Friday, December 15, 2017

The Legendary Warrior (2006)

Finished watching this series a few days ago. I think it was very good. The hero in this series is Xue Ren Gui, or known in Indonesia as Sie Djin Koei. I read the comic book versions (2 of them) years ago.

Xue Ren Gui was a great general in Tang Dinasty. He first served under Emperor Li Shi-min and later under Emperor Li Zhi. His real life perhaps was not as dramatic as described in books and films, yet they were enjoyable to read and watch.

In this series, he first appeared as a mute who liked to learn kung-fu. He went home to find his home burnt to ashes and his father dead. It was at this time that he was able to speak and the first word he spoke was 'Father.' Alone without any money, he went to his uncle, but was refused by him. He was saved by a tofu-seller, who brought him to his house and fed him. He ate a lot, but was very strong. He finally worked for a landlord, but because a misunderstanding the landlord accused him of having an affair with the landlord's daughter. They ran away from the landlord's wrath, got married and lived in poverty.

Meanwhile, General Tie Shi-wen from Boliao was going to attack Chang-an. The Tang Emperor, Li Shi-min had a dream that Tie Shi-wen was pursuing him and a warrior in white came to save him. The Emperor told his court officials about the dream. He wanted to find the warrior in white, but General Zhang Shi-gui insisted that the warrior in white was his son-in-law.

Zhang Shi-gui recruited people for the incoming war. When Xue Ren Gui came to apply, Zhang Shi-gui recognized him as the emperor's warrior-in-white and refused him 3 times; but finally Xue Ren Gui was able to join the army as a cook. Although a cook, Xue Ren Gui and his sworn brothers defeated enemy's leaders and brought victory for the Tang army. However Zhang Shi-gui recorded the merits as his son-in-law's, while telling lies to Xue Ren Gui to keep hiding because the emperor wanted to kill him.

When the truth was found, Zhang Shi-gui, his son and his son-in-law were put to death by the emperor. Zhang's daughter, who was married to Prince Cheng, wanted revenge and set a trap for Xue Ren Gui. At this time, Li Shi-min had been dead and the new emperor Li Zhi was under Prince Cheng's influence. Li Zhi put Zue Ren Gui in jail and the officials all worked together to proof our hero's innocence.

This version ended with Prince Cheng's death and Xue Ren Gui led Li Zhi's army to defend the country against a new attack.

Unlike the comic books, there are no gods in this version. Although Xue Ren Gui was a real life character, he never had a son named Xue Ding San.