Excellent presentation of story and color

Rating: 9/10 (28 August 2004)

This is an example of why I love film. The director of "Raise the Red Lantern" again shows his affection for color and excellent sense of cinematography in this gorgeously shot epic. Detailing one man, called Nameless, quest to for vengeance, the movie is set in the contentious warring states period of Chinese History just before the emperor of Qin began his conquest and unification of China. Every scene is a sight to behold, evoking both the landscape and the costumes grand design. Beautifully framed shots abound and the art designs use of color literally causes set pieces and characters to pop off the screen. Brilliant reds and greens are contrasted to dark blacks and browns to create an almost 3D like-effect. Minimalist dialogue is easily combated by the actors' spectacular emoting, an unfortunate rarity in today's superficial movies. The director wisely focuses on the faces of his actors allowing their pain and joy spring forth in their faces not their lines. The sound track and effects only enhance the visuals giving even more heft to the scenes.
A few words of warning: 1. This is a classical Wuxia style movie - derided by some as a ropes and wires movie like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Some may feel the effects forced but frankly they appear more real than the video game-like effects in the last 2 Matrix movies. 2. Its a Chinese film and is shown with English subtitles. This really should not be problem as the dialog for almost every scene is easily readable by even an average reader. 3. Its artistic license but the Emperor of Qin, who would become the First Emperor of China, is played far more sympathetically than history has accurately recalled. By all accounts he was a tyrant but his unification did end the constant bloodshed of the warring states period.
In closing this is movie art at its best, a sumptuous feast for both the eyes and ears.