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Starring:
Woo-sung Jung ... Yeo-sol
Sung-kee Ahn ... Jin-lib
Jin-mo Ju ... Choi Jung
Ziyi Zhang ... Princess Bu-yong (as Zhang Ziyi)
Yong-woo Park ... Ju-myeong
Jeong-hak Park ... Ga-nam
Hye-jin Yu ... Du-chung
Seok-yong Jeong ... Ha-il
Du-il Lee ... Ji-san
Yeong-mok Han ... Dan-saeng
Jae-ho Song
Hae-jin Yu
Rongguang Yu ... Rambulhua, Yuan General
In 1375, China was in a state of chaos because of fighting between the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. The korea dynasty, one of Korea's ancient kingdoms, sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave as envoys to make peace with the new Chinese government, Ming. However, this delegation was accused of spying and sent in exile to a remote desert. On the way, they were attacked by Yuan troops who killed all the Ming soldiers, leaving only korea warriors. The head envoy General CHOI Jung of the Royal Guard decides by himself that they must return to korea. Vice Envoy LEE Ji-hun dies from the strain of the march, and tension builds between LEE's bodyguard slave Yeosol and CHOI Jung.
After overcoming countless obstacles, the Korea warriors arrive at a peddler's inn in the middle of the desert and run into Yuan cavalry who have kidnapped Ming's princess Buyong. CHOI Jung falls in love with Buyong the moment he sees her. Meanwhile, Yeosol arrives later, dragging vice envoy LEE Ji-hun's body. He cuts off the head of a gypsy who spits on the dead body. Yuan general Rambulhwa sees Yeosol decapitate the gypsy with one strike. Princess Furong also looks on from her wagon. Yeosol is eventually taken captive by the Yuan cavalry. CHOI Jung picks up a note from Buyong written in her blood that says 'Help', and he decides to rescue her so that they can get a boat bound for Korea. CHOI Jung's aide Ganam and a warrior from the Commoner's Army, Jinlip, oppose the idea, saying it would be futile. However, they end up proceeding with the rescue with Jinlip shooting the first arrow. Buyong is rescued, but only at the expense of many korea warriors' lives.
Princess Furong and the Korea warriors, whose destination is Nanjing (the old southern capital of China), arrive at the Yellow River Valley where they find all the ferry boats burnt by Yuan soldiers. There they run into a group of Han tribe refugees. Furong feels empathy for her people and promises to give the warriors a boat to Korea if they take the refugees to the coast next to Mud Castle. They arrive at Mud Castle after even more trials, only to find the castle in ruins and no Ming soldiers. By this time, the Yuan soldiers have caught up with them and the Korea travelers become increasingly nervous. The underlying conflict between CHOI Jung and Yeosol over princess Buyong also deepens. Now they must choose. Give up princess Buyong or fight to the death together. The moment of truth approaches Can they return to Korea safely?
This was a pretty good movie. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I guess more dramatic would be the interpretive word. The copy I saw lots of blank areas for subs so a lot of translation was missed but the idea was still there.
I was a little irritated with the Princess. I had to agree with the guys to drop her off with the Yuan army and leave for Korea. But no.....General Choi Jung believed that saving her was more beneficial for them seeing as she promised them a boat if they got her to the "mud castle". Eeeergh!
Then we have Yeosol. I really loved his character. He was awesome with the lance! Totally cool choreograpy! But damn what is it with the Princess. She was all nice in the beginning but then her "niceness" was getting them all killed! Then she got all hoity-toity! Yeah, should have just fed her to the Yuan army. The whole movie would have ended quickly but then there would have been less dead people!
Then I cried when a particular member of the envoy was killed. I won't say who as to not ruin the movie for everyone else. But that was such a sad moment that I was all weepy. Then from that point on.....I was waiting for the guillotine to drop. I knew this had a sad ending but I wasn't sure how it would go down.
Now on a good note...even though his character was a little messed up was...Ju Jin Mo was so damn hot in period clothing. Oooh-la-la! And speaking of eyecandy, yo!............Jeong Woo Seong was looking all fine with the long, straight black hair. Kind of reminded me of another particular Korean in the Duelist! I've seen other JWS movies but this one he looked totally the best!!
