Moon Warriors
A 1992 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Sammo Hung.
Moon Warriors (戰神傳說) is a 1992 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Sammo Hung, with a screenplay by Alex Law and production by Jessica Chan. The cast includes Andy Lau, Kenny Bee, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung. It premiered in Hong Kong cinemas on 19 December 1992.
The story follows Fei, a fisherman who is secretly a master swordsman. He rescues and befriends Yan Shisan, the 13th prince of the Yan kingdom. While the prince recovers, assassins sent by his usurping brother, Yan Shisi, attack the village. Fei hides the prince in a remote tomb, where Yan Shisan expresses his wish to ally with the Lord of Lanling to reclaim the throne. Fei then sets out to find the lord’s daughter, Yueya’er.
During the journey back to the tomb, Fei is wounded by an assassin, and while Yueya’er nurses him, the two fall in love. However, Yueya’er is already betrothed to Yan Shisan. The assassin, Moxian’er, was originally sent by Yan Shisi to kill the prince but has delayed her mission after falling in love with him.
After Yueya’er meets Yan Shisan at the tomb, the prince plans an autumn wedding and offers Fei a generalship, which Fei declines. One night, after Yan Shisan’s men are mysteriously killed, Moxian’er accuses Yueya’er of having an affair with Fei and tries to kill her. Yueya’er counters by accusing Moxian’er of being a spy for Yan Shisi.
Yan Shisi eventually leads his soldiers to the village, killing the villagers. Yan Shisan is forced to fight his brother, and Moxian’er sacrifices herself to save the prince. Despite being seriously wounded, Fei kills Yan Shisi. Yueya’er dies of her injuries in Fei’s arms.
Critical reception was positive. *Empire* rated the film 4/5, praising its character development and action. Andrew Saroch of Far East Films gave a similar 4/5, highlighting the choreography and emotional dilemmas. J. Doyle Wallis of DVD Talk awarded 3.5/5, commending Andy Lau and Anita Mui’s performances, the action, and the sets. *Time Out* described it as “a visually splendid, dramatically rich, but somewhat rarefied martial arts yarn.”
- Release date
- 19 December 1992
- Country
- Hong Kong
- Genre
- Wuxia
- Director
- Sammo Hung
- Writer
- Alex Law
- Producer
- Jessica Chan
- Starring
- Andy Lau, Kenny Bee, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung
Lore & Background
The film follows Fei, a fisherman who is secretly a highly skilled swordsman. He saves Yan Shisan, the 13th prince of the Yan kingdom, and befriends him. While Yan Shisan recovers from injuries, the fishing village is attacked by assassins sent by his usurping brother, Yan Shisi. Fei leads the prince to hide in a remote tomb, where Yan Shisan expresses his wish to ally with the Lord of Lanling to reclaim the throne. Fei then goes to find the Lord of Lanling's daughter, Yueya'er.
While escorting Yueya'er to the tomb, Fei is wounded by an assassin, and the two fall in love as she nurses him. However, Yueya'er is already betrothed to Yan Shisan. The assassin, Moxian'er, is a guardian sent by Yan Shisi to kill the prince, but she delays her mission as she gradually falls in love with him. After Yueya'er meets Yan Shisan, the prince plans a wedding for autumn and offers Fei a generalship, which Fei declines.
Tensions escalate when Yan Shisan's men are mysteriously killed. Moxian'er accuses Yueya'er of a secret affair with Fei, while Yueya'er accuses Moxian'er of being a spy. Yan Shisi eventually leads soldiers to the village, killing villagers. Yan Shisan faces Yan Shisi in a fight, during which Moxian'er sacrifices herself to save the prince. Fei, despite serious wounds, kills Yan Shisi. Yueya'er dies of her injuries in Fei's arms.
Reader's Guide
Moon Warriors is a notable entry in the Hong Kong wuxia genre, directed by Sammo Hung and featuring a star-studded cast. The film received positive critical reception, with Empire awarding it 4/5 stars for its balance of character development and action. Andrew Saroch of Far East Films similarly gave 4/5 stars, praising the action choreography and emotional dilemmas. J. Doyle Wallis of DVD Talk gave 3.5/5 stars, highlighting performances by Andy Lau and Anita Mui, the choreography, and set locations. Time Out described the film as 'a visually splendid, dramatically rich, but somewhat rarefied martial arts yarn.' The film's significance lies in its blend of romance, political intrigue, and martial arts, typical of early 1990s Hong Kong cinema, though it remains a relatively lesser-known work compared to other films of the era.
Did You Know?
- The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 19 December 1992.
- The cast includes Andy Lau, Kenny Bee, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung.
- Empire gave the film a score of 4/5 stars, praising its balance in character development and jaw-breaking action.
- The film's synopsis involves a love triangle between Fei, Yueya'er, and Yan Shisan.
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