A feast for the eyes!

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2003)

Reading the comments there seems to be many people who believe this movie is a money-ripper. However, if they read Chinese history about Emperor QIN he did in fact unite the seven kingdoms into China and rightly named himself the first Emperor of China (the one who built the terracotta figures and the Great Wall of China). History records that the emperor allows no one to approach him without his consent, and that he sleeps in a different bedroom every night just to dodge assassins.
Because there were so many assassination attempts, it is easy to incorporate this story into history (albeit a biased one - since the Emperor QIN was in every aspect a tyrant). Chen Dao Ming (Emperor QIN) is one of the finest actors in China and it is a pity that he played this role since he could convey a whole series of emotions just from his eyes. Therefore, it was fictitious that the movie suggested the Emperor felt a great sadness at the end. He could not have, he was never noted for having any emotions.
As for the rest of the characters. Jet Li, Maggie Cheung etc. I don't care much for their acting but people should note that in Chinese Kung-Fu novels all swordsmen of some talent had an air of coolness about them.
It is interesting to note that all locations were filmed in China. And the lake with it's different colored scenes - I heard that they had to be there at specific times. As for the much-loved maple leaf scene. That's real and not a prop. The leaves in that little forest all turn red at the exact time and it happens only once a year so the movie had to wait for it, I guess. Personally I loved the cinemagraphic side of the movie and I can't wait for the DVD to come out so I can gorge myself again.