Four Riders (4 Stars)

This is a Shaw Brothers film made in 1972. It takes place in 1953, immediately after the end of the Korean War. The story is about four Chinese men, all former soldiers, who are left behind in Korea. This is the part I don't understand. From what little I know about the Korean War, China fought on the side of North Korea, and yet the four men seem to have been members of the South Korean army.

The film begins with Feng Xia, a combat instructor at an army base. When his colonel gives him an order, he rips off his stripes and says, "The war's over. I'm no longer a soldier, so you aren't my boss". Then he beats up the colonel. In the following confusion he steals a jeep and leaves the base. On the road he picks up another former soldier called Gao Yinhan. Together they drive to Seoul to find girls.

Feng has a friend from his army days called Li Weishi, who was put in hospital when he was injured. He's now recovered, but he doesn't want to leave, because he's fallen in love with a nurse. Gao's old friend Jin Yi spends all his time and money in a brothel that caters for American soldiers. The brothel's boss is smuggling drugs to America, using American soldiers as his carriers. When a soldier refuses to take drugs to America, he's beaten up in the alley. Feng walks by and attempts to help him, but he's too late. The soldier is dead, and the police think he's responsible.

This brings the four Chinese ex-soldiers together. Gao, Li and Jin free Feng and go on the run. If it were just about escaping from the police it would be easy, but first they want to take action against the drug smugglers.

In many ways this is an untypical Shaw Brothers film, not just because it takes place in Korea. The four heroes are all skilled martial arts experts, but they aren't invincible. When they fight against a gang of 20 opponents they lose, eventually. They're not perfect at dodging bullets. The film is a lot more realistic than the usual Shaw Brothers films. I'm not saying that it makes the film better or worse, it's just untypical. Overall, this is a very good film. It's something that I want to watch again.

By the way, the title refers to the four riders in the Book of Revelation. It's a Catholic hospital in Seoul. Li's nurse is religious, and Li himself also seems to know the Bible.