A Work of Art

Rating: 9/10 (29 November 2004)

I give this movie credit for being one of the most unique and beautiful that I have ever seen. Ying Xiong's acting, dialogue, and inherent art make it a standard of excellence.
Going into this movie, I was expecting some sort of stock Chinese action movie, with costumes and Jet Li. What I saw was a grand but unassuming epic. The movie is based upon a historical legend dating back to the early days of China's history. The story concerns with Nameless, an anonymous commoner who has earned the gratitude of the King of Qin for his defeat of three legendary assassins who sought the King's blood. Nameless is invited to meet with the King to tell the tale of his exploits, and from there begins a solemn epic, driven by the hero's travels and exploits and enriched by a touch of fantasy. I am hardly versed in Chinese film (or foreign film, for that matter), but this one has whetted my appetite for more.
Zhang's artistic vision is like no one else's, crafting inspired scenes and original action sequences that surpass the most skillful and high-minded of Hollywood's fare. Most obvious is, of course, his use of color for symbolic and thematic purposes, but I was also pleased with his manipulation of point of view and his reliance upon dialogue and character to balance out the action.
Of course, all of that is, to some, a mere frame for the action sequences, which do not disappoint. Not to betray any spoilers, but from the very beginning, Zhang thinks outside the box in terms of how to make each fight original and poetic. In my opinion, there was a little too much computer enhancement (especially in the lake scene), which detracted from the quality of the choreography. Still, overall, I thought the action was superb.
For as significant as the fights are, this is not just a great martial arts flick, but a great movie. That can only arise from the strength of the story and characters. The story is absorbing and masterful, and the characters are deep and superbly acted. The ideology and philosophy that surfaces throughout the movie and ultimately emerges as the story's thematic center may mesh well with Chinese communist doctrine, but I found it heartfelt and persuasive. The story blends action, character, and fantasy so well that it seems to have sprung, fully formed, from the mind of a genius.
As a final note, I have to give great praise to the sheer beauty of the movie. Every setting, every scene is a visual masterpiece. Clearly, Zhang directed this movie with the intent of crafting a masterpiece, and he succeeded with one of the most visually inspiring movies ever made.
From its art to its action to its acting, this is an epic of superlative quality, and I recommend it to everyone.