Watched The Golden Compass on Monday (compliment of EY) and the Warlords on Tuesday. Both movies have something in common - loyalty.

In The Golden Compass, the bear pledged his loyalty to the little girl, coz the little girl stepped into its life and helped it find back its confidence and soul - its armor. Likewise, in Warlords, the 3 brothers, Jet Li, Andy and Takeshi pledged their lives to one another.

Jet Li was a general but lost in a battle. He lost his entire battlion and was the only one who survived. Andy was the head of his village, while Takeshi was number 2. They were bandits, with a common vision of feeding and providing for their village. Eventually, Jet Li joined them and they joined the Qing army. They fought battle after battle, war after war, and eventually took the major cities of Shu Zhou and Nanjing.

Jet was promoted to the governor of the cities, and that was when the story took a turn. He plotted against Andy by sending someone to deceive Andy that's he's in danger. Without hesitation, Andy rushed over to rescue him. But, when he reached the place, he was shot by several aarows. Takeshi, upon knowing that Jet Li liked Andy's wife, killed the wife so that the 3 brothers could stay together. Eventually, on the day crowning, Takeshi wanted to kill Jet Li. It was a bitter scene, as the brothers who started off with nothing now wish to eliminate one another.

Andy and Takeshi stood in faith and loyalty, but not Jet Li.. Indeed, power and authority can destroy someone if that someone does not have the character to match up that power...