The Myth
Encyclopedia
The Myth is a 2005 Hong Kong fantasy adventure film directed by Stanley Tong
, starring Jackie Chan
, Tony Leung Ka-Fai
, Kim Hee-sun
and Mallika Sherawat
.
, general Meng Yi
is tasked to escort Princess Ok-Soo from Korea to marry the Qin emperor
in China. Along the journey, a Korean warrior attempts to seize her back but Meng Yi saves her. Ok-Soo falls in love with Meng Yi and displays her affections for him openly, but Meng keeps his honour by rejecting her and successfully completing his mission. The Qin emperor becomes critically ill later and he sends Meng Yi to find the elixir of immortality
, the only thing that can save his life. The guards escorting the elixir are ambushed by rebels on the orders of the treacherous prince and chancellor. Meng Yi hands over the elixir to his deputy Nangong Yan and dies in the ensuing battle. Although Nangong Yan manages to bring the elixir to the emperor, the prince and chancellor accuse him and Ok-Soo of treason and force them to consume the elixir, condemning them to imprisonment in the Qin emperor's mausoleum for eternity.
In the present-day, Jack, an archeologist, is the reincarnation of Meng Yi, as he often dreams about his past life. One day, his friend William invites him on a quest to find a rare material that can create a field of zero gravity. They travel to a floating tomb of a Dassar king in India, where Jack finds a sword and has a recollection of a duel he had with the king in his past life. William removes a piece of the material and accidentally collapses the zero gravity field holding up the tomb, thereby destroying it. William manages to escape but Jack leaps off a cliff and falls into a river. He loses consciousness and drifts along with the current until he is saved by an Indian girl named Samantha. Later, Samantha brings Jack to see her uncle, a Kalaripayattu guru, who enlightens him about his past and future. Jack succeeds in returning home safely and he delivers the sword to the National Museum of China
as a national treasure. His action angered the leader of the secret organisation that has been funding Jack and William's treasure hunt.
After extensive research, Jack and William conclude that the anti-gravity material is actually fragments of a meteorite that fell to Earth during the Qin Dynasty. They find the exact location of the Qin emperor's mausoleum, concealed behind a waterfall. The massive tomb contains the strongest fragment of the meteorite, which is powerful enough to make the tomb become a floating palace. Jack meets Ok-Soo and Nangong Yan inside the tomb and they mistake him for Meng Yi. Just then, a group of intruders led by the secret organisation's leader enters the tomb and they attempt to seize the immortality elixir, leading to an aerial fight between both them. William accidentally breaks the balance of the field after removing a piece of the meteorite and causes the tomb to collapse on itself, and dies after drowning in the mercury river. Jack escapes from the collapsing tomb, asking Ok-Soo to come with him, but she refuses after realising that Jack is not Meng Yi. Before the film ends, Jack is seen writing a book about his experiences, which he dedicates to William.
on September 23, 2005, and earned a strong HK $6,230,000 in its first three days. It ended its run with HK $17 million, making it the third highest-grossing domestic release in Hong Kong that year.
David Cornelius, from efilmcritic, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote a positive review:
Jim Hemphill, from Reel Films Reviews, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote a positive review:
In Variety Magazine, Robert Koehler wrote a generally negative review of the film:
David Nusair, writing for Reel Film Reviews from the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, was even less impressed:
in Region 2
.
and Kim Hee-sun
. Chan's stanzas were all sung in Mandarin, while Kim's solo stanzas were sung in Korean. However, the duets were all sung in Mandarin.
An alternative version, titled Meili De Shenhua (美麗的神話; Beautiful Myth), was performed all in Mandarin by Sun Nan
and Han Hong.
The song was reused as the ending theme song for the 2010 television series of the same title
. This version was performed in Mandarin by Hu Ge
and Bai Bing.
in the state of Kerala
, India
. List of stunt performers include John Foo
, Wu Gang, Han Kwan Hua, Lee In Seob, Ken Lo, Park Hyun Jin and William Dewsbury.
, was broadcast on CCTV-8
in China. The series was produced by Jackie Chan
and based on the same story as the film.
Stanley Tong
Stanley Tong is a film director from Hong Kong.According to IMDb , he customarily attempts stunts himself before asking actors to risk themselves...
, starring Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Tony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective...
