An ambitious attempt to replicate a popular martial arts manga on the bigscreen with elaborate CGI work and location shooting in China. The Storm Riderslargely succeeds on the tech front but, like many pics in the genre, hits problems compressing its complex story down to feature lenght. Heavily promoted, star-laden pic got off to a good start in Hong Kong, where it set a new opening-day record July 18, beating out those set by Titanic and The Lost World. On the strength of helmer Andrew Lau's name (Young and Dangerous), this entertaining extravaganza should roll into fantasy-fest slots.
Opening 20 minutes pack in a lot of plot, with martial arts king Lord Conqueror (Japanese vet Sonny Chiba) informed by cringing acolytes that he can remain invincible for the first half of his life by adopting two young disciples, Wind and Cloud, currently young kids. They will help him, 10 years hence, in a duel with his only remaining threat, the Sword Saint.
Lau brings visual elan to much of the pic, and both Kwok and Cheng, with their flashing-eyed looks, long hair and designer leather duds, impressively incarnate the spirit of the manga heroes. Lau himself takes on lensing chores as well.
Derek Elley