Beautiful

Rating: Null/10 (7 August 2004)

This is a gorgeous film, filled with stunning landscapes, vibrant colors, and a soaring orchestra. The expectedly weak storyline is easily made up for by the exquisite art direction and typically balletic choreography. The use of color to set storyline and mood is as classic as it is mature, casting each scene with an ethereal glaze. The surprisingly modern and excellent photography along with Zhang Yimou's lingering lens lends the film a welcome spaghetti-western-like dramatic flavor. The star-studded cast and crew, including multiple Academy Award winners, certainly do the genre proud. And yes, that really is Itzhak Perlman on violin -- they've pulled out all the stops. Ying xiong is quite simply mesmerizing. Bravo!