Stars: Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Sonny Chiba, Kristy Yang, Qi Shu

Director: Wai Keung Lau

Summary: Computer graphics are used for the special effects combining with explosive martial arts for this Hong Kong epic.

This martial arts fantasy film--starring Ekin Cheng, Aaron Kwok, and Sonny Chiba--is based on the best-selling, long-running comic book series WIND AND CLOUD by artist Ma Wing-Shing. Dazzling special effects combine with high-flying kung fu action to create one of Hong Kong's biggest hit movies.

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The Stormriderstransplants Macbethinto a medieval China in director Andy Lau's reinvention of classical tragedy as CGI-laden blockbuster. Officially the source material is a best-selling Manga, and the flying heroes with magical powers and the wild camera angles do indeed have a real graphic-novel flair. As the warlord Sonny Chiba is a commanding presence, while Ekin Cheng as Wind and Aaron Kwok as Cloud are perfect contrasting comic-book warriors. Kristy Yeung is a suitably lovely heroine, while Shi Qi provides irritating comic relief. There is style to burn, with beautiful imagery bearing the influence of Ridley Scott and, in the "blur-motion" duel in a bamboo forest, Wong Kar-Wai; indeed, Lau has served as Kar-Wai's cinematographer. Spectacular yet laden with symbolism The Stormridersis a film to bridge the appeal of Ashes of Time(1994) and The Bride with White Hair(1993) with the Superman(1978) and Mummy(1999) movies. The fights and a romantic flying sequence pay homage to the former, the computer effects update the groundbreaking Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain(1983) with the technology of the latter. Sometimes overly ambitious or just plain bizarre The Stormridersis an emotionally charged darkly romantic adventure which outclasses any comic-book adaptation Hollywood has made in years.

On the DVD:The first disc presents the 127-minute director's cut in its original 2.35:1 ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. While the sound is clean, dynamic and makes great use of all the channels the picture is presented non-anamorphically, so that while well-focused, with strong colours and little sign of artefacting, it is not as solid or detailed as it could be. The main special features are two documentaries, a general "making-of" running 22 minutes, and a 20-minute "featurette" on the special effects. Both are promotional pieces made at the time of the film's release.

The second disc features the US trailer and an object lesson in how to ruin a film, i.e. the "international" version ofThe Stormriders. Cut by 38 minutes, horribly panned and scanned and dubbed, this is a travesty that destroys all the beauty and atmosphere and renders the story incomprehensible. Why anyone would watch it when they have the complete film on the first disc is a mystery. The sound is again Dolby Digital 5.1 and the 4:3 image is fair. --Gary S Dalkin

Aspect Ratio:	Wide Screen
Main Language:	Cantonese
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Directors Cut Version, Theatrical Trailer, Exclusive Making Of The Stormriders, Special Effects Featurette, Character Profiles, Cast Biographies And Filmographies, Production Stills Gallery, Interactive Moving Menus, Scene Selection
Subtitles:	English
Year:	1998
Release Date:	October 22, 2001
Runtime:	130 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D V 1064
Keywords:	Martial, Subtitled, Two, Wide, Screen, Riders, Dubbed, Storm, Discs, Cantonese, Arts, Stormriders, Yun, Fen
Genre:	Martial Arts