Gorgeous artwork with a provocative storyline

Rating: 10/10 (9 May 2007)

Most Asian films are done with all visuals and artwork, which in a sense can tell a story. But what makes this film so amazing is the fact that not only does it tell the story through mere imagery, but it also tells it to you with a solid plot and dialog. It took me several times to see this movie over a few years period to fully understand it. And now with a conclusion to my mind about it, the film is fascinating with its two main aspects: film-making and storyline.
The Film-making: It holds a beautiful and haunting film-making quality that ties with the prior "Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Whether it was from the top-notched action sequences, such as "the duel in the autumn leaves", holding strong symbolisms of blood, death, and downfall, which is expressed through the various shades of vermilion, scarlet, and crimson and "the fight on the turquoise lake", which shows the emotions of hate, love, mercy, and grief. Additional to the phenomenal action sequences, the set-production and costume design was amazing to look at, giving me memories of the artworks of the late Akira Kurosawa. Director Yimou Zhang is simply brilliant with oriental artwork.
The storyline: Instead of having a story of a handful of warriors who fight against a tyrant, which the previews led to believe, it is about how a few individuals can change the heart of one man who can change a blood spilled country into a solid nation, rather than the suffer the brutal chaos of an all-out war. In a way, the film can be viewed as either an anti-war propaganda, or even a bit on the idealistic factor. But nonetheless, the moral of peace over violence creates a better world.
**** out of ****