Compare prices before you buy. Melodramatic to the point of excess, the endless political power plays may leave the viewer cold after a while. The palace scenes are dramatically strong, and the scenes of war are as good as any in Hollywood. By the film's third hour, though, you may just want it over. Whatever the weaknesses of the meandering screenplay, however, there's always a visual bounty to look at.
Every costume is inventive and interesting, and the settings look amazingly authentic.
You can distract yourself for long periods of time just by gazing into the beautiful face of Gong Li, or watching the fascinating camera angles. The blame, in part, should be laid at the feet of the editor, who seems to have badly cut this most beautiful of China's cinematic efforts. Moments that should inspire instead look laughable, and characters that should be sympathetic often come off as buffoons. Muze Inc. For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.