News here in the Philippines about The Warlords

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http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080703128826.html

Jet Li wins Best Actor for ‘The Warlords’

We’ve all known Jet Li to be the high-flying, ass-kicking, adrenaline-pumping martial arts hero in such blockbuster films as "Fearless", "Unleashed", "The One" and "Romeo Must Die."

Now, fresh from the success of his box office hit "The Forbidden Kingdom" comes his biggest action-drama movie to date. The Asian Superstar shows off his acting chops in the new war epic "The Warlords." His pivotal role as the ruthless and ambitious General Pang even earned him his first-ever Best Actor nod at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

In "The Warlords", General Pang (Jet Li) stands high atop the city walls in the fall of 1870. Pang has taken a path of no return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new China. He could have changed the course of history but two bandits and a woman (Xu Jinglei) have instead changed the course of his life – helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu (Andy Lau) and Jiang Wu-Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). The woman who comes between them is Zhao’s wife.

A born leader, Zhao Er-Hu is a man of honor. To ensure the survival of his village during a time of war, he leads a band of marauding bandits. Jiang Wu-Yang is a charismatic outlaw, a cold-blooded killer full of romantic idealism. He worships Pang above all else – including Zhao the brother who adopted him.

After a Qing troop pillages Zhao’s village, Pang convinces Zhao to join the Qing army. Jiang agrees to the proposal under the condition that he joins their brotherhood. With the future interests of the village in mind, Zhao also agrees to make Pang his blood brother. Pang’s initial motive is to end war and restore peace to the land, but to do so he must first rise to power. As his forces grow more powerful over the years so does his ambition. As a result, the brotherhood collapses and ends tragically while only one brother remains standing.

A heroic tale of three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval, "The Warlords" is the story of a man who was caught in between the ambition which he believes will do good for the people, and the guilt of betraying others for the sake of the better good.

Following the success of their 2005 romantic extravaganza "Perhaps Love," producer Andre Morgan and director-producer Peter Chan team up to bring us this US$ 40 million-epic hero film.

Director Peter Chan was intrigued by the historical events, the relationship of war and brotherhood. He clarifies that "The Warlords" is not a remake of legendary Shaw Bros. director Chang Cheh’s classic "Blood Brothers."

The film is inspired by a true event. In the year 1850, the suffering of the 430 million Chinese people under the corrupt rule of the Qing dynasty set the stage for the Taiping Rebellion. During the chaos of the decade long civil war, 50 million people died from either hunger or battle. On July 26, 1870, Governor Ma of Liangjiang was assassinated. The killer, Jiang Wenxiang, did not even try to flee, and was immediately captured. The Empress Dowager Cixi ordered an investigation.

"The Warlords" features Asia’s top actors -- Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and the talented director-actress Xu Jinglei ("Confessions of Pain"). Behind the camera, the crew is equally impressive: Oscar-nominee costume designer Yee Chung Man ("Curse of the Golden Flower"), internationally acclaimed action choreographer Ching Siu-Tung ("Hero," "Dororo," "Shaolin Soccer," "Curse of the Golden Flower"), and award-winning director of photography Arthur Wong.

Catch the epic drama of friendship, ambition and betrayal as "The Warlords" opens at your favorite theaters beginning July 9. From VIVA International Pictures.

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