Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘Dynasty Warriors’ Is Action-Packed But Needs A Deeper Story

REVIEW: ‘Dynasty Warriors’ Is Action-Packed But Needs A Deeper Story

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings07/01/20214 Mins Read
Dynasty Warriors
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Dynasty Warriors

Dynasty Warriors, directed by Roy Chow, is based on the video game franchise of the same name developed by Koei Tecmo. The film takes place during the downfall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with the power-hungry Dong Zhuo (Suet Lam) taking control of the throne. Multiple warriors rise up to stop him, including swordsman Liu Bei (Tony Yo-ning Yang) and his blood brothers Guan Yu (Geng Han) and Zhang Fei (Justin Cheung), who were loyal to the Han Dynasty’s young emperor. Cao Cao (Kai Wang) also seeks to assassinate Dong Zhuo, which leads him on a journey across China to Liu Bei.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The film has had a long road to its debut, first filming in 2017 and undergoing a lengthy post-production process as well as shifting release dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also serves as another highly anticipated video game adaptation, as the Dynasty Warriors games have become a long and successful franchise-even spawning multiple spinoffs featuring characters from Mobile Suit Gundam and Fist of the North Star. However, I felt that the results were mixed, as the film crams nearly two movies’ worth of story into the space of two hours.

A key example concerns Lu Bu (Louis Koo), Dong Zhuo’s main general, who encounters the lovely Diaochan (Coulee Nazha) and prevents her from committing suicide. What happens next is the most lightspeed romance I’ve ever seen: she says she doesn’t want to get married to Dong Zhuo, and he promises to marry her. Dude, you JUST MET HER. Get to know her before popping the question! Likewise, the ending feels rather abrupt and sets up multiple threads that led to a sequel. This is a growing pet peeve of mine: many films that try to launch a franchise, especially those based on existing IP, often overstuff their first entry with various Easter eggs that scream, “We’ll get to this in the sequel!” Dynasty Warriors is no different, and I feel like Chow and screenwriter Christine To could have crafted a smoother and more compelling narrative that left the door open for a sequel.

The CGI is also extremely wonky; massive cracks in the ground and elemental blasts feel less like they belong in a massive blockbuster movie and more in an episode of Power Rangers. I have no problem with CGI in films, but it should be a tool used to enhance the narrative and not the major feature. To the film’s credit, it leans into this hokiness throughout the entire runtime-which led to a few genuine giggles from me while I was watching it.

A key element of the film that works wonderfully is the fight scenes. The Dynasty Warriors franchise is best known for its hack-and-slash combat, and Chow manages to replicate the sheer adrenaline rush of those scenes. Fighters leap into the air, delivering crushing blows. And many of the major warriors, including the trio of blood brothers and Cao Cao, manage to strike blows that send scores of enemies flying. Much like Mortal Kombat, viewers will probably view the fight sequences and mystical elements as the major draw. One such element features Lu Bu wielding the Heaven’s Halberd, which summons thunder and lightning in a manner similar to Thor’s hammer Mjolnir.

The acting is also fairly solid across the board, with Koo and Wang being the standouts. Wang’s Cao Cao is driven by a desire for vengeance, which leads him to make a rather shocking decision near the film’s halfway point; the film takes care to show that his quest for vengeance has a legitimate cost which I think adds some much-needed gravity to his character arc. Koo is also a twist on the “villain’s right-hand man” trope, as Lu Bu actually holds himself up as an honorable warrior and is fairly clever when it comes to warfare strategies. I wish we had gotten to see more of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei; their dynamic is highly reminiscent of the one Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli shared in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and I would have gladly watched a whole movie of that.

Dynasty Warriors could have benefitted from an expanded runtime and a stronger screenplay, though its high-octane action sequences and performances will undoubtedly be a draw for audiences. Fans of the video game series or wuxia films should definitely give it a watch, and if a sequel does manifest, I hope that it takes as much care with characters as it does with action.

Dynasty Warriors is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Dynasty Warriors
  • 7/10
    Rating - 7/10
7/10

TL;DR

Dynasty Warriors could have benefitted from an expanded runtime and a stronger screenplay, though its high-octane action sequences and performances will undoubtedly be a draw for audiences. Fans of the video game series or wuxia films should definitely give it a watch, and if a sequel does manifest, I hope that it takes as much care with characters as it does with action.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The Seven Deadly Sins,” Season 5 – “Dragon’s Judgement”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’ Fights It’s Battles Through Shades Of Grey
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Choi Gyu-ri, Shin Eun-Soo in Love Untangled
7.5

REVIEW: ‘Love Untangled’ Is Just Adorable

08/31/2025
Austin Butler in Caught Stealing
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Caught Stealing’ Marks An Exciting Pivot for Darren Aronofsky

08/27/2025
Margaret Qualley stars as Honey O' Donahue in the film Honey Don't
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Honey Don’t!’ Is A Genius Work Of Subversion And Fantasy Fulfillment

08/25/2025
Benedict Cumberbatch in The Roses But Why Tho
5.0

 REVIEW: ‘The Roses’ Lacks A Thorny Edge

08/25/2025
Mert Ramazan Demir in Abandoned Man
6.5

REVIEW: ‘Abandoned Man’ Lacks Depth In Its Take On Betrayal

08/22/2025
Ne Zha 2 promotional still from a24
10.0

REVIEW: ‘Ne Zha 2’ Is One Of The Most Epic Feats Of Animation

08/21/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

Cronos: The New Dawn Nest
8.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Cronos: The New Dawn’ Does Post-Apocalyptic Psychological Horror Right

By Mick Abrahamson09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

While not particularly sacry, Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror that puts you in the futuristic armor of the Traveler.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here