MLSHR: Lee Joon Gi - South Korea's Top Martial Arts Hero

LEE JOON GI

SOUTH KOREA'S

TOP MARTIAL ARTS HERO

PRINCES AT WAR

WANG SO vs WANG WOOK

EPISODE 13

THE PALACE REVOLT FACE OFF THE LOYALISTS vs THE REBELS The palace was abuzz with news of the failing health of King Taejo after he fainted in the peace meeting. The news had leaked out that he might be dying. Prince Wang Yo and Prince Wang Wook’s royal mothers had entered the Cheondeokjeon Palace to visit the king but had not emerged from the king’s chambers after some time. The palace had been sealed off and none were allowed to enter nor leave the palace. The two princes suspected that their royal father might have passed away. They believed that the news had been withheld and his death had been blocked from public scrutiny. If King Taejo had indeed passed away, the Crown Prince, Wang Mu, would ascend the throne according to the mandate of the deceased king. But Wang Yo aspired to be the next king. However, the Crown Prince was away on a mission.  He had taken most of his army with him. Taking advantage of his absence, the overly ambitious princes, the Third Prince, Wang Yo and the Eighth Prince, Wang Wook, conspired to revolt, and sprang into immediate action. Accompanied by their rebel army, they arrived at the palace door. Wang Yo was surprised by the strange quietness of the palace premises. They seemed to be empty of life. Unbeknownst to them, their revolt was expected and was already common knowledge among the Wang So faction and the loyalists who were quietly waiting for them. The rebels were confident of themselves as only a minuscule part of the loyal army was on hand to defend the palace grounds from the intruders, so the palace was practically defenceless. Prince Wang Yo was confident that even if Wang Mu was informed of the revolt, it would take him at least one whole day of swift horse-riding to arrive back to take charge, and by that time, everything would be over. Before the showdown between them and the Wang So faction, Wang Wook requested that Wang Yo kill Wang So, if he so much as to resist and block them from achieving their goal. But Wang Yo did not need much persuasion. He already had it in mind to kill his own blood brother. But they had not expected Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General to be present. He had fought side by side together with King Taejo in their wars to establish the Goryeo kingdom and he was also the mentor of Wang So, to whom he had taught martial arts and trained in military warfare. What shook Wang Wook was the glimpse of Hae Soo at the huge palace door, warily observing them. Park Soo Kyung admonished the rebel princes for having the audacity to bring an army to the palace. He read them the riot act. To him, it was pure treason on their part to be unlawfully assembled.

