Bullet Points: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Another unbelievable looking trailer from the folks over at Well Go USA immediately piqued my interest. My historical knowledge doesn’t extend much to modern day Hong Kong but the story of this film is less important to me than the actors involved. Sammo Hung is the obvious one to action lovers but Louis Koo and Raymond Lam have consistently raised eyebrows and gaped mouths with their outstanding action sequences for years. This should be fun…
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Synopsis: Many years after the bloody turf war that ushered in an uneasy era of peace in Hong Kong’s underworld, the notorious Kowloon Walled City serves as a fortified, lawless safe haven for gangs and refugees alike. But when a skilled underground fighter runs afoul of the most feared Triad boss in Hong Kong, a bounty is placed on his head despite his connections to the leader of the infamous enclave. As his pursuers violate the tenuous territorial truce to exact their vengeance, the fallout reignites old grudges, bringing decades of building tension to a brutal, bloody boiling point.
- The Gist: A refugee arrives from the Mainland and immediately finds himself in hot water from the Triads. The mysterious stranger escapes from the gangsters by hiding inside the walls of the famed Kowloon Walled City. Even the Triads aren’t brave enough to go in there as that is the territory of the notorious Cyclone (Louis Koo). It isn’t long before the stranger is using his martial skills to survive and thrive amongst the people living there. He learns that the folks living there are doing so peacefully and that this could be his best opportunity for a life of peace and substance. Unbeknownst to him, the stranger’s mysterious past comes back in a thrilling and explosive way as the Triads and other gang leaders coalesce in a fleshy, bloody battle of wills underneath the high walls of Kowloon City.
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- The Setting: The city of Kowloon becomes a character in the film. I was concerned by the title that this was part of a series of films but it appears not to be the case. If you’re coming in blindly on your knowledge of British Occupation Hong Kong then you’re not alone. I don’t think it effected my enjoyment of the picture and one might argue that my blind spot in history of this particular area makes the film even better.
- Family is everything: If I learned anything from the characters in this film it’s that loyalty to friends and your community can sometimes trump blood. Our mysterious refugee stranger may be out of his element but he soon finds himself amongst a group of like-minded men and women and learns that walls aren’t always meant to keep people out…. sometimes they also help to keep people safe inside.
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- The Action: Some really smart guy out there could prepare a thesis on the unbelievable action sequences in Twilight of the Warriors. Director Soi Cheang outdid himself here as each act features enough chase scenes and fisticuffs to get your heartrate to an almost unhealthy level. Flying sledgehammers, saw blades, and spirit shields might seem out of context to someone who hasn’t yet watched Walled In, but those are among my notes relating to different action scenes and you can be assured that they fit into the insanity of the fights much better. The finale of this film had me wondering “what else could they possibly do?” on multiple occasions.
Now strap yourself in for some Bonus Bullet Points:
- The sets for the Walled City are outstanding. It looks “lived in” and I hope they took advantage of it and filmed more stuff there.
- Sammo Hung still gots it!
- People who have been begging for a Motocross/MMA crossover will love this movie.
- The final fight felt like what I would do with a live action TMNT film. Just substitute our heroes for heroes in a half-shell and the big bad for a certain chrome-helmeted villain.
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The Verdict: Some things never change. That’s a strong message learned by the survivors of the film. Many of them were born and raised in the chaos of the Walled City and now they’ve just fought tooth and nail to protect the very thing that has nearly killed them time and time again. Often times we become part of the environment that we were nurtured and raised in but it doesn’t mean that we have to accept that the environment will stay the same. Sometimes with grit, toughness, and togetherness, it can be changed for the better. No matter what happens, better is worth fighting for.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In might be a long title but it’s a film worth seeking out. Not only for the extraordinary fight sequences but also for the wonderful acting and the heartfelt messages of loyalty and redemption. TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN hit Blu-ray, DVD & 4K Ultra HD November 19 from your friends at Well Go USA.