Much better than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon!

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2005)

First off, this movie is way better than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The fact that it is based on a legend in China makes it even better. Some of the most amazing directing and fight scenes I have ever seen. The fighting is about 95% with swords (Kung Fu wasn't invented until many centuries later) but it is spectacular nonetheless.
Jet Li is a warrior who supposedly has killed three assassins who were trying to kill the emperor. As a reward, he is invited to the emperor's home (it is not really a palace but a big building) and allowed to approach the emperor within 10 paces (nobody else may come within 100 paces).
He is given riches and must tell the tale how he disposed of the 3 assassins. The tale is told 3 different ways. Each time the director uses different colors. First, yellow and red, then green, and finally white. Each story is very different. The tension builds to a highly climatic and unexpected ending.
Not to be missed!