Musa (2001, aka "Musa the Warrior") ½
cast: Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-kee, Ju Jin-mo, Zhang Ziyi, Park Yong-woo, Park Jeong-hak,
Yu Hye-jin, Jeong Seok-yong, Lee Du-il, Han Yeong-mok, and Yu Rong Guang
director: Kim Sung-su

During the 14th Century, following the towering of the Ming Dynasty in China, a Ming envoy headed for Korea (then known as Koryo) is slain, and delegations between the two dynasties harden. In an attempt at diplomacy, Korea mounts several of their own envoys to China.

"Musa," in and of itself, tracks one such envoy that arrives in China, only to be accused of being spies, and sent into desert exile. If that wasn't bad enough, once they arrive there, Yuan soldiers, remnants of the war between the Ming and Yuan, attack them.

Not only are the Yuan unwilling to accept the pangs of defeat they've also kidnapped a Ming princess (mainland star Zhang Ziyi) who is the object of material desire for their general (Chinese actor Yu Rong Guang, equipped with long braided lochs and a sharp goatee).

On their voyage home, the Korean envoy, which includes teen heartthrob Ju Jin-mo and veteran actor Ahn Sung-kee, decide to rescue the princess as a means of safe return.

The Yuan general gives chase.

"Musa" finished out as a disappointing number eight on 2001's list of most profitable domestic films in South Korea, after being the most touted film to open that year. It's not hard to see why "Musa" failed to live up the hype of South Korea's big budget co-production with mainland China (filmed entirely on location).

Lackluster pacing for a dramatic war film that runs at 158 minutes and is based on a true story damages "Musa," as a film. You would think that the main points in the film would have warranted a more engaging story to tell, but "Musa" unfolds like a movie you can't wait to finish.

Not surprisingly though "Musa" solely written and directed by Kim Sung-su, whose previous credits include "Beat," an equally tiresome look at South Korea's Generation X. Here, Kim does the impossible: he takes the likes of Ahn Sung-kee (South Korea's most versatile and accomplished actor) and rising Chinese star Zhang Ziyi, and pushes the rest of the cast along at the most banal rate possible whenever the battle sequences cease.

Pretty boy co-stars Jung Woo-sung and Ju Jin-ho are hardly mentionable once you realize that actors like Ahn Sung-kee and Zhang Ziyi are giving the most underdeveloped performances of their careers.

Sure, when the action rages the film has a graphic quality to it and the budget shines on the technical specs, props, costumes, and art direction. Nevertheless, "Musa" falls flat when it comes to three of the most important aspects to filmmaking: direction, characterization, and plotting.