| Dynasty Warriors | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Film poster | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 真·三國無雙 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 真·三国无双 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Directed by | Roy Chow | ||||||||||
| Screenplay by | Christine To Wen Xiao Li Rui | ||||||||||
| Based on | |||||||||||
| Produced by | Roy Chow Christine To Alex Dong | ||||||||||
| Starring | Louis Koo Carina Lau Wang Kai Tony Yang Han Geng Justin Cheung Gulnazar Ray Lui | ||||||||||
| Cinematography | Kenny Tse | ||||||||||
| Edited by | Cheung Ka-fai | ||||||||||
| Music by | Yusuke Hatano | ||||||||||
Production companies | HMV Digital China Sun Entertainment Culture Guangdong Sublime Media Beijing Lajin Film Khorgas New Splendid Entertainment Er Dong Pictures (Beijing) Company Beijing New Splendid Entertainment China Star Movie Limited Deshe Film Film Entertainment Power Oneness Pictures | ||||||||||
| Distributed by | Newport Entertainment | ||||||||||
Release dates |
| ||||||||||
Running time | 118 minutes | ||||||||||
| Countries | Hong Kong China | ||||||||||
| Languages | Cantonese Mandarin | ||||||||||
| Budget | HK$300 million[1] | ||||||||||
| Box office | US$3.31 million[a] | ||||||||||
Dynasty Warriors is a 2021 Hong Kong fantasy-action film based on the Japanesevideo game franchise of the same title byOmega Force andKoei Tecmo. Directed byRoy Chow, the film stars an ensemble cast from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, includingLouis Koo,Carina Lau,Wang Kai,Tony Yang,Han Geng,Justin Cheung,Gulnazar andRay Lui.[2] The film was released on 29 April 2021 in Hong Kong, and in China on 30 April 2021.
The film is set inImperial China in the2nd century; specifically towards theend of the Han dynasty. Following the chaos of theYellow Turban Rebellion, the central government has fallen under the control of thevicious,ambitiouswarlordDong Zhuo. UnderYuan Shao's leadership, other warlords from throughout China forma coalition to remove Dong Zhuo from power. Some of the more prominent coalition figures includeCao Cao andSun Jian, as well asvirtuousLiu Bei and his sworn brothersGuan Yu andZhang Fei. The film ends with theBattle of Hulao Pass, where the coalition find themselves up against Dong Zhuo's forces led by his foster sonLü Bu.
On 15 March 2016, Suzuki Akihiro, the producer ofKoei Tecmo'sDynasty Warriors video game series, and the Hong Kong-based company HMV Digital China announced at the 20th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market that they will be making a live-action film adaptation ofDynasty Warriors. The film will be directed by Roy Chow, produced and written by Christine To, and to be released in 2017.[3][4]
On 8 July 2017, HMV Digital China's executive chairman Stephen Shiu Jr. revealed on hisweibo that the film will start shooting on 11 July. He also revealed that he had approached Koei Tecmo four years ago and secured the rights to adapt theDynasty Warriors franchise into a movie.[5] On 11 July, Shiu announced thatHan Geng,Wang Kai,Louis Koo,Tony Yang andGulnazar are part of the main cast.[6]
On 28 September 2017, director Roy Chow announced that after 63 days of filming in mainland China, the team will be moving to New Zealand in November 2017 to shoot the background scenes.[7] While shooting in mainland China, Louis Koo sustained an eye injury but he insisted on staying until the end. However, Roy Chow refused to let him stay and sent him back to Hong Kong for medical treatment. As soon as he recovered, Koo rushed to New Zealand to join the rest of the team. Chow later said that he was very impressed with Koo's commitment and professionalism.[8][9]
Shooting forDynasty Warriors wrapped up on 28 November 2017. The pre-production phase took eight months, theprincipal photography phase lasted five months, and the post-production phase will take up to a year.[10]
A teaser trailer forDynasty Warriors was released on 19 March 2018, along with an announcement that the film was scheduled to be shown in 2019.[2][11]
In March 2021, another trailer was released indicating a release on 29 April 2021 in Hong Kong, and in China on 30 April 2021.[12]
Netflix purchased the film's global distribution rights with a record breaking eight-figure price for a Chinese-language film and was released for streaming on 1 July 2021.[13][14]
As of 23 May 2021,Dynasty Warriors has grossed a total of US$3.31 million worldwide, combining its box office from Hong Kong (US$830,000),[15] China (US$2.4 million)[16] and Taiwan (US$80,000).[15]
In Hong Kong, the film debuted at No. 1 on its opening weekend, grossing HK$2,945,449 (US$380,329) during its first four days of release.[17] The film remained at No. 1 on its second weekend, grossing HK$2,224,136, and have grossed a total of HK$5,178,490 (US$670,000) by then.[18] In its third weekend, the film grossed HK$970,601, coming in at No. 3, and have grossed a total of HK$6,149,091 (US$791,623) by then.[19] On its fourth week, the film grossed HK$294,781, coming in at No. 6, and have grossed a total of HK$6,443,872 (US$830,000) so far.[20]
In China, the film debuted at No. 9, grossing CNY¥9.29 million (US$1.44 million) after its first three days of release.[21]
In Taiwan, the film debuted at No. 13 grossed NT$1.48 million (US$50,000) after its first three days of release.[22] During its second weekend, the film grossed NT$810,000, coming in at No. 23, and have grossed a total of NT$2.33 million (US$80,000) by then.[23] On its third weekend, the film grossed NT$90,000, coming in at No. 30, and have grossed a total of NT$2.42 million (US$80,000) so far.[24]
Edmund Lee of theSouth China Morning Post gave the film a score of 2.5/5 stars, criticizing the film's humor and casting choices, but complimented its focus on story over action.[25]
Writing forPolygon, Todd Harper believed the film struggled between its adaptation ofRomance of the Three Kingdoms andDynasty Warriors; he felt it was inconsistent in its interpretation of the plot, sometimes presented as a historical period drama and sometimes awuxia, creating a "deep frustration at how scattershot the film is". However, he praised the action sequences and choice of music.[26]
Robert Daniels ofIGN scored the film 2 out of 10, noting a lack of character development, a bloated story that is incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the games or the original source material, and poor direction and visual effects.[27]
