Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale I

source: Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale I

This movie is an epic and emotional ridw from start to finish!

I was skeptical when I first came across this Taiwanese movie. There are just too many movies from the Far East that are so Bollywoodish, so super exaggerated (such as ten thousand arrows being launched, or armies that seems like a million strong) that the directors should almost be billed for your wasted time. This movie is none of that. It is captivating from start to finish, telling a historical story that not many would know or have seen before. It reminds me so much of the plight of the Sioux and other indigenous peoples. The CGI is good and convincing. I look forward to seeing more talent from the Far East.

Japan took possession of Taiwan from China when it was ceded to them after China's Qing Dynasty lost the first Sino Japanese war of 1884 – 1885 and we first pick the story up there. The Japanese were a more controlling Colonial force and did not tolerate aboriginals such as the Seediq and called them 'Seiban' or 'barbarians' and treated them as inferiors. They ruled harshly and built up resentments that led to a number of insurrections that led to The Wushe Incident of 1930 that is the central point of this film. The indigenous tribes had also fought one another over hunting grounds and other causes for centuries and the divisions that this caused are exemplified here and indeed how the Japanese exploited such to turn tribes against each other. The chief of the Seediq was Mouna Rudau and he ha tried appeasement but one slight too many pushed him to seek to join the tribes together and make a stand against the vastly better equipped Japanese. Once the die was cast they had all foreseen where it would end. Now this film sticks to the documented facts extremely well, the acting is all excellent and there is a ton of action. It was made in 2011 but some of the CGI is a bit obvious. Despite that this will bring you along for a great roller coaster ride of action. The fight scenes are all done extremely well and when people get hurt they really are hurt. This is a great tribute to the culture of the Seediq and their allies and to a part of history that we have not heard much about. It is also the sort of film you could easily watch again. In aboriginal, Japanese and Hokkien with pretty good subtitles and a run time of just over two and a half hours – every second of which is put to good use – completely recommended.

One thing any viewer of this movie needs to know before going into the movie is that their are a few ridiculously cheesy scenes such as when a hut explodes the images of the native warriors are badly added into the effects of the explosions, as well at the ending the remaining Warriors walk on a very unrealistic rainbow into their heaven. Along with that their are many scenes with fake looking rocks, jumping scenes with actors, and back drops. There are also some drawn out singing scenes, beautiful songs.... but still. Might as well add in that the ending is fairly weak. With the negatives out of the way, the film is very well acted. The battle scenes constantly leave any viewer wanting more, if, of course, you enjoy brutal war scenes. Besides the scenes which I have listed above, the set, in most cases, is quite beautiful. The story drags on for a good four hours but I find most of the scenes necessary to bring the message of the film. Also, it would not hurt to do some research on the historical side of the film either, to know where the story derives from. Over all it is a magnificent film, but you just have to get over the CGI.

The Warriors of the Rainbow takes on a story of a fight for freedom when Taiwan were getting rid of the Japanese occupation. What sets up as a classic, comes across as a big let down with confusion running through most of the film. On one hand you have a Last of the Mohicans vibe. The underdog vs goliath, the battle for what is right. The people who feel as though their culture is being wiped out. A Tale that would usually bring inspiration, has been ruined by the action sequences. Splashed with CGI, the battle scenes resemble something of a Michael Bay film. Add to this, the melodramatic and unnecessary ghost sequences, tear the film between something of a epic tale of bravery and a mindless action film. Very disappointing. With a better course of direction, this film could have been something. In the end, it becomes a mess and a missed opportunity!

WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE is a home-grown historical action epic from Taiwan, featuring the story of an Aboriginal tribe who rise up against their Japanese oppressors during the early 20th century. It starts off on a rather dodgy note, asking the viewer to be interested in and accept as protagonist a man, Mona Rudao, who is introduced to the viewer when he kills and steals from some innocent tribesmen. Thankfully things then jump forward twenty years or so, and it all becomes straightforward. The first thing to note is that I saw the international cut of this film, in which two parts are condensed down into one whole. While I enjoyed it on a superficial level, I have to say that there were too many problems with it for me to want to seek out the full version. The main issue I had is that the main tribe of characters are completely unsympathetic. They're headhunters, and when the Japanese describe them as 'savages' you tend to agree with them. I'm afraid I was on the side of the Japanese throughout in this one. Elsewhere, the film is ridiculously one-sided in showing the Japanese to be a cowardly and easily-beaten foe, except when the text comes up at the end you see that things were completely different to the fantasy portrayed here. I did like the look of the film, although it's variously influenced by the likes of APOCALYPTO, LAST OF THE MOHICANS, BRAVEHEART, THE LAST SAMURAI, and BANG RAJAN, without ever quite giving the viewer a flavour of its own. The action is quite well done, however, although marred by cheap CGI as is the case with so many eastern films these days. The scene in which the tribe rises up to attack the Japanese garrison is the highlight, really bloodthirsty and hair-raising stuff. But in the end, the lack of likable characters and the sheer ridiculousness of some moments (like the bratty kid running amok with the heavy weaponry) stopped me enjoying it too much.

I wont say much about this film, but what I will say is this.... I am from England, but I have a huge interest in world cinema as well as action movies from the far East, I have been watching both for over 30 years, so I somewhat understand myths and traditions and folklore from that part of the world. Pretty much on all these accounts the film delivers in bundles, it wont be to everyones tastes, but considering where this film comes from, and what the Director has done it is incredible. You would not get a film like this anymore from Hollywood, the last film I can remember that it really reminded me of is GLORY (for those of you that know it), although that is Hollywood, and this is Taiwanese. They were both unrelenting though. This motion picture saga has...Great landscapes, beautiful haunting tribal folksongs in the soundtrack, and authentic wardrobe and sets, obviously some of the other comments that detract from the film might be fair, but this is a moving and unforgiving four and a half hour epic, where else are you gonna get to see a film like this ? Red Cliff parts 1 and 2 maybe....but this is a Nobel and Splendid film.

first things first, seediq bale came out in USA today. I'm not sure what version i watched... but it was a 2.5 hour movie without any mention of a second part. anyways throughout the movie, it kept me entertained. It kept me thinking and trying to figure out the back story, who the new characters were and etc. There were bits of the movie that was so ridiculous, it seemed almost comical... though it's not supposed to be but the theater laughed anyways. The movie is presented in the Seediq native tongue and so, translations/subtitles were necessary which kept me from fully enjoying the beauty of the shots of landscape and action / etc. It tells the whole incident and explains everything that happens perfectly. the introduction is sufficient, the building to the climax is smooth, but what i think killed it was the hour or so fighting scene... it made it seem too long and by the end of the movie, i felt as if the whole movie was basically fighting... though that IS what it's based upon, it felt... a bit too much. not that its a bad thing or anything, but all in all, i think it was a great movie... for anyone 14 or above.

well, for whom doesn't have time to read my full review, let's say that if you loved both LAST OF THE MOHICANS and APOCALYPTO,then i'm pretty sure you will love this movie. This is a great movie about war strategy, tribes, honor,hope.Off course there is a plenty scene of blood because it is war, but the bloody effect is not so over than Spartacus TV series. Points of view of several scene are great, many aerial, of camera-handed run... No doubt, it is a modern war movie. if you got boring during Narnia or Lord of Rings, then you will get what you want here. There is mass-fighting scene, uncut real fight, very captivating. i did not give the max evaluation because women in the movie, are very 'platonic', linear role and 'too much respected' (which was not during a real war). I guess the director wanted to keep a part of his audience (and not sexual scene either of course).