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There are few moments in Warrior’s Gate that seasoned viewers will not recognize for what they are the minute they happen. After somehow channeling his Black Knight alter ego and saving Sulin from a doomed marriage to the villainous Arun (Bautista) - despite the trained-since-birth-to-protect-the-emperor-Zhao’s presence - Jack goes home and saves his mom, too. Before you can say “culture-clash romance,” Jack jumps into the portal and is transported to an equally anonymous place and time in ancient China.įrom there the story wades into familiar territory, wherein the cowardly Jack, with his low self-esteem, is made brave and confident with martial help and wise words from Zhao and a chaste romance with Sulin.
ENTER THE WARRIORS GATE RATING MOVIE
Believing Jack to be the Black Knight - his online gaming avatar (don’t ask, the movie doesn’t really explain how this happens) - imperial warrior Zhao ( So Young‘s Mark Chao) comes through with Princess Sulin (Ni Ni of Bride Wars) in tow. Chang has given him a part-time job, which, lo and behold, is a portal to a mysterious land. On the verge of losing their house, Jack takes home an antique box from the shop where the kindly Mr. This film is best for teens, especially those who like wizards, magic, mentors, and teens coming into their own, along with brutal action.In a contemporary, anonymous, vaguely California-ish town, Jack Bronson ( Uriah Shelton of The Glades) is juggling his online gaming obsession, school bullies (naturally) and his mother Annie’s ( Luther‘s Sienna Guillory) money anxiety. On the down side, a few odd song choices distract from the story at hand, and not all the performances are stellar. The martial arts sequences are not of the ethereal, balletic genre but are hard-hitting and bloodletting and include an array of graphic killings, all well shot. And while teen bullying isn't an original concept, impressive bicycle chases make that story element sing. The fish-out-of-water time-travel sequences work well. Working from a script co-written by action-master Luc Besson and directed with flair by Matthias Hoene, Enter the Warriors Gate has enough humor and character development to make a routine "save the princess" story special. Show moreĪn endearing performance by Uriah Shelton as the hero, a hint of romance, and countless fierce battle sequences will please young adventure fans and might also appeal to lovers of fairy tales. By the tale's finale, Jack just may turn out to be the black knight of the game he loves. He willingly joins Zhao on his mission: to find the princess and save her from Arun. He meets Zhao (Mark Chao), a Chinese hero, and Arun ( Dave Bautista), a power-hungry murderer, along with a fantastical wizard, all of whom push or mentor Jack to find his inner strength.
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Jack lands centuries back in time where he's suddenly in the center of a dangerous villain's game. It isn't long before she's in danger again, and Jack follows her as she escapes into the chest.
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Jack is incredulous at first then his disbelief falls away and he's caught up in the magic of Su Lin's presence. Late at night, just after his employer, the owner of a Chinese antique shop, has given him a centuries-old wooden chest, Jack is astounded to see Su Lin ( Ni Ni) a beautiful young woman, emerge from the chest, chased by knife- and sword-wielding ruffians from an ancient time. In the game, Jack is "the black knight," an invincible warrior.
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His best moments come from beating back the hordes of villains on his favorite video game. He's low on self-confidence and funds and the perennial victim of a gang of bullies from his high school. It's not a good time for teen Jack Thornton (the excellent Uriah Shelton) when ENTER THE WARRIORS GATE opens. Occasional profanity includes "s-t," "butt," "a-hole," and "d-kweed." Teen action lovers will find much to like. The princess is strong, skilled in martial arts, and able to hold her own against the armies of men who would capture her, except when she's hanging from handcuffs or held captive. In a running "joke," a henchman runs his sword through the midsection of innocents. Expect fearsome battles with swordplay, knives, all manner of medieval weaponry, fire, and many deaths during the explosive combat. The beleaguered young hero is no sooner out of danger than he's caught up in another fight for his life. He meets assorted warriors and a magician, all the while learning as much about himself as he does about ancient codes of behavior and the skills of the martial arts. On his mission to find and save a beautiful princess, he encounters a powerful villain who wants to marry the princess, kill her, and then become emperor of China.
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Parents need to know that Enter the Warriors Gate is an action-packed, martial arts fantasy-adventure in which a mild-mannered, bullied teen is magically transported to a barbaric world.
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