Rating: 
Summary: Terrible movie!
Review: This is a terrible movie! I was SO disappointed. Like a lot of Chinese movies, there's a lot that is not translated. It was unnecessarily bloody in the beginning, with extremely stereotyped characters. You know, lonely monarch with a pathetic need for someone to love him for himself, beautiful spoiled princess, and The Artist who lives only for his Art, and is totally clueless about the world around him.... you get the picture. The only good thing is that's it's in Mandarin, which is nice for practicing one's Chinese.
Rating: 
Summary: Overlooked epic
Review: When this movie was made in '96, it was the most expensive ever attempted in China, and it certainly shows on screen. With a cast of thousands, a powerful score and sweeping scenery, the effect is truly breathtaking.It is essentially an allegorical tale about the power of the state and its relationship with intellectuals and artists. Much of the drama and characterisations are highly symbolic, with Jiang Wen and Ge You acting opposite each other as polar forces. As such the characters of Ying Zheng and Gao Jianli are highly idealised and not very convincing. Zhou Xiaowen has also made a point of departing quite far from history to create this film.
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