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'Scorpion King'
in Colombo Six time champion
of the World Wrestling Federation Dwayne Douglas Johnson, pouplarly
known as 'The Rock' plays the main role as 'Mathayas' against visionary
woman Cassandra-Kelly Hu of Martial Law, Sunset beach and Nash fame Bernard Hill, Steven Brand Grant Neslov, Peter Facinelli, Ralf Moeller and Michael Clark Duncan star in this epic movie directed by Chuck Russell. Inspired by
tales of a legendary Egptian ruler, The Scorpion King unfolds in
a time of hardship and brutality, centuries before the Pyramids. As the story
begins the cruel Memnon, portrayed by Steven Brand, will stop at
nothing to become king of the known world. He faces minimal resistance
from the few desperate survivors of his scourge-like attacks. Still,
a small band of Akkadians, a once-proud clan of assassins, now nearly
extinct, has been hired to kill the sorcerer who guides Memnon's
deadly hand. However, after accepting this mission, the Akkadians'
numbers are quickly reduced to just one - Mathayas (The Rock). The Scorpion
King character, portayed by wrestling superstar The Rock, was first
introduced in The Mummy Returns, a film which is set 2000 years
after the events depicted in this new action adventure saga. A ruthlessly
ambitious warlord Memnon believed he was destined to rule the scattered
peoples of the desert. With an army
of crude barbarians at his command, he swept across the mountains
and plains, enslaving those he did not slaughter. He struck with
a merciless precision that filled those who opposed him with dread
because as his enemies were acutely aware, Memnon's strategies were
plotted by a seer who advised him on when, where and how to attack.
He never lost a battle. Only a few
tribes, never natural allies, stand between Memnon and the throne.
Knowing his final strike is inevitable, they grudgingly unite against
their common foe by enlisting the services of Mathayas, a man descended
from generations of Akkadian assassins skilled in the deadly arts,
to eliminate the sorcerer and deprive Memnon of his most dangerous
asset. Thus, Mathayas
enters a battle that demands all the cunning, courage and strength
he can rouse from his powerful core. Slipping into
Memnon's palace in the notorious city of Gomorrah, Mathayas discovers
that the evil leader's visionary is a woman, the beautiful Cassandra.
Rather than kill her, he takes Cassanra hostage, deep into the desolate
Valley of the Dead. Although he
and his scrappy band of allies would be severely out-numbered, Mathayas
is convinced any hope for survival will require direct confrontation
with Memnon. Cassandra's
visions have predicted Mathayas would die in such a fight. But Mathyas
has always lived by the simple but profound creed of his people
- live free, die well. He also believes that he can create his own destiny, and with that conviction, transcends his heritage, evolving from assassin to legend.... to The Scorpion King. Handagama attempts
the impossible Reviewed, when
the film was screened at the Regus London Film Festival last year
a film critic said "without doubt 'Flying With One Wing' is
the most revolutionary South Asian Film of the year. Presented graphically
the disturbing image of gender based traditional Sri Lankan society
where women are treated as second class catering to the wants of
the male autonomy". This film attracted
international acclaim at the 20th Torino International Film Festival
held in Italy when the jury decided to assign a special mention
to actress Anoma Janadari for the interpretative power of the female
character and for the emotion given by film which handles a universal
and still very actual theme, the difficult condition of women in
contemporary society. 'Achill Valdata' award also was given by the
Audience composed of five readers for the Best Feature film. It
was given mainly for its capacity to describe, even with the help
of paradoxical situations, the role of women in a strongly male-dominated
society. The film also
won the Best Asian Film awarded at Tokyo International Film Festival
and a Special Jury award at San Sebastian International Film Festival
(IFF) in Spain for the presentation of a controversial theme and
a deep human relationship. In Southern
Sri Lanka a transvestite works as a mechanic and is married to another
woman. After being involved in an accident, she has a medical examination
and the doctor discovers her secret. When the doctor discovers it
he decides to keep quite about the secret with the hope of blackmailing
her. Seeing the girl going frequently to the doctor's clinic a gay
colleague at the garage thinks a homosexual relationship has sprung
up between the two and begins to court the girl (who he thinks is
a man). Thus the woman new faces a dilemma. When the doctor tells
the garage owner the truth, things take a turn for the worse... "I got
the idea for the film after reading a similar story in a newspaper
" Ashoka Handagama said thoughtfully. "The way
the incident was reported was repulsive and this disturbed me,"
he said in disgust. "However my film is not limited to this report but transcends it," he added. "What I
tried to do here was to allow a certain set of feelings and thoughts
that have been accumulating in my mind throughout my life to explode
through the film," the young director explained. Continuing
on the same theme he said "My intention was to take these thoughts
and bring together the story as a tangible whole in the film. But
then again it was within certain restricted frames that one has
to strive for such completeness,". " As a
member of society, I engage in a social intercourse. Of course this
is true for everyone. We respond to society, question it. And we
question ourselves. When a film-maker uses this self-questioning,
it becomes a questioning of the society once the film is screened.
Some cannot tolerate such interrogation. This is why right now when
the film is about to be released, I have to face so many accusations.
How should I respond? All I have to say is this; ' Go ask these
questions from the film itself'. "I say
this because it is the film that is best equipped to 'talk' about
the film," said Ashoka showing defiance. Actress Anoma
Janadari of "May Mage Sandai", the director's wife portrays
the troubled and controversial lead character. The others in the
cast are Gayani Sudharshani, Mahendra Perera, W. Jayasiri, Jagath
Chamila and Gayani Liyanarachchi. Produced by
Upul Shantha Sannasgala, Ashoka himself wrote the script and directed
'Thaniu Thatuwen Piyabanne'. The talented
editor Ravindra Guruge and art director Rohan Samaradivakara, cameraman
Channa Deshapriya with music director Rohana Weerasinghe contributed
through their different roles to the film. The film will be released from February 21 in CEL theatre cinemas.
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