Prologue
Prologue depicts Spartan and Athenian warriors locked in a gory battle to the death.
Prologue depicts Spartan and Athenian warriors locked in a gory battle to the death.
Prologue depicts Spartan and Athenian warriors locked in a gory battle to the death.
Yikes, but there is something leathery - almost embalmed, about the characterisations here is this beautifully crafted depiction of war - and the painful futilty thereof. There are four warriors facing off against each other. Two, naked, are from Sparta. The other pair are better armed and hail from Athens. With one of them an archer, you'd have thought this could have been a straightforward enough slaughter, but it turns out he's not so proficient and so plenty of close combat ensues with spears, short swords and gymnastic brute force. This is all being observed by a distraught young girl and her mother. Is one of these men her father? Her brother? The attention to the detail, the shadowing and the sinuous movement are captured astonishingly well here. It looks like every frame has been hand drawn from scratch and then edited together so that each shot looks natural, but ever so slightly different in contrast, from the one before. They are depicted like leopards stalking each other; their footwork paid just as much attention to as their almost perfect facial expressions. This really is a work of art and is well worth a gander.
The film's plot follows that of the game closely. Nariko, a member of an ancient tribe who have guarded an ancient magical sword for thousands of years, is charged with bringing the sword to its destined wielder, a deity reincarnated who will bring peace to the land. But on her quest, Nariko must wield the sword herself against the forces of King Bohan, who wishes to possess the weapon himself.
Rick, a down-and-out American boxer, is hired to transport a sword to Japan, unaware that the whole thing is a set up in a bitter blood-feud between two brothers, one who follows the traditional path of the samurai and the other a businessman. At the behest of the businessman, Rick undertakes samurai training from the other brother, but joins his cause. He also becomes romantically involved with the samurai's daughter.
Greek general Themistocles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. Themistocles faces the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god, Xerxes and Artemesia, the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
After experiencing traumatic nightmares of a time now past, the Sorceress summons Prince Adam and Cringer to Castle Grayskull to give Adam a precious, jeweled sword and send the pair to the planet Etheria to investigate its secrets.
Cis and Duo discuss leaving the real world while during a samurai sword fight. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.
Wenches Scarlett and Giselle fix each other up for their wedding, in which they would each marry their groom. Upon realizing that both their grooms were the same man, Jack Sparrow, the two wenches found themselves in an auction led by the Auctioneer. This short film serves as a prequel to The Curse of the Black Pearl, and explains just why Jack Sparrow's boat the Jolly Mon was seen sinking at the beginning of the whole story; why the wenches were so upset with him; and how Cotton lost his tongue.
Three middle aged men polish their martial arts skills to avenge their fallen master.
A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.
Ordered to teach a martial arts class of rambunctious bunny kittens, Po tells stories of each of the Furious Five's pasts.
When Ryu returns to pay homage to his deceased mentor, Gouken, he is tormented by disturbing memories of his master's killer (Gouki). In a quest to become a true martial arts master, he sets out to hone his street fighting skills and deliver himself from the haunting legacy of the dark hadou.