I'm a bit befuddled about the ending and what to make of it. I watched the featurette and it was intresting but no help. The stuff in the package they were carrying, what is it? I feel sure that it opened up a portal to heaven. The monk, briefly, came back to life to protect it. Then, the girl and the warrior just magically get transported to Bejing. That's what I don't understand...how, why? Is that part of some legend that Chinese folks know and take for granted? What was that stuff too?

I wish there had been a featurette to explain this lore. Anybody....?

I'm a bit befuddled about the ending and what to make of it. I watched the featurette and it was intresting but no help. The stuff in the package they were carrying, what is it? I feel sure that it opened up a portal to heaven. The monk, briefly, came back to life to protect it. Then, the girl and the warrior just magically get transported to Bejing. That's what I don't understand...how, why? Is that part of some legend that Chinese folks know and take for granted? What was that stuff too?

I wish there had been a featurette to explain this lore. Anybody....?

The stuff they were carrying are the relics of a "holy monk".

No, they were not magically transported to Beijing. It is the next scene after the battle - meaning they survived and made it to Beijing. :D

Oh, I got this one cheap at an FYE store - on sale for 16bucks. :D :D

If it's the relics of a holy monk, is it his spleen, appendix, or remnants of his brain? ;) ...pieces of his bones? ...or just what? ....special rocks blessed by God?

OK, I'm accepting that the two characters were not just wisked to Bejing. I wish that the filmakers had helped up out with an extra to explain the relics. I have a feeling that Chinese folks understand the legends of these relics but I don't.

Rachael, I think you're searching for meaning that just isn't there. The end of the movie flat-out doesn't make any sense, because the script is a confusing mess.

The legend was that whoever held the monk's relic would unite all the buddist kingdoms during that period. So whoever ended up with the relic would essentially rule all over China. The relic is referring to his soul or aura when he pasted away. NLN97S was correct in that the next scene was sometime after the battle and that they made it to Beijing thus reuniting all the buddist kingdoms.

The legend was that whoever held the monk's relic would unite all the buddist kingdoms during that period. So whoever ended up with the relic would essentially rule all over China. The relic is referring to his soul or aura when he pasted away. NLN97S was correct in that the next scene was sometime after the battle and that they made it to Beijing thus reuniting all the buddist kingdoms.

I like your explanation. It sounds like Josh was just as confused about the last few minutes as me. I'm confident that buddists that view this film understood this purr-fectly, intuitively. That leaves me out.

So, da monk "pasted" his aura on the buletin board as he transcended to the great beyond...? ;)

Spoiler
It's like Raiders of the Lost Ark - this is the Buddhist version of the Ark of Covenant killing off the nazis. The holy relic --- if I understand my buddhist mythology correctly is the remains of Buddha (Sakyamuni / Siddhārtha Gautama ) after he ascended to Nirvana. Supposedly after his earthly body was cremated, there were several pebbles that became holy relics of Buddhism. This relic was probably one of those. Speculation today is that these were likely kidney stones :D, but that's sacrilege and rude to discuss in public among followers of that faith.

The whole movie had the theme that somehow this was the introduction of Buddhism to China during the Tang Dynasty, but it had problems with execution (particularly the budget) since the siege by the bad guys here felt like a cheap production.

The whole movie had the theme that somehow this was the introduction of Buddhism to China during the Tang Dynasty, but it had problems with execution (particularly the budget) since the siege by the bad guys here felt like a cheap production.

The attack on the fortress was short and did look like it was done on the budjet plan.

Thanks to you and the others, I've sorted out my questions. :) Mercy boo coo gang!

I like your explanation. It sounds like Josh was just as confused about the last few minutes as me. I'm confident that buddists that view this film understood this purr-fectly, intuitively.

The movie still stunk. :)

The movie still stunk. :)

That's the way it goes with camel droppings out on the ole Chinese prarie.... ;) Honestly Josh, Rex Reed-ism must be rubbing off on you.. :)