L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties

L.O.R.D. the movie is a pretty confusing situation. Whereas many stories in the action/fantasy category get tied down because of their lack of plot, L.O.R.D. has a great plot, but tells it poorly. There are actually a lot of things going for it, but in the end it's a bit of a muddled mess. For example, The acting was better than expected, especially with the amount of screen presence of Cheney Chen who I love to bits but has never been the strongest actor. The visuals are great (when the technology is working the way it should be). The general plot is interesting and creates a lot of room for character development and relationships.

The biggest issue is the way the story is told. There are many characters, and if you've read the books they are easy to identify, but if you haven't the movie will leave you confused about who hates who and why. The animation, though more advanced than most films, is really hard to watch sometimes, especially in the fight scenes. The English subtitles, are manageable but by no means palatable.

Despite all this I'm giving it at 7/10 because I did actually enjoy the movie as a reader of the books. I just feel bad for people who haven't.

Guo Jin Ming has muddled his books with sub-par direction and screen writing. If you've seen the movie and you like the premise of the story, I'd strongly recommend reading the book which you can find in English online. To find them translated you will probably have to look on fansites.

This could have made for a decent 45 episode drama, but in just two hours there are too many characters and concepts, too much world-building, for anyone's head not to spin. I have no trouble keeping the dozens of characters in lengthy dramas straight, but the dizzying speed of this movie was beyond my abilities to maintain.

If it were a TV series I'd probably be whining instead that the graphics are terrible. As it is, by turning the entire film into CGI they managed to make the monsters look natural to their environment, a decision for which the filmmakers do deserve credit. The scenes that ought to have captured the viewer's attention and imagination the most would have looked quite corny, no doubt, were this a live-action film, so I am willing to tolerate the animation. It does work quite well in this regard.

The film ends with two random characters whose role I only faintly understood discussing what just happened. This oughtn't have been necessary. The viewer ought to have known more or less what was going on as it happened, but at least we do discover the plot before the credits roll.

Probably one thing that most American viewers found refreshing is that this does not feel Chinese in the slightest. The architecture, the mannerisms, even the eyelids, seem rather European. I was expecting a more Oriental experience, something more like Fights Break Sphere or Tribes and Empires or Ever Night, but instead it seemed almost like I was watching a Disney movie.

In the end, the most redeeming quality of this film is that it is entertaining. There are far, far too few fantasy films being made to begin with, much less really good ones. This, while not particularly amazing like Lord of the Rings, is good and at least an entertaining option for the would-be fantasy viewer who is otherwise distraught by lack of choices.

You read my title, spend your money elsewhere. The movie story line is so convoluted, I got instant migraine just from watching it. The opening scene give some back ground about the fantasy land of the story, but that's about it. as the story progresses I keep asking myself, who is this character and why should I care about him? and as new character appears, the same questions repeat it self. Who is this new character and why should I care about it? and after 30 min I began to ask who is the protagonist who is the antagonist of the story? and as more characters with no background keep being added to the story. My interest in the movie just completely over. 1 hrs into the movie the only thing I get from the movie is there are bunch of guys and bunch of girls who meet and fight each other for I don't know what is the reason. What the hell am I watching? and the ending is a complete non ending. who won? who lose? So it's a bunch of guys who meet and fight and no one is winning and no one is losing? WHO WRITE this stuff? 3 year old baby? Whoever write this story need to go to school and stop bringing misery to movie viewer. Here is a basic story writing : Opening, Content, and Conclusion. and the 3 D animations, sure it capture the face of the movie star into 3 D CG, but they fail to capture any expression from their face, it's like watching a doll house. Even in death their face is expressionless. Trust me your money is better spend watching other movie. I want my money back! too bad Chinese theater don't give refunds.

Outstanding animation, haunting score and a fantasy world I cant wait to return to. Yes I agree with some reviews that the plot was a little confusing at times and I wasn't sure who the good protagonists were. The film felt a little more like a sequel, a bit of world building at the start might have helped rather then having to piece it together but it all does come together at the end and the journey was worth it.

I kept checking IMDb for reviews for this but lo and behold, none. So that makes mine the first review. Which also makes me the first sucker to review this on IMDb, despite advance negative press for this film. Firstly I'd like to let you know that I didn't spend good money on this film but my god what a turdcrap it was. Where to begin? As can be seen from the trailers, it's overpaid and underwhelming Chinese super-stars dressed up from head to toe in CGI. I wasn't sure whether I was watching the next Final Fantasy installment, or why i was watching Final Fantasy on the big screen in 3D.

The 3D ( surprise surprise) added nothing to the lack of story, and because the effects were so cheaply done ( see my final fantasy metaphor), And the acting? What from these lame-o characterless, dull, Chinese stars who are too busy looking expressionless, and assuming Japanese manga-style poses? Let's just say that the CGI made it even worse ( if that's even possible ) I have absolutely no idea, how this film got made, but from one Chinese movie fan, to another, please, don't waste your time.