A twelve-minute long official promotional trailer has been released for the upcoming movie My Kingdom (Da Wu Sheng 大武生) starring Han Geng, Wu Zun, and Barbie Hsu. Just a week after the movie held it’s press conference, director Gao Xiao Sheng found himself on the other side of the law after being arrested for drunk driving, and he was immediately sentenced to six-months in jail (this is China, don’t ask me about their drunk driving laws). This throws the movie into a predicament, since it’s apparently not finished with final edits, and the director was also supposed to attend all the promotional tours, effectively leaving his three young leads carrying this movie towards in August premiere.

Based on the twelve minute trailer (linked below with English subs, so everyone can watch), I’m not terribly worried. My Kingdom looks amazing, both in action choreography, set and costume design, and plenty of love, loyalty, and honor-related angst. I am really impressed with what I have seen – this looks to be a potential Summer blockbuster.

Twelve-minute trailer for My Kingdom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUx5mQRN58Y

So we have two country bumpkins arriving in Shanghai to challenge the reigning Da Wu Sheng for the plaque bestowing its owner of being the top Da Wu Sheng in the field, to avenge their master’s loss of said plaque 15 years ago. We have a duel that doubles as performance art. Then we have our country bumpkin martial arts-trained blood brothers becoming rich and famous in Shanghai, and getting themselves involved with the same girl. There is a series of murders that may or may not implicate either of our blood brothers-turned-enemies. And we have a final showdown between the two men.

I must say that I was totally blown away by Barbie’s performance in the trailer alone. Her eyes glitter with emotion and she’s effectively bursting with emotion even as she remains outwarding composed. Han Geng also was a surprise, and his confrontation scene with Barbie was awe-inducing in its intensity. Wu Zun isn’t worse than he normally is, but based on the trailer doesn’t give me the confidence that he’s taken his acting up a few notches. A notch maybe, but he might just be overshadowed by Han Geng when all is said and done. I’m totally excited for this movie now!