Warriors of Future (2022)

Rather uninspiring. In spite of sporting a cast of well known Asian action
actors, predominantly from Hong Kong and some top shelf special effects.

The best the writers could come up with is a plant from outer space. Does that sound a little dull, well yes, that's because it is. There is a degree of decent action, in the form of aggressive alien creatures, that live on the giant plant and a conspiracy with attack robots. That said, this feels like padding for a core idea that was never great to start with.

In short, nothing special, which is unfortunate given the quality cast and money spent on this film.

This was actually a fairly decent action flick.

The story and script is nothing to write home about. It is the kind of nonsense that makes you think it came from some low-IQ woke Hollywood script writer. It is not though. This is a Hong Kong movie.

Me and the boys sat down yesterday evening and looked for a movie to watch and my second son suggested this. I was a bit hesitant since at first I thought it was a Chinese movie. China of course wants to pretend it is but Hong Kong has not (yet?) been fully assimilated by the Collective of the Chinese Communist Dictatorship so…

The story starts of with Earth being a dystopian world where we made wars, destroyed the ecology and poisoned the atmosphere bla bla bla. Hence my reference to woke Hollywood.

To add to humanities woes a meteorite crashed into Earth delivering a “plant” that grows at a rate that defines all physics when exposed to water. As I said, the script is nothing to write home about.

However, it is good enough to string together the action and the special effects and this is where this movie delivers. Also, after the initial rubbish preaching the movie is luckily pretty free from that crap.

It is fairly gung ho rollercoaster of action, killer robots and alien monsters. The movie feels a bit like a walkthrough of a computer game turned into an action movie.

That sounds a bit bad but we actually enjoyed it. Provided you park your brain somewhere else it is a fun movie to watch.

The bad guy is a bit anemic and them letting him to continue his shenanigans all the way to end, even though he had been exposed, just to let our heroes fight through the last of his robot minions, was just nonsensical script writing.

Still, it was a fun one hour and forty minutes. I’m just surprised that the “critics” of Woke Tomatoes has given it a 88% rating. Probably due to the first 10 minutes of woke rubbish. After that the rest didn’t matter to them.

There was a mid credit scene as well but it really didn’t say anything except to give the notion that the producers wanted to leave the door open to some kind of sequel.

**Score: 7/10 A Guilty Pleasure of Spectacle and Shenanigans**

*Warriors of Future* is the cinematic equivalent of a fast-food meal it's not particularly nutritious, but sometimes that's exactly what you're craving. Directed by Yuen Fai Ng, this Hong Kong sci-fi actioner is a classic example of style over substance, a movie that knows exactly what it is and leans into it with unapologetic gusto. It's basically a crappy storyline to support a special effects movie, but it isn't a total fail. In fact, it's quite entertaining if you know what you're signing up for.

**The Story (Such as It Is):**

The plot is best described as an "advert for a video game you'd never play." Set in a grim future where Earth is ravaged by pollution and giant alien plant-monsters, a rag-tag team of soldiers must retrieve a mysterious weapon that could save humanity. Along the way, there are double-crosses, heroic sacrifices, and a villain whose motivations are as transparent as the CGI that surrounds him. It's a premise we've seen a hundred times, and it offers no surprises but it does provide a sturdy clothesline on which to hang the film's true focus: the action.

**The Special Effects: A Feast for the Eyes**

The FX are quite good. The film's budget is visible on the screen in the form of slick, glossy CGI that creates a believable, albeit generic, futuristic world. The alien creatures are rendered with a satisfying level of detail, the explosions are suitably massive, and the mech suits particularly the one worn by Louis Koo's character have a tangible, imposing weight. For a film that wears its ambition on its sleeve, the visual effects deliver the spectacle that audiences expect.

**The Characters: Somewhat Believable**

The characters are somewhat believable, which is more than you can say for many films of this ilk. Louis Koo brings a grounded, weary presence to his role as a soldier burdened by past failures. Sean Lau provides a solid, gruff performance as the team's leader, and the supporting cast including the always-watchable Carina Lau do what they can with a script that offers more exposition than emotion. The emotional beats are familiar, but they land with a reasonable degree of sincerity. The friendship between Koo's and Lau's characters feels earned, even if it is sketched in broad strokes.

**Why It's a 7 (Not a 6 or 8):**

This is a movie about spectacle, not depth. If you come looking for profound themes or a plot that rewards close attention, you'll leave disappointed. The story is a vehicle, nothing more. But for what it is a flashy, ambitious sci-fi actioner it works. The pacing is brisk, the action is well-staged, and the film's dedication to its own ridiculous premise is oddly endearing. It is not a total fail because it never pretends to be more than it is.

**The Verdict:**

*Warriors of Future* is a solid, entertaining sci-fi romp that will appeal to anyone with a taste for glossy action and apocalyptic spectacle. It is far from perfect the plot is thin, the characters are archetypal, and the emotional stakes feel manufactured. But it is also a lot of fun. It is the kind of movie you can switch your brain off for and just enjoy the ride.

**Watch if:** You love big-budget sci-fi action, appreciate a film that knows its own limits, or simply want to see Hong Kong's finest face off against CGI monsters.
**Skip if:** You demand a compelling story, nuanced character development, or any semblance of originality in your sci-fi. This is a movie for the eyes, not the mind.