Movie review: The Warrior's Way ***

The Warrior’s Way  ***

Stars: Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush
Director: Sngmoo Lee
Rated: R
Showing: Neptune Theatre week of Friday, December 10 - Friday 9:30pm; Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 5:30pm; weekdays 9:30pm. For more information, call 292-7296.
Runtime: 100 minutes
Action/western/fantasy

Ever wondered who would win a fight between ninjas and cowboys?

This unique but watchable fusion of spaghetti westerns and samurai films follows an Asian warrior assassin who is forced to flee to the American Badlands after refusing a mission.

He has been entrusted with wiping out a rival clan but when he finds the last member he cannot kill her because she is a baby.

He then finds himself hunted by his own clan for treason so goes into exile, ending up in the Wild West town of Lode, where he tries to find peace.

But the locals aren’t exactly welcoming and faces from the past soon appear.

Director Sngmoo Lee is clearly influenced by Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone and the movie is as heavily stylized as anime.

There is a lot of gun and swordplay, with great theatrical fight scenes.

Leading man Dong-gun Jang is a well-known South Korean star who shot to international fame in the acclaimed Brotherhood, while good support comes from Geoffrey Rush (Pirates Of The Caribbean).

The movie will not appeal to everyone but fans of westerns and martial arts films should give it a try.