The Legend of the Black Scorpion
Known internationally as the Banquet, The Legend of the Black Scorpion serves up a smorgasbord of action, intrigue, and love in this movie based off Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which was nominated for seven 2007 Hong Kong film awards.
With the death of their ruler, there is a power vacuum that needs to be filled by someone. Jockeying for position are the former Queen, the son of the King who is more of a hermit for later explained reasons, and the uncle that eventually usurps the throne. What makes this film a fascination study is that the Uncle wants even more than the throne, he wants the former ruler’s wife (played by Ziyi Zang of international fame) as his own. The only problem with that is that before she was married to the Emperor she was deeply in love with his son
Skillfully, we are taken through the dynamics of how such a thing could become possible, and we are lead even more skillfully through the politics that keep lovers apart and others in power..
This film bears its birthright from such great films as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and stands up to its predecessor on a visual level. As far as action the film tries to develop more of a story before bringing forth martial arts magic.
If you have the time this film is a winner for your hard-earned money.
Turok: Son of Stone
I must say that I have only a fleeting knowledge of this character from comicdom. Turok (voiced by Adam Breach) is a Native American warrior who, even unknown to him, has an unbridled fury residing inside of him. It is the scene where he is out with his brother and the girl that they both like when we learn that his blood boils when a battle is at hand, and it is a bloodlust that puts Turok on the outs with the rest of his tribe. Think Native American Hulk without the transformation, and without the blind less rage. After he cuts loose and brings those that, he loves into harms way Turok becomes an isolationist. Most people would try to find a way to appease those that they have made angry, but not Turok. He represents that man who does not apologize for what he does. It is what it is.