Movie Title: 墨攻 (A Battle of Wits)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Year: 2006
A Battle of Wits official site: http://www.abattleofwits.com.hk/
Everything else could wait when it comes to priority for Andy Lau. Yes, Thai would have to delay, any other post can wait… even if I will have to be backdating 6 months events.
A Battle of Wits is a long awaited movie since Andy only acted in one or two movie a year. He did give a hint of what he was doing when he came down for concert last year. Which gets everyone all hype and anticipating.
I must say I am not disappointed at all with the movie. In fact, I think it was very much an exciting movie. Based on a famous Japanese manga “Bokkou”, this movie basically tells the history of Mozi.
Leave behind hopes of seeing extreme fights. Nope… not much blood fight scene… not much violence and gore as it’s not really what Mozi teaching is all about. It’s more about war strategy… universal love… peace. Yes, I know many were expecting big fight… millions of troops fighting and streams of blood which leads to a disappointment.
Okay… set in 243 B.C. when China was torn among seven states and was ruled by individual ruler. Everyone tries to conquer the other countries to expand their power. Smaller and weaker states often fell prey to larger and stronger ones.
The Liang city was an unfortunate victim when the Zhao state wanted to conquer the Yan state. Knowing that they have to take down Liang city first as a stepping stone to win the Yan state, a war must be fought. Desperate for help, the King of Liang (Wang Zhiwen) asked the fellow Mozi’s for help. 2 months has passed and yet, not even one person showed up.
One day, just when the Zhao army was getting ready to attack, a Mozi tribesman called Ge Li (Andy Lau) came to the rescue. Ge Li was having a hard time persuading the people of Liang to fight for their own rights and homeland. Everyone was motivated when Ge Li manages to scare away the Zhao army.
The King of Liang, being a selfish and greed for power person just couldn’t care less for his people. Even when the kingdom is on the brink of being attacked, he still have the mood to drink and get drunk while leaving all the war task to his son, Liang Shi (Choi Si Won).
Knowing he needs good leadership, he quickly promoted Zi Tuan (Nicky Wu). This make Lian Shi angry and a small competition of archery was done to prove Ge Li’s choice of men was right. Ultimately Zi Tuan did not disappoint Ge Li and was appointed General.
It’s amazing how one person can plan, decide, navigate and just be so rational at the same time. When the King know he can’t do anything but trust Ge Li, he pass the ultimate power to command the war troops to Ge Li. Ge Li’s strategy was working fine as he surely knows how to fight a psychology war. Yes, I do agree is all in the mind. The stronger the mind is… the higher the chance of winning.
Ge Li even come up with ideas like building a bulwark from the palace wall stones in seven days to strong hold the enemy out while shocking them with their ability. He even have everything planned out for instance ways to keep their water and food supply safe and the use of manure as a blanket on the villagers’ thatched roofs to prevent the spread of fire from flaming arrows.
The Zhao army, being lead by Commander Xiang Yanzhong (Ahn Sung Ki) suffer a big lost after the first round of attack. They retreat when the Commander was being shot by Zi Tuan. Being upset and angry with the lost, the Zhao army plan to re-attack Liang city.
Yi Yuen (Fan Bing Bing), the Calvary officer quickly assist Ge Li to spy on the Zhao camp. Being spotted and attacked, it leaves them no choice but jump from a cliff. After saving Yi Yuen, she quickly falls for Ge Li. Ge Li keeps pushing Yi Yuen away as a Mozi believes in one should care for all people equally.
The Liang kingdom under Ge Li’s plan once again manage to survive the Zhao attack when they tried to ambush the kingdom. Being surrounded and shot till death even when the Zhao army dropped their weapons, this has caused the other Zhao army to be angry.
Everything starts to tear apart in the Liang kingdom when they thought the Zhao army has retreat. The jealous king starts to worry that Ge Li would overthrown him. He quickly order his faithful general, General Niu (Chin Siu Hou) to get rid of Ge Li and everyone who obeys Ge Li.
It was surely a heavy price to pay to get rid of Ge Li. The Liang kingdom was vulnerable to attack after Ge Li was gone. The remaining Zhao troops came back to attack the Liang city as they think it’s really a disgrace such a big and strong kingdom was defeated by a small city under the supervision of one Mozi follower.
What happen next… hmm, you will have to really see it for yourself. Yes, I am leaving lots of empty blanks to fill in because I simply think it was a great movie. Muahaha.. it’s all in the mind! I totally love the idea and the storyline but I somehow think they could still further develop some of the character. Yes, they have a rather simple setting and costume compared to “The Banquet” but I must say, it outcome was far more better than “The Banquet”.
Having a great soundtrack to go along with the movie just brings out all the emotions and effects. Ah… not to mention… having Andy Lau is more than enough to kept me drooling. I just love handsome, cool, calm and capable man. Now… should I see it again? Should I not… I think I should. I don’t know… *drool*