Warriors of Heaven and Earth
| Warriors of Heaven and Earth | |
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 U.S. theatrical poster |
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| Traditional | 天地英雄 |
| Simplified | 天地英雄 |
| Mandarin | Tiāndì Yīngxíong |
| Directed by | He Ping |
| Produced by | Song Dai Wang Zhonglei Chen Kuo-fu Rita Fung Hou Shengjun Zhou Fengying Yang Ge |
| Screenplay by | He Ping Zhang Rui |
| Starring | Jiang Wen Kiichi Nakai Wang Xueqi Zhao Wei Hasi Bagen |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Zhao Fei Zheng Hua Wang Min |
| Editing by | Kong Jinlei |
| Studio | Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia Limited |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics (U.S.) |
| Release date(s) | October 16, 2003 |
| Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin |
Warriors of Heaven and Earth is a 2003 Chinese action adventure film directed by He Ping. The film's notable cinematography captures a wide range of landscapes across China's Xinjiang province. It was China's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, though it did not get nominated.
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[edit] Plot
The film is set in western China in 700 during the Tang Dynasty, and revolves around two protagonists, the first of which is Lieutenant Li of the Chinese army. Li's refusal to kill Göktürk women and child prisoners causes a mutiny, leading him to be expelled from the army and become a fugitive, traveling through the Gobi Desert. He eventually comes across a caravan which carries a powerful, mystical relic accompanied by a Buddhist monk. Li protects the caravan from Göktürks as well as the overlord of the region, Master An, who is hired by the Göktürk Khan to seize the relic.
The second protagonist, a Japanese emissary, Lai Xi, is ordered by the emperor of China to kill the fugitive, Li. In a twist of fate, Lai Xi realizes that the caravan is on a mission and helps Li to defend it, and ensures that it arrives at the capital safely. They promise to fight each other only after their duty is done, although that battle never comes to pass.
[edit] Cast
- Jiang Wen as Lieutenant Li
- Kiichi Nakai as Emissary Lai Xi
- Wang Xueqi as Master An
- Zhao Wei as Wen Zhu
- Hasi Bagen as Cao Jian, One Eye Eagle
- He Tao as Ma Gun
- Lau Lei-nin as Wu Lao Er
- Wang Deshun as Old Diehard
- Li Haibin as Zao Zimo
- Yeerjiang Mahepushen as Master An's servant
- Hou Fugao as guard
- Zhou Yun as Monk Jue Hui
- Lee Wai as Di Hu / Salamander
- Do Yuk-ming as rider
- Wang Handong as rider
- Yang Haiquan as Baldy
- Tuerxunjiang Zunong as innkeeper
- Wong Hiu as emperor
- Sang Baozhong as General Wen
- Gao Qiang
- Sun Yingjie
- Liu Mingzhe
- Liu Qingwei
- Hao Youyue
- Guo Zhengjian
- Chen Xiongwei
- Qi Kejian
- Chan Laap-san
- Xie Ze
- Feiluola
- Sailike
- Azili
- Hanati
- Zumureti
- Ayiguli
- Gulizha
- Maierhaba
- Mikereyi
- Qing Gele
- Kunakebayi
- Julaiti
- Li Guohai
- Gao Quanjun
- Sang Zongzhong
[edit] Awards and nominations
11th Beijing Student Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film
- Nominated: Best Actress(Zhao Wei)
- Nominated: Best Actor(Jiang Wen)
- Nominated: Best Actor(Wang Xueqi)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor(Wang Xueqi)
[edit] Soundtrack
| Warriors of Heaven and Earth: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by A. R. Rahman | ||||
| Released | 2003 (China) May 4, 2004 (India) |
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| Recorded | Panchathan Record Inn Sahara Sound Ltd. Rudolfinumand Sono Studios |
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| Genre | World Music | |||
| Length | 36:32 | |||
| Label | Sony Classical | |||
| Producer | A.R. Rahman | |||
| A. R. Rahman chronology | ||||
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Warriors of Heaven and Earth: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was composed by Indian composer A. R. Rahman.[1] It features 16 tracks, including the theme song, "Mirage (Warriors In Peace)", in three languages, Mandarin, English and Hindi. The Mandarin version of the theme song is sung by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, while the Hindi version is sung by Sadhana Sargam and English version by Sunitha Sarathy. Following the film's release, the score and soundtrack were released in one album separately, under the title Between Heaven and Earth.
Rahman signed the project after the head of Sony Classical Music suggested him to do a project for them in the Western Classical mode.[2] While signing the project, Rahman was working with violinist Joshua Bell on compositions based on poems by the Persian poet Rumi. This project was later cancelled.[1][2] Originally the music was supposed to be recorded in Beijing. But because of SARS, Rahman moved to Prague to record the score.[2]
Rahman have mixed Chinese, Turkish and Indian sounds as the film is about the Silk Route.[2] He says that he wanted to give the Chinese something they had not heard before, while retaining that international flavour.[2] The score is completely acoustic with symphonic pieces and relatively little electronic sounds have been used.[2] Performers of the score include The Czech Film Orchestra and Chinese soloists in Hong Kong. Other instruments, including the erhu, flute, duduk, dizi, taiko drums are featured.[1][2]
- Track listing
- "The Golden Era" (3:56) – Instrumental
- "Warriors in Peace (Chinese Version)" (4:31) – Jolin Tsai
- "Lord An’s Empire" (3:31) – Instrumental
- "Water" (3:52) – Instrumental
- "Horses" (2:27) – Instrumental
- "Mountains" (1:49) – Instrumental
- "Dacoit Duel" (3:26) – Instrumental
- "Lai Chi" (1:31) – Instrumental
- "Buddha's Remains" (2:40) – Instrumental
- "Blue Light" (2:23) – Instrumental
- "The Monk and The Miracle" (4:05) – Instrumental
- "Warriors in Peace (English Version)" (4:31) – Sunitha Sarathy
- "Desert Storm" (5:19) – Instrumental
- "Escape" (2:33) – Instrumental
- "Warriors of Heaven and Earth (Instrumental)" (4:27) – Instrumental
- "Warriors in Peace (Hindi Version)" (4:31) – Sadhana Sargam
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Rangan, Baradwaj; Suhasini, Lalitha (14 June 2008). "A R Rahman – The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone-india.com/feature/featuredetails.php?featureid=73. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Savita Gautham. "Chinese rhapsody". The Hindu. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/23/stories/2003102301100200.htm. Retrieved 2003-10-23.
[edit] External links
- Warriors of Heaven and Earth at the Internet Movie Database
- Warriors of Heaven and Earth at Rotten Tomatoes
- Warriors of Heaven and Earth at Metacritic
- Warriors of Heaven and Earth at Vista Records
- Warriors of Heaven and Earth at Box Office Mojo
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