going to get.
Lionsgate presents Jade Warrior. Directed by: Antti-Jussi Annila. Starring: Tommi Eronen, Zhang Jingchu, Krista Kosonen, and Markku Peltola. Written by: Antti-Jussi Annila. Running time: 110 minutes. Rating: PG-13. Released on DVD: April 6, 2010 . Available at Amazon.com.
