More than a decade has passed since The Storm Riders, a then groundbreaking ( For Hong Kong and Asia ) special effects Wuxia film ( adapted from Ma Wing Shing’s hugely popular comic series “FungWan” 風雲 ）was released. Come late next year, The Pang brothers ( The Eye, Bangkok Dangerous ) will bring us the sequel – titled The Storm Warriors, with Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok reprising their roles as Wind and Cloud as they join forces once again to battle a powerful Japanese warlord bend on conquering China.

After the lukewarm Hollywood remake of Bangkok Dangerous, I’m glad the Pang Brothers have chosen to tackle a project closer to home, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the many visual and special effects laden Storm Warriors can definitely do with some keen direction given their artistic background. ( Oxide Pang started off his career as a film colorist, Danny as an editor. )

Below ( Some stylized renderings of the main characters from the film )

(above) While I have no problems seeing Simon Yam ( PTU, Bullet in the head ) appearing as Lord Godless I’m curious as to why a Japanese actor wasn’t cast, which would have given the character more authenticity and presence. What’s ironical is that Xiong Ba, the villain in the first film, was performed by veteran Japanese actor Sonny Chiba ( Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill ), when the character was in fact Chinese. Oh well, nitpicking here.

Visit The Storm Warriors official website here.

Anyone psyched to see this  ? Or hated the first one ?