MOVIE REVIEW . A Battle of Wits (aka: Muk Gong)

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   March 10, 2007   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

Audiences have definitely seen their fair share of epic battles in recent years. Lord of the Rings, The Last Samurai, Curse of the Golden Flower, even Chronicles of Narnia (or so its marketing team would like you to believe). To be honest, the prospect of sitting through yet another round of bloated siege spectacle left me more than a bit nonplussed. Consequently, my copy of A Battle of Wits has resided on our shelf for quite a few months. Now that I have seen it, it’s time to spread the word.

Based on the manga series, Bokko (Mak Gong), A Battle of Wits takes place in 370 B.C. during the Warring States period of ancient Chinese history. After being targeted by the powerful nation of Zhao, the smaller nation state of Liang begins preparations toward its surrender. Enter Ge Li, a defense expert and devout student of the School of Mozi. He offers to help Liang defend itself, asking nothing in return. After a brief, but impressive display of Ge Li’s skill, the Liang leader begrudgingly agrees. Quickly, Ge Li turns the town and its peoples from a weakly target to a force to be reckoned with. But Ge Li’s skill does not go unnoticed. Both the Liang ruler and its displaced general grow envious of Li’s skill in battle, and way with the Liang people. Soon enough, Ge Li finds himself beset on both sides by those with hostile intent.

The first thing that separates A Battle of Wits from its peers is its emphasis on strategy. Sure, the aforementioned films have brief touches upon strategy. In them, soldiers are given pep talks by leaders regarding the fact that they may be young/farmers/villagers/etc. but together they will prove a force to be reckoned with. These same soldiers are also told strategic things like “hold the wall”, “circle around back”, or any number of similar battle orders. Some classic films even go so far as to feature traps. For example, Spartacus had its flaming logs and Braveheart its wall of spears. But all of these really serve to convey only the most cursory notion of strategy, their inclusion instead intended to provide an emotional tug, a sense of urgency, or in the case of the traps, fulfill another in a series of “wow” moments during battle. But in Battle of Wits, strategy planning — true strategy planning – is absolutely integral to the plot. Every action taken by the defending force, from the arrangement and construction of battlements to the most innocuous preventative preparations taken by villagers play a part, both practical and psychological, in the defense of the Liang city. I won’t ruin the surprises, but suffice it to say some of the beneficial consequences of these methods are quite a joy to behold.

The second thing that separates A Battle of Wits is its philosophy. Being that the lead character is a Mozi student, it has the dual message of preparation for the worst, while hoping for the best. Earnest efforts are made by Ge Li to defend the city from its enemies, in the hope that by doing so will prevent such conflicts in the future. The goal is not just defense of the city, but everlasting peace. But, as a character states later in the film, “idealism breeds jealousy,” especially in the hearts of those less capable. Ge Li finds himself tested again and again, even by those he previously trusted, but each time he continues forth unwavering. In this I found a message of maintaining integrity in the face of adversity, and finding strength in your convictions. And yes, there is a nice thread of restrained love running throughout the narrative between Ge Li and Yi Yue, the female member of the Liang “calvary” (you know we at Dreamlogic love this stuff). It is wonderful, worthwhile stuff.

The look and feel of Battle of Wits harkens back to more thoughtful, fiscally responsible Chinese historical epics (The last one I can think of in recent memory that would fit the bill is The Emperor and the Assassin). There are some minor usages of computer graphics, but for the most part everything is realized practically. This means loads of extras, hand built sets, and desert locales. Sadly, I cannot really comment on the cinematography as the version I viewed was a full screen VCD, but suffice it to say that I will be seeking out the legitimate DeltaMac DVD release (Just say no to Red Sun). The musical score seems lifted from a late 80’s, early 90’s anime, a la Fist of the North Star or Record of Lodoss War. While this last item could be viewed as a bad thing by some, I think it actually fits the film nicely.

Having worked primarily on more contemporary pieces, director Jacob Cheung (Heavenly Music Floating in the Air, Never Say Goodbye) probably wouldn’t be the first director that comes to mind for a historical epic. However, with Battle of Wits he proves surprisingly adept, easily showing up recent efforts by recognized masters Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou. Even with its 133 minute runtime the film feels taut and lean, with constant focus on the story. Admittedly, Cheung was aided in no small part by enlisting the acting talent of Andy Lau, but even then he seems to squeeze out just a bit extra out his actors. Lau’s Ge Li ranks with some of his best performances. Similarly, Bingbing Fan, a relative newcomer (her turn in A Battle of Wits being only her fifth screen role), musters a surprising strength. The level of skill evidenced by Cheung leads me to believe that he is one to watch in coming years.

In closing, I quite liked this film. A Battle of Wits provides a unique experience quite unlike those provided by other war epics. It’s smart, beautifully executed, and completely captivating. Do yourself a favor, and track this one down.

About the Author

Chris Nelson has been a film fanatic since age six. A former film and English major, he is now a Software Engineer and contract Technical Writer living in the Silicon Valley.