, Kim Hee-sun
Kim Hee-sun
Kim Hee-sun is a South Korean actress from Seoul who has been acting in Korean TV dramas and films for over a decade.Kim debuted on TV as a year 11 student and later majored in Drama at Chung-Ang University...
and Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat is a former Indian model, now working as an actress in mainly Bollywood films. Known for her bold onscreen attitude, Sherawat has been frequently featured in the media as a sex symbol...
.
Plot
During the Qin DynastyQin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
, general Meng Yi
Meng Yi
Meng Yi was a minister who served Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, during the Qin Dynasty.-Biography:Meng Yi was the younger brother of the general Meng Tian. During the later years of Qin Shi Huang's reign, he became the closest and most trusted of the emperor's advisors...
is tasked to escort Princess Ok-Soo from Korea to marry the Qin emperor
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
in China. Along the journey, a Korean warrior attempts to seize her back but Meng Yi saves her. Ok-Soo falls in love with Meng Yi and displays her affections for him openly, but Meng keeps his honour by rejecting her and successfully completing his mission. The Qin emperor becomes critically ill later and he sends Meng Yi to find the elixir of immortality
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
, the only thing that can save his life. The guards escorting the elixir are ambushed by rebels on the orders of the treacherous prince and chancellor. Meng Yi hands over the elixir to his deputy Nangong Yan and dies in the ensuing battle. Although Nangong Yan manages to bring the elixir to the emperor, the prince and chancellor accuse him and Ok-Soo of treason and force them to consume the elixir, condemning them to imprisonment in the Qin emperor's mausoleum for eternity.
In the present-day, Jack, an archeologist, is the reincarnation of Meng Yi, as he often dreams about his past life. One day, his friend William invites him on a quest to find a rare material that can create a field of zero gravity. They travel to a floating tomb of a Dassar king in India, where Jack finds a sword and has a recollection of a duel he had with the king in his past life. William removes a piece of the material and accidentally collapses the zero gravity field holding up the tomb, thereby destroying it. William manages to escape but Jack leaps off a cliff and falls into a river. He loses consciousness and drifts along with the current until he is saved by an Indian girl named Samantha. Later, Samantha brings Jack to see her uncle, a Kalaripayattu guru, who enlightens him about his past and future. Jack succeeds in returning home safely and he delivers the sword to the National Museum of China
National Museum of China
The National Museum of China flanks the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The mission of the museum is to educate about the arts and history of China...
as a national treasure. His action angered the leader of the secret organisation that has been funding Jack and William's treasure hunt.
After extensive research, Jack and William conclude that the anti-gravity material is actually fragments of a meteorite that fell to Earth during the Qin Dynasty. They find the exact location of the Qin emperor's mausoleum, concealed behind a waterfall. The massive tomb contains the strongest fragment of the meteorite, which is powerful enough to make the tomb become a floating palace. Jack meets Ok-Soo and Nangong Yan inside the tomb and they mistake him for Meng Yi. Just then, a group of intruders led by the secret organisation's leader enters the tomb and they attempt to seize the immortality elixir, leading to an aerial fight between both them. William accidentally breaks the balance of the field after removing a piece of the meteorite and causes the tomb to collapse on itself, and dies after drowning in the mercury river. Jack escapes from the collapsing tomb, asking Ok-Soo to come with him, but she refuses after realising that Jack is not Meng Yi. Before the film ends, Jack is seen writing a book about his experiences, which he dedicates to William.
Cast
- Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
as Jack / Meng YiMeng YiMeng Yi was a minister who served Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, during the Qin Dynasty.-Biography:Meng Yi was the younger brother of the general Meng Tian. During the later years of Qin Shi Huang's reign, he became the closest and most trusted of the emperor's advisors... - Kim Hee-sunKim Hee-sunKim Hee-sun is a South Korean actress from Seoul who has been acting in Korean TV dramas and films for over a decade.Kim debuted on TV as a year 11 student and later majored in Drama at Chung-Ang University...
as Princess Ok-Soo - Tony Leung Ka-faiTony Leung Ka-FaiTony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective...
as William - Mallika SherawatMallika SherawatMallika Sherawat is a former Indian model, now working as an actress in mainly Bollywood films. Known for her bold onscreen attitude, Sherawat has been frequently featured in the media as a sex symbol...
as Samantha - Patrick Tam as General Xu Gui
- Shao Bing as Nangong Yan
- Ken LoKen LoKen Low Wai-kwong is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist and a ex-member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.-Early life:...
