Brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2004)

I was expecting a lot from this film. After all it boasts an incredible cinematographer, perhaps the greatest of Chinese directors, two of film's premiere martial artists, and some of China's best actors. Being an American my anticipation has been heightened over a year of theatrical postponements. I even thought of buying the DVD on the internet. Last week, I found a rental copy at a video store and immediately grabbed it. I was not disappointed. It was the most beautifully shot film that I've seen, the culmination of Doyle's talents. Though I don't think that all of the credit is his. After all, Yimou was a cinematographer before he was a director, and his innate sense of color and motion blended beautifully. For instance, take the GREEN scene of enlightenment, the falling curtains are very reminiscent of the dye shop in Ju Dou. Some would argue the similarities with Crouching Tiger, but this is only applicable for western audiences. There are some similar "floating" shots and panoramic flying scenes, and the score is done by Tan Dun. The plot is very different though. The story itself I believe is a combination of themes and styles from other fifth generation films like The Emperor and the Assassin and Ashes of Time. The movie is also enhanced by some excellent martial arts choreography and swordplay. Jet Li and Donnie Yen move very well together. For further evidence of this see their fight scenes in Hark Tsui's Once Upon a Time in China II. In addition, you have the stoic beauty Maggie Cheung, who always pairs well with the multi-talented Tony Leung (ie In the Mood for Love). Zhang Zhiyi rounds out the excellent cast. Despite all of these good points, I have heard some criticism from individuals, all Americans, who dislike the ideology behind the movie. I know that the concept of "All under Heaven" has been a sticking point, but it comes down to cultural differences. Most Eastern cultures are collectivist. The idea of sacrificing individuals for the greater good is not as distasteful. In America, the general consensus is that no principle, no matter how lofty, is worth the sacrifice of an innocent life. For the King of Qin and the other characters the unification of the six kingdoms, the end of inter-tribal warfare, was worth the loss of a few innocent lives. For some people the idea of universal goals outweighing individual ones is difficult to swallow. For additional information on this and a better understanding of "All under heaven", there are many psychological studies and books comparing individualistic and collectivist cultures. The important thing is not to judge what you don't fully understand, and beyond that enjoy the movie regardless of its ideology. The bottom line is that this is a beautiful film, with an infinite line of positive qualities. I'm very much looking forward to its theatrical release in the U.S.