Mo gong (2006)

Director:

Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung

Writers:

Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung (writer)
Ken'ichi Sakemi (comic)

Release Date:

23 November 2006 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

Story centers on a battle during China's Warring States Period, a series of civil wars, which spanned from the 5th to the 3rd century B.C. Based on a popular Japanese manga, which was in turn based a Japanese novel inspired by Warring States history in China.

Plot Keywords:

Strategy | Based On Comic

Awards:

3 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Ge Li - the Mohist
Sung-kee Ahn	...	Zhao Commander Xiang Yan-zhong (as Sungki Ahn)
Zhiwen Wang	...	King of Liang
Bingbing Fan	...	Liang Cavalry Chief Yi Yue
Si Won Choi	...	Prince Liang Shi (as Siwon Choi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Siu-hou Chin	...	Liang General Niu Zi Zhang (as Siu Ho Chin)
Tin Chiu Hung	...	Zhao General Gao He-yong
Yongjian Lin	...	Cai Qiu
Shaan Price	...	Yuan Yu
Ma Wu	...	Royal Tutor of Liang
Nicky Wu	...	Liang Archer Zi Tuan (as Qi-long Wu)
Lixiao Yang	...	Girl spy

Also Known As:

A Battle of Wits (Hong Kong: English title)
Battle of Wits (International: English title)
Battle of the Warriors (USA) (DVD title)
Bokkou (Japan)
Muk gong (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

Hong Kong:133 min

Country:

China | Japan | South Korea | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

China

Company:

Boram Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where the two scouts escape from the enemy camp after the soldiers spot them, the surrounding light changes from pitch black to broad daylight. (Obviously someone forgot to put the filter on the camera lens.)

Philosophical war film flawed by gratuitous love interest

An epic Chinese, Warring States period war film staring Andy Lau as warrior/philosopher Ge Li who encourages the state of Liang to defend itself against a more powerful neighboring state. Ge Li as a third party interloper represents the Mozi sect and their non-violent philosophy and defends the state of Liang to prevent greater carnage from the aggressive nation of Zhao. Helping to defend Liang, Ge Li must reconcile his philosophical beliefs with the messy realpolitik ambitions of Kingdom's leadership and also deal with the petty jealousy of less courageous rivals. Although this film is well made and Ge Li's dilemma is compelling, an entire ludicrous segment involving a female love interest detracts from the central theme and, in fact, seems like a gratuitous concession to commercial interests.