The Legend of the Shadowless Sword

New Line Cinema in association with CJ Entertainment, a Taewon Yedang Entertainment Production: The Legend of the Shadowless Sword.

Master swordplay, epic battles and stunning martial arts action kick into high gear in this fantastical adventure set in ancient Korea. 927 AD. The Killer-Blade Army has toppled the ruling dynasty, plunged the kingdom into chaos. The only remaining heir, Prince Jung-Hyun is living in exile, unaware of his family’s dark fate. Still loyl to the dynasty, the beautiful and deadly warrior Soha sets out to find Jung-Hyun and guide him to become the great leader he was born to be. But with the Army’s greatest assassins and the criminal underworld hunting them, Soha and Jung-Hyun are swept into an explosive nonstop battle of swords, wits and bloodshed as they to reclaim the fallen throne.

At the end of the movie, after all said and done, the prince led his Army to the gate of Balhae. Before he put on his battle helmet, he turned to his soldiers and makes a speech. “We were robbed of our castle…our land…and our country. They even invaded our capitol…and changed the name of the palace. Our people have died. They beseech us to recover the valuable things they have lost. So, in this battle…we are not going to falter or fail! We’ll continue to fight. If our swords break, we’ll fight our hands. If we have no strength left, our eyes will pierce the enemies. If our eyes get plucked out…we will cry to the heavens about their sin. We’ll let them know…that they can never take anything away from us. This castle will once again be named Holhan Palace…and we will restore our country!”

He then turned toward his enemy and cried out, “Charge!!!!!”

The film ended there. The script came up after that scene:  Finally in the year 928 East Georan reverts back to Yodong. After that New Balhae and Junghan are established. These two are considered the descendants of Balhae.

The film is rated R for violence, supplemental material not rated.  I say that was a good Block Buster pick. I often hesitate when it comes to Asian martial film.  I hate to run into that same ole mumble jumbles.  Making the wrong choice would mean “Waste”.    This movie was fun to watch. I like their costumes designs. Each scene is highly prep and decorated with a good back drop.   It really showed they paid attention to details.  The extras are so funny looking, they’re the type you don’t see often in movies.   The martial is good not too much.  The delay of death is cool, the blood squirt and burst out shooting in different direction? Groovy awesome.  It was like, okay?  This is something new.    The over all production is great.  The actors and the actresses fit the part in the movie. In comparison to the Last Samurai, I would say that this movie is stronger in creativeness and artistic. The fight sequences are something new.   The Korean product is taking over the market: car, television, music, food, fashion, and film.

This is how movies should develop into.  Human drama is forever.  A movie that’s entertaining at the same time shows human quality is what I got out of this whole thing not the hatred and vengeance.   Guys, lets continue on this route.