We still have some time before the highly anticipated Jon Favreu movie, Cowboys and Aliens, but in the meantime The Warrior’s Way can act as a warm-up. While there are no aliens, there are enough superhuman ninjas for it to be called Cowboys and Ninjas. Dong-gun Jang plays Yang, an expert warrior who helps his clan eliminate all remaining members of their rivals. Though when he refuses to kill the infant that separates the enemy from extinction, he is forced to flee to the United States. There he integrates into a small society of circus performers to raise the girl. Abandoning the fighting of his past, he is forced with the dilemma of battling again when a band of evil cowboys come to town.
No matter what actors were involved with this project, the fighting was always going to be the strength. The weapons based sequences prove to be as good as any martial arts film. Unfortunately, after the first few scenes there is only sporadic fighting until the final battle scene, which is outstanding. But beyond the fighting actors, there are some question marks. Geoffrey Rush’s, Ron is a drunk who is never entirely necessary to the plot, even at the end when his coincidental past is revealed. Danny Huston and Tony Cox’s characters are what would be expected from the actors and never confront their lack of development. And Kate Bosworth who is believable despite dialect issues creates an interesting bridge between the Americans and the warriors.
The Warrior’s Way is by no means a perfect film. The opening scene contains text that is as amateur as can be. The ninjas, who I’ve already praised, go a bit over the top at points. One example being how they fall from they sky like they can fly. The last unexpected positive to the film is the setting. A run down circus town in the desert is distinct and eerie enough to separate this film from other B martial arts efforts. It’s probably not for everyone though. (7.3 out of 10)
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