I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant when I decided to spend my 60rmb on this film after that "the promise" disaster. Then again, you look at the roster, Director: Feng Xiao Gang, Choreographer: Yuen Wo-Ping, Score: Tan Dun, Art Direction: Tim Yip. This is the dream team of Chinese film industry. If Aliens would invade China, These are the people they would abduct. So I decided to give it a chance.
Visually stunning, and in someways better than the art direction in House of Flying Daggers, It employs stunning sets, makeup and costumes to lure audience into the semi interesting plot. I think out of these recent batch of "oh no we have to beat Crouching Tiger" costume epics, this is so far the best one, it is distinct enough both in art direction and story-line, and chemistry between the characters are well balanced. I didn't find Zhang Zi Yi's performance ground breaking though, simply because I've seen her face in too many period films already, Although she puts on an commendable effort in the film, I still find it quite bland.
A solid piece non-the-less, I'd recommend it.
Contrary to to the film, the movie's website is disproportionaly negalected.
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