A stunningly beautiful thesis on the role of a hero

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2003)

As many will say, this is not a mainstream movie. It is an art film. And if you watch it, hoping for some grand epic tale, you will be disappointed. However, if you look closer, you will find one of most well-done films in recent memory that attempts to define what the role of a hero is and the sacrifices it requires. It is an essay on human nature and how circumstances may often compel us to do what we would have previously considered unthinkable. The real strength of this movie lies in its structure - it is a story told within another story. This framework provides the director amazing flexibility in utilizing visual cues to portray metaphors and symbols.
Note: Reading up a little about early imperial China and the Seven Kingdoms helps to provide context for the movie and brings greater weight to the events and allusions in it (such as the emperor declaring that he would standardize the written language).