Dragon Wars

The Legend of Imoogi

"Dragon Wars is based on the Imoogi legend that only exists in Korea," according to its director Hyung Rae Shim.

The legend says: every 500 years a young woman is born who possesses a spirit power that can turn a serpent into the mightiest dragon of all. A good serpent will use this power to protect the universe while an evil serpent will use the power to destroy the world. 

The movie opens at the Seven Palms Resort in Los Angeles, California. At first glance, the Resort appears to have been caught in the middle of a tornado or hurricane. The ground is turned up and forklifts look to have been tossed about like toy trucks.

Before being chased away by investigators, Ethan Kendrick, an investigative TV reporter played by Jason Behr, videotapes what appears to be a giant dinosaur fossil or scale being dusted off by an FBI investigator.

Later, back at the office, while Kendrick is reviewing the videotape, he recalls a story he had been told as a young boy by an old antique dealer named Jack, played by Robert Forster, about giant serpents called Imoogi:

Long ago there lived great serpents called Imoogis. They lived in the heavens above. Every 500 years one imoogi is rewarded for its good deeds with the chance to become the celestial dragon. In order to do so, the imoogi needs to receive from heaven the gift of the Yuh Yi Joo, which allows an imoogi to transform into a dragon.

Only there was among the great serpents an evil one, Baruki, who coveted the Yuh Yi Joo. His followers designed to possess it and this Heaven could not allow. It was decided to hide away the Yuh Yi Joo on Earth. All Heaven could do is send down its best warriors Haram and Bochun to protect the Yuh Yi Joo at all cost from the evil Baruki.

The Yuh Yi Joo is a spirit existing inside a female child at birth bearing the sign of the red dragon on her left shoulder. It comes to maturity on her 20^th birthday. On that day, legend says, she must be taken to the Grand Cave for sacrifice to the chosen good Imoogi so that mankind can remain a part of the cycle of the world.