~Spoiler included~ Emperor evil or not?

Rating: Null/10 (28 August 2004)

OK I just saw the movie and loved it but I have to question a few things...
My first one is how ruthless was the emperor, I know he wanted to conquer all the nations but I feel that the movie failed to give his motives for this. The most common motive and drive for most men is power. We know his nation was he most feared and ruthless because of the reasons the assassins wanted him dead. Now my questions is did Nameless realize that emperor was indeed evil but ultimately his goal was better off for the people of china, or did he realize the nature of man itself was bad ie. all troops yelling for his execution, and felt because the emperor saw Broken Sword's message for swordsmanship without a weapon that as a leader peace would be achieved?
I hate to say it but western view being democracy is the norm, we often look down on dicatorships and empires I.E. Star Wars, yet we never stop to wonder why people serve the dicator/emperor it's because they feel life is better under him, otherwise it's not to hard to rebel and create an uprising. So yea...getting back to "Hero" I'm just confused on how could Nameless believe the emperor was truly good at the end which he had to because if he didn't there was no reason for his death. (Obviously Broken Sword and Snow escaped after their attempt, and we know Nameless could of stopped the arrows) And if he didn't believe him to be truly good, then it would of made more sense to escape and see that the emperor "unites all under heaven" rather than sacrifice his life. I guess to answer my own question the emperor's own philosophy was the paradox "You can not have peace without war". Does anyone else have any other views on how "good" can someone who slaughters innocent people be?