PRINCES AT WAR WANG SO versus WANG WOOK OST:  All With You by Taeyeon The face-off between the Wang brothers had already begun. It was going to be a long drawn-out fight between Wang So and Wang Wook. Wang So had the winning edge of having Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General, as his mentor. He had been trained in martial and military arts by him. Park’s reputation would be at stake if Wang So did not win this fight. But, then, it is never a foregone conclusion. The fight started when Wang Yo claimed that his royal mother had been inside the palace for over a day and he could not contact her. He demanded to know why the Cheondeokjeon palace had been sealed off. He saw scant reason for the palace to be locked. No one was allowed to enter nor leave the palace premises. They had locked horns with Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General who retorted that the king needed to rest and was not to be disturbed. ‘Do you think I would believe such a blatant lie?’ Wang Yo sneered. Wang Yo ordered them to let his mother out immediately. He accused them of trying to overthrow the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. It was ironic that he should accuse them of treachery - of trying to topple the Crown Prince and take over the throne. However, Wang Yo showed no indication of advancing towards the defenders of the palace. The loyalists were not going to give way without resistance. The two opposing factions were in their aggressive stances and were ready to duel to death. In the lead up to the fight, it was shocking that it was not Wang Yo who stepped out to face Wang So but it was Wang Wook who proved to be more aggressive and more driven to fight it out with Wang So. It was as if he had a personal score to settle with Wang So. If looks could kill, his menacing look was deadly enough to strike a faint-hearted opponent dead. The wolfdog prince was not easily intimidated. Wang So’s attitude was one of tense expectancy and his death stare was fixed on Wang Wook. His rival felt the burning glare of his eyes.  Both were gripping tightly to their swords and Wang So was ready with his sword held high. Wang So and Wang Wook went head to head. How would they fare in this fight of the princes? Was it going to be a death struggle and if so, who would be alive to tell the tale? The sudden onslaught by Wang Wook was the biggest shock. He exploded in a burst of murderous frenzy. With what sounded like a strangled cry, the Eighth Prince made the first move of a forward plunge. Electrified, Wang So also sprang at him with his sword firmly gripped in his hand. At that moment, it dawned on him that Wang Wook meant business. He was face to face with the prince who was intent on killing him, and he had not really understood why. Wang Wook had the advantage of knowing what his fighting goal was. He wanted and was driven to kill the Fourth Prince whom he considered to be his rival in love and the struggle for the throne. In contrast, Wang So knew not why and was unprepared for the ferocity of his opponent. At first, the Fourth Prince was on the defensive. With the lightning sweep of his arm, Wang Wook’s sword hacked at Wang So but the Fourth Prince was quicker than light and reeled away in time. As Wang Wook swept at him with his sword, Wang So struck back furiously and was quick enough to spring back. His instinctive backward and sidelong leaps saved him from the vicious blows. A fleeting glimpse from above showed the two princes engaged in the lethal combat. In one swift movement, Wang Wook slashed at Wang So who was compelled to back off. The two Goryeo princes parried back and forth, wielding their swords. Wang Wook viciously aimed his sword at Wang So again and again. Although the latter wheeled back, he was not going to be that easily vanquished. Wang Wook was a formidable and ruthless opponent. He looked like a very determined and persistent killer. His mouth opened in a snarl showing the fangs of a serpent. But Wang So, now fully awakened to Wang Wook’s intentions, was not going to be so easily dispatched. Wang So’s sword caught the bright shine of the morning light as he swung it at Wang Wook. The Fourth Prince, who had been rigorously trained in martial arts, was able to deflect the blows that were aimed systematically at him. Wang Yo smirked in satisfaction. Did it really matter if either one of them died, whoever it was? It was just merely a game of death. As they fought, Wang So skilfully ducked Wang Wook’s blade. Being a skilful swordsman, he was able to predict where the blows would land and adroitly rose to the challenge of deflecting them. In one deft move, he expertly evaded Wang Wook’s blade and passed beneath it with a flexible bend of the body. Wang Wook was no match for the agility and wits of his older brother who had been intensively trained in martial arts and mentored by the Grand General, Park Soo Kyung. Springing back, Wang So slashed with appalling speed at Wang Wook’s sword which was swung at him. He slided back enough to circumvent it. The Fourth Prince’s suppleness was amazing. And, he was the master of such crafty fight. The quickness of his eye and muscle, and his calmness proved to be his advantage. If looks could kill, Wang So would have skewered Wang Wook with the deadly intensity of his eyes. Wang Wook’s frenzied and frantic attacks did nothing to make his older brother stumble. Wang So was too hot to handle and was able to hold up. Wang So, by now, fully realised that Wang Wook was intent on going for the jugular. It was not a David and Goliath fight. They were both evenly matched at this point. Wang So locked in on his foe and Wang Wook recoiled from Wang So’s swift attack. They traded blows and the sparring made the fight even more exciting. They grappled with each other with their bare hand, pushing and pulling, the other hand still wielding their sword. Wang Wook clung tenaciously at Wang So. Suddenly, with a deft hand, Wang So was able to fend off the attack and dislodge himself from Wang Wook’s iron grip. In one powerful movement, he seemed to have pirouetted and had thrown Wang So off-balanced. Wang So’s agility was impressive, considering the bulk of the military armour. He was light, lithe and agile on his feet. From afar, it seemed that Wang So had glided and turned around to brandish his sword at Wang Wook. He nimbly avoided Wang Wook’s sword. Their swords crossed and Wang So fended off Wang Wook’s sword. As Wang Wook charged forward, Wang So glided under the sword and he turned swiftly around to swipe at the rebel prince. Their blades met at knee level. Wang So seemed to have the sixth sense for the unexpected swings of Wang Wook’s sword. As the battle continued, the two princes seemed locked in playing slice and dice with their swords. Wang So’s keen eyes glinted in the sunlight. His sword sliced through the air. Wang Wook staggered. Wang Wook gritted his teeth. His opponent was not going to be that easily outmanoeuvred. The fight rose to an exciting crescendo. The spectators could see that Wang So had the winning edge. With the leap of a powerful panther, Wang So flew up in the air and thrust his sword down for the fatal death stroke. No fighter could have moved so swiftly as Wang So moved. His sword flashed with every ounce of his strength thrown in. The one caught in the blade of his sword would fall into the jaws of death. Wang So’s leap was high and the thrust of his sword was lightning fast. But, Wang Wook was no clumsy ox. He managed to jump aside just in time as Wang So’s sword came crashing down. When Wang So landed, his sword had seared the ground. Did he deliberately miss? It would have been the death knell for Wang Wook. Wang So could have pinned Wang Wook down with his sword but he missed. It was a close call for the Eighth Prince. Wang Wook stumbled backwards. He swayed and backed off. The thought that Wang So was a fearsome opponent came like a thunderbolt to Wang Wook. The wolfdog prince had the leap of a powerful, wild and ferocious beast that could pummel him to dust. Boy, was he badly shaken! Wang So had the winning edge. Wang Wook had to weigh the option of continuing the fight. If he stopped, it would be pure humiliation for him and a sign of failure in his bid for the crown. Wang So leapt up from the ground and rushed forwards in a beastly fury at Wang Wook. He was going to trammel Wang Wook like a rat in a trap. The Fourth Prince was ready to rip the Eighth Prince apart. Wang So could not throw Wang Wook to the ground. With his feet wide apart, the Fourth Prince was ready to take another swipe at his enemy. With one hand to fend off Wang Wook’s attack, Wang So’s leg went up to swing at his opponent; his kick was high. Wang Wook was stunned and bewildered by the swiftness of Wang So’s tornado kick. His flexibility was amazing. Suddenly, they were locked in a fighters’s tight embrace. Unable to dislodge Wang Wook’s arm that held him tight, Wang So made most of it by sweeping him round and round in dizzying circles like a mesmerising dance. They raced in a circular motion with arms tossing in the air, their sword in hand. It was a grim tug of war. When the grips were loosened, they were thrown apart but the fight continued to be fast and furious. Wang Wook charged again but Wang So was able to fight back blow for blow. With swords crossed, the princes snarled at each other; one a wolfdog, the other, a hyena. The two Goryeo princes glowered threateningly at each other. It was an epic staredown. Their eyes locked and their bodies stiffened. The Fourth Prince glared at the Eighth Prince with such a piercing intensity that the stare could have burnt his half-brother. Wang Wook’s eyes were more deadly. His were the eyes of a maniacal killer. He seemed ready to rip Wang So to shreds. Was it going to be a duel of death? Wang Wook was certainly not ready to throw in the towel.  The princes may not be gripped in any killer clinch trap but their crossed swords and the deadly looks that they exchanged were enough to make the audience break out in cold sweat. Bathed in the light of the sun, they glared at each other until a commotion distracted them. A trained archer who had climbed up the roof of the palace shot at the soldiers below. The lone archer was joined by rows of deadly archers who had magically appeared on the rooftops. They shot at the rebel forces. Wang Wook ignored the disruption and took advantage of the distraction to viciously attack Wang So once again. It seemed he already had a plan mapped out in his mind - to kill Wang So! Wang So rushed towards the bellowing Wang Wook. He was ready to swing his sword but was stopped by the timely appearance of the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. Both half-brothers were unhurt, perhaps due to their solid military armour. Had the fight continued, Wang Wook would have been outmatched. There would be a grim finish if the wolfdog instincts of the Fourth Prince were allowed to rise to the surface.

THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY The spectacular face-off of the Goryeo princes, Wang So and Wang Wook, in the drama, Moon Lovers – Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is worthy not only of the small screen but also the silver screen. It should be brought to the silver screen. The fight choreographer has to be complimented for his skills and creativity. The scene also showcases Lee Joon Gi's martial arts skills and cements his image as 'The Top Martial Arts Hero of South Korea's Drama Industry'. 1. The fight choreography is amazing and exciting, and the sword fight is cleverly done. One is literally on the edge of one’s seat while watching the fight. 2. The choreographer has taken the fight scene to the level of an art form with the dance-like motion of the fight when Wang So and Wang Wook were locked in a tight embrace and racing together in circles. It seemed like the dance of two ferocious beasts locked in a death embrace. 3. What is most exciting is when Wang So leaps high up and in one searing move, his sword slices through the air and he lands deftly on his feet. The audience wonder how the showdown would have ended if the sword had not sorely missed its target. 4. The two actors, Lee Joon Gi and Kang Ha-Neul put in an excellent performance and are marvellous in this scene, especially Lee Joon Gi who is awesome (he always is). He is in good shape (he always is) and has impressively showcased his martial arts skills and fighting prowess with his swift, powerful and flexible moves. Lee Joon Gi is everybody’s favourite sword fighter. He is a well-trained martial arts exponent who is skilled at three forms of Korean martial arts, including Taekwondo. Kang Ha-neul, though not formally trained in martial arts, has performed admirably. 5. The scene is stunning. With the armies and the palace premises as the backdrop, the scene magically comes alive with the morning light streaming through. 6. Luckily, there are no speeches in the middle of the fights. Therefore, the audience could wholly concentrate on the fight itself. There are a number of very exciting fight scenes involving Lee Joon Gi in this drama and this is one of them.