The Storm Riders

The Storm Riders
The Storm Riders
Directed by	Andrew Lau
Written by	Ma Wing Shing (original story)
Produced by	Manfred Wong
Starring	Aaron Kwok; Ekin Cheng; Sonny Chiba; Kristy Yang; Michael Tse
Cinematography	Andrew Lau
Edited by	Marco Mak; Danny Pang
Music by	Chan Kwong-Wing
Distributed by	Golden Harvest Pictures (China) Ltd.
Release date	31 August 1998
Running time	126 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	HK$85 million

The Storm Riders (Chinese: 風雲雄霸天下) is a 1998 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau is based on the manhua Fung Wan (or Tin Ha). It stars Ekin Cheng as Wind and Aaron Kwok as Cloud. The plot involves two children, Whispering Wind and Striding Cloud, who become powerful warriors under the evil warlord Conquer's tutelage.

While the film was released in the United States, it was so heavily edited that many had trouble following the events. As a result, it is still often sold in pirated formats with the original cut.^{[citation needed]}

The sequel to the film, titled The Storm Warriors and directed by the Pang Brothers, was released in 2009.

Plot

The evil Lord Conquer, head of Conqueror's Clan, is given a prophecy from a prophet named Mud Buddha. It is said that if Conquer finds two young children by the name of Wind and Cloud he will have good fortune. Mud Buddha tells Conquer to look for him 10 years later so that he can tell the rest of Conqueror's fortune. Conquer issues an order that every boy with a birth chart matching Wind's or Cloud's must become a disciple of the Conqueror's Clan. Both Wind and Cloud are found, and Lord Conquer's servants murder their respective parents.

Ten years pass, and Wind and Cloud are now both fully-grown and highly-skilled martial artists. Lord Conquer raised them as his own children. He is angered by the disappearance of Mud Buddha and sends his men to find him. After Mud Buddha is found, he reveals that his two disciples will either join or destroy Conquer.

Seeing that Wind and Cloud can lead to misfortune, Lord Conquer uses his daughter, Charity, to cause Wind and Cloud to fight each other. There was a love triangle involving Wind, Cloud, and Charity. Conquer arranges a marriage with Wind and Clarity. Cloud finds out and is unhappy about it. On the day of the wedding, he steals her away and Conquer tells Wind to fight for his wife. Wind and Cloud engage in a battle and Lord Conquer tries to kill Cloud in their duel, but killed his own daughter. This was because she tried to protect Cloud. Cloud and Wind's relationship with Lord Conquer sours, after Cloud loses an arm to Conquer in combat and Wind is poisoned by Conquer's minions. Wind founds out the truth about who killed his parents and fights a fire beast which killed his dad. Fortunately, Cloud is found by helpful villagers, one of which whom donates his arm to replace Cloud's loss.

Wind and Cloud then work together to destroy Lord Conquer. Together, they defeat the evil warlord, finally exacting their revenge and fulfilling Mud Buddha's prophecy.

Cast

Aaron Kwok as Striding Cloud
Ekin Cheng as Whispering Wind
Sonny Chiba as Lord Conqueror
Kristy Yang as Charity
Michael Tse as Frost
Wayne Lai as Mud Buddha
Lawrence Cheng as Jester
Anthony Wong Chau-sang as Sword Saint
Alex Fong Chung-Sun as Whispering Prince
Yu Rongguang as Striding Sky
Shu Qi as Muse
Wan Yeung-Ming as Summit Yu
Roy Cheung as Shaolin Monk
Jason Chu as Ming
Christine Ng as Ying
Dion Lam as Hawk
Ng Chi-Hung as Bat
Elvis Tsui as Seedy Sword
Lee Siu-Kei as Dragon
Xu Jinglei

Sequel

It was announced that Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok would return 10 years after the original Storm Riders for a sequel, reprising their respective roles as Wind and Cloud. It was confirmed that the film will be helmed by The Pang Brothers and will follow the Japanese Invasion story of the Manhua.

They will be joined by newcomers to the franchise Hong Kong Cantopop stars Nicholas Tse, Charlene Choi, newcomer Tang Yan and veteran actor Simon Yam who is set to be the new villain. Tse will play the villain Juet Sum while Yam plays his father Juet Mou San (Lord Godless).

External links

Plot

Cast

Sequel

See also

External links