Rom-Com Warriors

Once more, it's time for Ms. Spenser needs to work, and wants a movie that won't distract her too much: An Empress and the Warriors (2008).

Nominally starring Donnie Yen, the movie is set in the Warring States period of Chinese history. The Yan clan loses it's leader in battle, and asks Donnie Yen to take over. One of the ruler's nephews wants the position, but Donnie Yen doesn't try to take it - he lies and says that the ruler wanted his daughter, Kelly Chen, to take her place. Although the army is uneasy with a woman leader, she is well liked. She pledges to train to be a soldier, with Yen as her trainer. Although he is very correct, he is also plainly in love with her.

The training goes well, but some weird warriors attack with poison blowgun darts, and manage to wound her. She rides deep into the forest and is rescued by a strange hermit doctor. The doctor, Leon Lai, lives in a kind of Ewok treehouse and is building a hot air balloon. There's a sort of silly scene where she refuses to let him change her dressing because he would see her naked back. This causes unbearable itching, so she finally, humiliatingly, relents. Later, he gives her a backscratcher that he calls "No need for a good man". 

But when she is well, she has to return to her duties. She only wishes for peace now, but the Zhao kingdom has attacked, and she must lead.

Although there are some battle scenes, this is almost more of a rom-com than military movie. There are a few jokes, like "There's no fighting in the Hall of Swords!" But the humor is mostly from slightly silly situations. Fortunately for everyone, Donnie Yen accepts Chen's love for Lai, and doesn't try to fight for her himself. That wouldn't be funny.