Film
Warriors Of Virtue: The Return to Tao
Year:
2002
Character:
Dogon
Country:
Australia
Length (in minutes):
Photo from IFG Films
Description:
Stars Kev as Dogon, Nathan Phillips as Ryan Jeffers, Nina Liu as Amythis/Hooded Figure, and Shedrack Anderson III as Chucky. Directed by Michael Vickerman. For full cast and production info, see IMDB's site.
(January 27, 2005 update)
Buena Vista Home Video (a subsidiary of Disney) will now be releasing the DVD here in the U.S., but at this time, the exact date is yet to be determined. Keep checking back; I'll post it as soon as I know. Prism Leisure Corporation is going to be re-releasing WOVII on February 7. Not sure if they're the parent company of Addictive Films or if they purchased the rights. It has a new cover (that no longer has Kevin's character on it), and does *not* include any extras. It's uncertain if the film itself is the same. The original release includes the trailer, some outtakes, and clips of the wire work. If you want this original version, it looks like the only place you'll be able to find it is on Ebay.
Currently, the DVD is available in region 2 format from Sendit.com. Note that region 2 DVDs are not playable on regular U.S. DVD players, and that this is the new version, without the extras. The UK VHS (PAL) version is only available as a rental, though occasionally one may turn up on Ebay.
The film has also been aired on the Sky network in the U.K.
Old and new versions of the DVD cover:
(from IFG's site):
The fantasy martial arts genre reaches new heights as "Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao," introduces new highly sophisticated and choreographed dance/martial arts movements. What the original "Warriors" created and "Crouching Tiger" perfected are mere springboards for the new era of martial arts to be ushered in by "Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao." The original movie chronicles the adventures of a 12 year old boy (Ryan) who is mysteriously drawn into a whirlpool, only to find himself transported to a parallel world known as the Land of Tao. There he is thrown into the middle of a war between any evil humanoid-type character, Komodo, and the five half-kangaroo/half-human Warriors of Virtue (referred to as the "Roos"). While Komodo has harnessed certain black magical powers, in the end he is no match for the martial arts skills of the Roos and their ability to summon the elements of nature which each represents.
"Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao" (which is set in time a few years later), sees a new villain, "Dogon" (played by Kevin Smith of Xena fame), seize control of Tao. Shortly after Ryan (now 18 years old) and his best friend Chucky arrive at a martial arts competition in Beijing, China, they are both thrust into the parallel Land of Tao and are reunited with the Roos/Warriors (who now appear as humanoids) to do battle with Dogon. Little does Ryan know that it is no coincidence that he has again been summoned to Tao. He and his friends have been chosen to be the next "Warriors of Virtue."