Sunday, May 06, 2012

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale 2011



Continuing my "Elderly At the Movies" series, featuring films I must pick up when I'm not constantly being distracted by video games.

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale is a 2011 Taiwanese historical drama, directed by Wei Te-Sheng and produced by John Woo, based on Wushe Incident in central Taiwan in 1930.

The most expensive production in Taiwanese cinema history. The film is divided into two parts  part 1 titled "The Flag of Sun" part 2 "The Bridge of Rainbow" for a total running time of up to four and half hours. 

NOTE European audiences are having a hard time finding the full boxset, The offerings at present on localized  Amazon, HMV and Zavvi sites, are not the full 4+ hour version.  Always check the running time before purchase!!!!

What it says on the Tin:
"Some eighty years ago, in the mountains of Taiwan, two races clashed in defense of their faiths. One race believed in rainbows, the other believed in the sun. Neither side realized that they both believed in the same sky."

Quote of the Bunch:"..one wishes the results were less kitschy and more coherent; still, the filmmaking has a raw physicality and crazy conviction it's hard not to admire." Slant Magazine

Reviews summary
S
pectacular rain forest combat scenes are non-stop in an authentic-feeling actioner.
The pacing of Warriors of the Rainbow is clumsy, its battle scenes chaotic and its computer effects cheesy.
Taiwan's "Braveheart," with a nod to "The Last of the Mohicans."
It's not clear what is valued more - endless preaching about ancestral spirits or gruesome CG decapitations.
Has the shape of something weightier than the simplified good-vs.-evil movie it actually is.
A bruising, relentless experience, one more tiring than inspiring.

Official Website

See all "Movie" posts


13 comments:

GamingAles said...

Did someone say the magic words, "gruesome CG decapitations"? Looks like an epic too.

Unknown said...

Greetings dear Bickle :)

.. alot of decapitations indeed! enough to have them mentioned in nearly every review... but the biggest question is whether I could sit through 4 plus hours of subtitles.. I may need to visit specsavers!

GamingAles said...

Ha! Yeah reading subs for 4 hours might be a bit much. Tends to distract from the moving picturey bits. Still, worth it tho judgeing by the trailer. I'm off to hunt for a reasonably priced blu-ray pre-order.

Unknown said...

I can tell you now, amazon uk only have the short version not the full 4+ hours...

Bickle? ... Bickle?

Oh oh..

(chases after Bickle....)

GamingAles said...

Whew, I'm back... knackered... *doubles over* Thought I saw... someone chasing me... so sped up *takes deep inhalation and sits down*. Been to play, amazon, hmv, Zavvi. Can't see any mention of running times though, where are you looking? Best price seems to HMV at £12. I reckon I'd have to the 4 hour version if poss, just to see it in all it's glory...

GamingAles said...

Thanks for leaving the messages in various internet based places :) Thanks to your advice I've not put any cash down yet until we get to the bottom of this running time issue...

Unknown said...

(Enters, out of breath, sweat pouring from his forehead...)

There.. you are... phew!..
No worries that was me...
.Chasing you... your not a sprint racer by any chance...?

(collapses into armchair...)

..Looked on Amazon and HMV, gonna check out playasia when I get home form work...

the pricing I beleive is a good indicator as to whether it's the full version or not, like you I want the looooooonggggg version, not the fiddly short one...

Will keep you updated on my search...

(checks comment for spelling....)

8( did I say I was at work.. oh how silly of me, nope, not at work, actually I'm ..erm.. in the.. am

:) ..in the gym!! yes that's it, will check out yesasia, playasia. and anything else with asia on it.... when I get home

GamingAles said...

I didn't even know there was such a thing as playasia lol. Just noticed you left an Xbox message too! You must be absolutely worn out, AND you've been to the gym too!

Unknown said...

Yeah sorry bout all that :( but I was frantic you'd pick up a short version...

And thanks for adding me on xboxlive??

:)

Playasia dot com has been a great source of some classic Japanese music albums for years now, rubbish for movies though!!

gnome said...

(enters in a dreadful state)

Why oh why cannot I find thy email? Have I been cursed or merely shat upon?

(collapses holding a sign; it writes "maiiiiiiil me, aaaargh, please?)

Unknown said...

Reckon we've both been troika'd...plus Seamus the Leprechaun pulled my email link, the bast?%&**

:(

(rushes to find Gnome's email addy)

gnome said...

SO, it was indeed the troika. Just as I suspected!

Unknown said...

I have cleverily used your secret drop box, for all things secretive and such, at your hallowed Gnomeslair, ergo my email addy should be winging it's way through the hallowed halls of the pentagon and the fbi on it's way to your ..erm.. am, secretive inbox..

(considers redrafting.. yawns... falls asleep... such are the pleasure and vagaries of old age)