The Warring States (Zhan Guo) (2011)
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40% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(117 ratings)
Rival Chinese military strategists Sun Bin (Sun Hong-lei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng) clash in this historic war adventure set during the Era of Warring States. From 475 B.C. to 221 B.C., China was in turmoil. Sun Bin and Pang Juan were two of the brightest military strategists of their time.… More Rival Chinese military strategists Sun Bin (Sun Hong-lei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng) clash in this historic war adventure set during the Era of Warring States. From 475 B.C. to 221 B.C., China was in turmoil. Sun Bin and Pang Juan were two of the brightest military strategists of their time. Eventually, Pang found great success as the commanding general of the Wei state. However, his jealousy over Sun's close relationship with their mentor drove Pang to frame his rival for treason. Later, after intervening to rescue Sun from execution, attempting to trick him into recording all of his vast military knowledge, and plotting to kill him once he secured that priceless information, Pang found out just how cunning his adversary could be when Sun feigned insanity and fled to the Qi state. There, Sun quickly ascended through the ranks to become the state's chief military strategist. But the battle was just heating up. Shortly thereafter, Sun and Pang would find out who was truly the superior military leader when their respective armies clashed on the battlefield. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jin Chen
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International
- In Theaters
- Apr 12, 2011 Limited
- On DVD
- Nov 15, 2011
- Studio
- New Video Group
Critic Reviews
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Nick Schager, Village Voice
A morass of melodramatic romance, torture, and suicide.
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Mike Hale, New York Times
The writer, Shen Jian, and the director, Jing Chen, have made no concessions to the non-Chinese viewer in their compressed, chaotic narrative.
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Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
This busy attempt at merging large-scale CGI action filmmaking with outsized historical drama is unremarkable.
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Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
Thrilling and exhilarating. Prepare to be at the edge of your seat from start to finish.
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Brent Simon, Screen International
Director Jin Chen's grand historical epic evinces some impressive costume design and much natural scenic beauty, but never locates a particularly persuasive or enrapturing tone.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Honglei Sun
as Sun Bin
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Jing Tian
as Tian Xi
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Francis Ng
as Pang Juan
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Kim Hee-Sun
as Pang Fei
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Kiichi Nakai
as King of Qi
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Jiang Wu
as Tian Ji
- Ma Jingwu
- Jun Wu
- Fang Zige
- Lei Gesheng
- Xin Xin Xiong
- Zhang Xiaojun
- Degang Guo
- Xu Jiao
- Yu Ailei
- Jin Xishan
- Zhong Jingguiyi
- Enhe Feng
- Hao Hao
- Sun Hao
- Huang Haibing
- Li Zixiong
- Liao Jingsheng
- He Yunwei
- Mao Hai
- Liu Yajing
- Xue Cun
- Sun Honglei
- Hee-seon Kim