“Dragon Wars is based on the Imoogi legend that only exists in Korea,” says director Hyung Rae Shim.
The legend is that every 500 years a young woman is born who possesses a spirit power that can turn a serpent into the mightiest dragon of all. A good serpent will use this power to protect the universe while an evil serpent will use the power to destroy the world.
The movie opens at the Seven Palms Resort in Los Angeles, California. At first glance, the Resort appears to have been caught in the middle of a tornado or hurricane. The ground is turned up and forklifts look to have been tossed about like toy trucks.
Before being chased away by investigators, Ethan Kendrick, an investigative TV reporter played by Jason Behr, videotapes what appears to be a giant dinosaur fossil or scale being dusted off by an FBI investigator.
Later, back at the office, while Kendrick is reviewing the videotape, he recalls a story he had been told as a young boy by an old antique dealer named Jack, played by Robert Forster, about giant serpents called Imoogi:
Long ago there lived great serpents called Imoogis. They lived in the heavens above. Every 500 years one imoogi is rewarded for its good deeds with the chance to become the celestial dragon. In order to do so, the imoogi needs to receive from heaven the gift of the Yuh Yi Joo, which allows an imoogi to transform into a dragon.
Only there was among the great serpents an evil one, Baruki, who coveted the Yuh Yi Joo. His followers designed to possess it and this Heaven could not allow. It was decided to hide away the Yuh Yi Joo on Earth. All Heaven could do is send down its best warriors Haram and Bochun to protect the Yuh Yi Joo at all cost from the evil Baruki.
The Yuh Yi Joo is a spirit existing inside a female child at birth bearing the sign of the red dragon on her left shoulder. It comes to maturity on her 20th birthday. On that day, legend says, she must be taken to the Grand Cave for sacrifice to the chosen good Imoogi so that mankind can remain a part of the cycle of the world.
Bochun spent much time training Haram in his duties to protect the Yuh Yi Joo, which was growing inside a girl named Narin. As often happens in legends, Haram feel in love with Narin. When the day came to fulfill their destinies the star-crossed lovers, Haram and Narin, jumped to their death denying Baruki the power to become the celestial dragon.
A perplexed young Ethan, played by Cody Arens, innocently asks Jack, “So what happened?” Jack reveals that although it may be hard to believe, Ethan is the chosen warrior Haram re-incarnated and Jack is the now 500-year old Bochun. They have been given a second chance to protect the Yuh Yi Joo, which is now growing inside a girl named Sarah Daniels, played by Amanda Brooks. Jack tells Ethan he must find Sarah and take her to the Grand Cave on her 20th birthday. And this time he must not betray the Heavens.
With the storyline set and legend explained the movie returns to current day Los Angeles where Baruki is on a rampage in search of Sarah. Battles ensue between the good guys and the bad guys while the evil Imoogi hunts down Sarah and Ethan.
The acting was a bit poor in comparison to American movie standards in my opinion. However the sci-fi rampage of Baruki and his followers was awesome. Reminiscent of Lord of the Rings and Transformer style battles, the movie's battle scenes were first rate, which was the goal of its director. “I came up with the concept of Dragon Wars ten years ago with the goal to create a science-fiction film based on a Korean legend. My intentions were to combine myth and history with elements of a blockbuster science fiction film.”
If you missed the movie on the big screen in September you can still catch it on DVD. It's scheduled to be released on January 8, 2008 according to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
