A Fistful of Swords

I grew up with Westerns. (And classics and science fiction and British comedies and romances and action films - look when you have a mother who's an English teacher who encourages both your reading and watching choices, your childhood memories are pretty broad.)

Then I grew up and away from Westerns because they are, frankly, frequently problematic. So are a lot of other things, to be fair, but when you start looking at the world differently you start losing the ability to enjoy certain medias.

Back in 2004, after we'd moved to Colorado Springs, I visited a martial arts studio after swallowing my nerves. I'd always wanted to learn something and I was also working on a novel at the time where the hero would have been fighting quite a lot so I figured it would be awesome to get some practical experience. One thing led to another and I fell so deeply in love with Shaolin KungFu that I ended up with a second degree blackbelt.

I made some lifelong friends as well and discovered the joy of martial arts films along the way. (there is a point to this ramble, I promise)

The other day I was actually in the mood to watch a movie, so I was scrolling through options and came across The Warrior's Way. This New Zealand-South Korean film is directed by Sngmoo Lee and is a delightful mishmash of martial arts/Western in much the same vein as Sukiyaki Western Django. I love weird movies like this, there's always something about them that scratches an itch for me. The Fall also sort of fits into this category, even though it is neither of these things, it is weird and delightful and features Lee Pace in a sleeveless vest, which is always a good thing.

[Important CW - the plot at least in part revolves heavily around sexual assault and it's partially shown on screen, there are not any rape scenes. There are also some racial slurs used. * shakes head * I can't tell you how many times I've ranted about how you don't need those things to make a Western "feel" authentic, but people keep doing it.]

The cinematography is STUNNING. And the set design so fantastical - as in it deliberately looks like a movie set, it's pretty wild. Something about the aesthetic grabbed me right off and I can't stop thinking about how cool it was.

The movie itself was panned, but honestly it's right in that sweet spot for me - reformed killer finds some humanity and makes a choice that puts his life in peril. He attempts to remain a loner but ends up with a rag-tag family despite his best efforts and when the shit hits the fan, he's forced to return to the life he left behind to keep them all safe. Just mwah * chef's kiss *

There are a number of things I'd done differently had I been writing it (the very stilted love interest for one - someday I'll write a whole-assed newsletter about how being attracted to someone's competence and skill doesn't have to and often shouldn't be translated into physical attraction), but honestly that's just a hazard of being in the business and often being unable to turn off the critical eye part of the brain when watching entertainment. I've never gotten around to writing something like this, but maybe some day.

What I do love writing is reformed bad guys, found families, people put at the crossroads of oaths and the right thing. The absolutely absurd carnival addition was a bonus. Bright colors against the dusty gray dirt. I also love doing things like that, I suspect it's the Douglas Adams influence of my childhood coming to bear.

Hit me up if you have other wild martial arts/western mash-ups that you think I've missed, or even any other strange and wonderful films. I hope you're all doing well and that you're taking care of yourselves and your communities as best as you are able.

Love,
K

Important hockey note: The Colorado Avalanche are 44-13-9 as of the writing of this newsletter.

Currently Reading: 
This is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, edited by Kwame Alexander
The Ganymedan, by R.T. Ester
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

Currently Listening: 

Nothing really, give me recommendations!

Where you can find me these days:
Bluesky: @kbwagers.com
Instagram: @midwaybrawler
Discord: @greenskywarning
Patreon: kbwagers