as Dragon - Yu RongguangYu RongguangYu Rongguang is a Chinese actor and martial artist who started his career in Hong Kong. He is best known for the title role in Iron Monkey along with Donnie Yen as well as being featured in films such as The East Is Red, My Father Is a Hero, Musa.Yu is also known for appearing in roles for films...
as Rebel general Zhao Kuang - Ken Wong as Rebel general Meng Jie
- Jin Song as Rebel general Jin Song
- Hayama GoHayama Go, born , also known as Yip San Ho in Cantonese, is a Japanese actor and former model based in Hong Kong.-Filmography:* Mysterious Island * 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy * The Jade and the Pearl * Break Up Club...
as Tiger - Chan Sek as Cheetah
- He Jun as Phoenix
- Park Hyun Jin as Eagle
- Choi Min-SooChoi Min-sooChoi Min-soo is a South Korean actor known for the "tough guy" image.- Biography :Choi was born in Seoul in 1962. Choi's family has been active in acting, and singing for over the last eight decades. Choi was born as the son of Choi Moo-ryong, a popular actor of the 1960s and 1970s, and Kang...
as Korean general Choi - Yao Weixing as Korean general Shen
- Maggie LauMaggie LauMaggie Lau is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She starred in New Police Story, The Twins Effect and also had a small acting part in The Myth alongside Jackie Chan and Korean actress, Kim Hee-sun....
as Maggie - Yuen Tak as Dasar monk
- Sun Zhou as Professor Koo
- Leon Head as Dr. Smith
- Lian Shuliang as Zhao GaoZhao GaoZhao Gao was the chief eunuch during the Qin Dynasty of China. He played an instrumental role in the downfall of the Qin Dynasty.- Early life :...
- Chen Weiguo as Li SiLi SiLi Si was the influential Prime Minister of the feudal state and later of the dynasty of Qin, between 246 BC and 208 BC. A famous Legalist, he was also a notable calligrapher. Li Si served under two rulers: Qin Shi Huang, king of Qin and later First Emperor of China—and his son, Qin Er Shi...
- Zhang Yiqun as HuhaiQin Er ShiQin Er Shi , literally Second Emperor of Qin Dynasty, personal name Huhai, was emperor of the Qin Dynasty in China from 210 BC until 207 BC.-Name:...
- Lee Hok-Tung as the Xi'an museum curator
- Govindan Kutty Nair Sathyanarayanan as Dasar prince
- Ram Gopal BajajRam Gopal BajajRam Gopal Bajaj is a noted Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former director of National School of Drama, New Delhi ....
as Dasar martial arts schoolmaster - Sudhanshu PandeySudhanshu PandeySudhanshu Pandey is an Indian model and Bollywood actor. He was born and raised in Uttar Pradesh. After a career in fashion modeling, he debuted in Bollywood in a 2000 movie Khiladi 420.-Filmography:- External links :* * * *...
as Dasar temple guard captain - Peter Spurrier as Dr. Smith's researcher
- Ng Kong as General Choi's aide
- Jon Foo (extra) (uncredited)
Box office
The Myth was released in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on September 23, 2005, and earned a strong HK $6,230,000 in its first three days. It ended its run with HK $17 million, making it the third highest-grossing domestic release in Hong Kong that year.
Critical response
Styna Chyn, from filmtreat, wrote a positive review of the film:"Even though Jackie Chan did not direct “The Myth,” (Stanley Tong), he did produce it; and his creative input echoes throughout this genre-bending action film. Shot in China, Hong Kong, and Hampi,India, “The Myth” is a comedy of epic proportions. Combining historical fantasy, martial arts, and science-fiction, Tong’s film follows archaeologist Jack (Jackie Chan) and scientist William (Tony Leung Ka-Fai) on their adventures in investigating the veracity of a myth involving immortality, levitation, and a Korean princess-turned-concubine for Emperor Qin towards the end of the Qin Dynasty."
David Cornelius, from efilmcritic, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote a positive review:
"Once again, it’s time to lament that while Jackie Chan has spent the past few years churning out mostly mediocre-or-worse flops like “Around the World in 80 Days” or those damn “Rush Hour” sequels in Hollywood, he’s also spent the same time flying back home every now and then to make some darn-good-or-better flicks that, sadly, remain mostly unseen Stateside because they’ve been unceremoniously dumped onto DVD by the studios that pick up the rights to them but then never really bother to do anything about it."
