The new role-playing hit Where Winds Meet belongs to the legendary Wuxia genre, which has been present in China for over 100 years, even in film form. MeinMMO presents you with 7 movies that you can dive deeper into.
How was this list created? Where Winds Meet is a new open-world RPG from China that borrows from the Wuxia genre, which has a long tradition in China. In this list, we present you with 7 films that can give you more impressions of the genre if you liked the game. We focus on the following elements:
- Epic fight scenes with superhuman abilities and traditional martial arts
- Historical context and grand scenes featuring large armies, lavish costumes, and props
- A certain theatricality in the acting
If you want to know more about what lies behind the genre, you should check this out: What is Wuxia anyway?
The list aims to provide a good mix of classics as well as more modern representatives of the genre. If you think a film is missing from this list, feel free to write it in the comments.
1. Hero
Release year: 2002 | Director: Yimou Zhang | Currently streaming: Available for purchase on various platforms, available on subscription at Joyn
What is Hero about? The king of Qin is on the verge of conquering the 6 kingdoms, so he must beware of assassins. But one day he learns that the Nameless (Jet Li) has taken care of his enemies. Throughout the film, flashbacks reveal how the hero accomplished this. However, there is more to the story than meets the eye.
What kind of film is Hero? Hero is an excellent entry point for fans of Where Winds Meet because Stephen Tung Wai choreographed the action sequences for the game. He also contributed to the role-playing game to make the fight scenes feel spectacularly fitting to the genre.
However, Hero doesn’t just rely on thrilling fight scenes that look fantastic compared to today’s action films (particularly the fight between Jet Li and Donnie Yen). Like many Wuxia works, the sets are beautifully designed, the film plays extensively with vibrant colors, and the episodic structure of the film gives it a special touch.