Jim Hemphill, from Reel Films Reviews, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote a positive review:
"Jackie Chan's The Myth is enjoyable but second-rate Jackie Chan, an action film that's completely satisfying on every level except when compared to the star's own best work. Chan has, in some ways, become a victim of his own excellence: the astonishing stunt work and action choreography of his peak years (the 1980s period of the Police Story and Project A films) have set up expectations that no performer could continue to live up to, certainly not after moving into middle age. Viewers weaned on Chan's classics will undoubtedly find The Myth to be Jackie-lite, a slightly slowed-down version of his usual acrobatics. Yet the film does contain a few superb set pieces reminiscent of vintage Chan, and director Stanley Tong's opulent visual style makes it a feast for the eyes—and the bottom line is that half-speed Jackie Chan is still more dynamic than just about any other action hero."
In Variety Magazine, Robert Koehler wrote a generally negative review of the film:
"Resembling a story session where many ideas are brainstormed and few stick, The Myth messily reps Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
in epic mode as a contempo archaeologist drawn into a plot to plunder the treasure of the Qin Dynasty's first emperor. As part of a movement in H.K. cinema to return to the ambitious movies of yore, helmer Stanley Tong's multi-period adventure flirts with considerable entertainment on one hand and near self-destruction on the other. Whether Chan's star power will pull in enough international bizbiz is doubtful, though ancillary should flex muscles in most territories."
David Nusair, writing for Reel Film Reviews from the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, was even less impressed:
"That The Myth eventually turns into an almost interminable experience is a shame, given the light-hearted and genuinely entertaining vibe of the film's opening hour...Fortunately, The Myth contains several expectedly impressive action sequences - with a fight set within a rat paper factory an obvious highlight - although it's not long before such moments wear out their welcome. This is particularly true of an unbelievably tedious plot development towards the end, which finds all of the film's central characters forced to duke it out inside some kind of an infinite, gravity-defying mausoleum (!) Chan is reportedly looking to get away from some of the sillier films he's been churning out as of late, but The Myth certainly does not mark a step in the right direction".
Home media
On May 4, 2009, DVD was released in Cine Asia at EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in Region 2
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
.
Theme song
The theme song for the film, titled Wujin De Ai (無盡的愛; Endless Love) was performed in both Mandarin and Korean by Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
and Kim Hee-sun
Kim Hee-sun
Kim Hee-sun is a South Korean actress from Seoul who has been acting in Korean TV dramas and films for over a decade.Kim debuted on TV as a year 11 student and later majored in Drama at Chung-Ang University...
. Chan's stanzas were all sung in Mandarin, while Kim's solo stanzas were sung in Korean. However, the duets were all sung in Mandarin.
An alternative version, titled Meili De Shenhua (美麗的神話; Beautiful Myth), was performed all in Mandarin by Sun Nan
Sun Nan
Sun Nan born February 18, 1969) is a famous pop singer from mainland China. He is a native of Dalian.He is one of the most popular artists from mainland China.-Career:In the 1990s he was considered a frontline singer in the Beijing music scene...
and Han Hong.
The song was reused as the ending theme song for the 2010 television series of the same title
The Myth (TV series)
The Myth is a 2010 Chinese television series based on the 2005 Hong Kong film of the same title. Jackie Chan, who starred in the original film, was credited as producer for the series, while Stanley Tong, the director of the film, was creative director for the series. The series was first aired on...
. This version was performed in Mandarin by Hu Ge
Hu Ge (actor)
Hu Ge , is a Chinese actor and singer. Hu is best known for his role as Li Xiaoyao in the 2003 television series Chinese Paladin.-Biography:...
and Bai Bing.
Action team
The Kalaripayattu martial arts were performed by experts from C. V. N. Kalari school, led by Sunil Kumar Gurukkal, and based in the town of Nadakkavu, CalicutKozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. List of stunt performers include John Foo
John Foo
Jon Foo is an English actor, martial artist and stuntman of mixed Chinese and Irish descent.-Early life:...
, Wu Gang, Han Kwan Hua, Lee In Seob, Ken Lo, Park Hyun Jin and William Dewsbury.
Television series
On 10 January 2010, a 50 episodes television series, titled The MythThe Myth (TV series)
The Myth is a 2010 Chinese television series based on the 2005 Hong Kong film of the same title. Jackie Chan, who starred in the original film, was credited as producer for the series, while Stanley Tong, the director of the film, was creative director for the series. The series was first aired on...
, was broadcast on CCTV-8
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
in China. The series was produced by Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
and based on the same story as the film.