I recently saw this movie because I liked the previous films of the director ("Hero", "House of Flying Daggers"). As expected, the picture overwhelms you from the first moment with colorful and impressive settings, costumes and decorations. However, I found it somewhat difficult to think myself in the situation of the characters of the movie, as there does not seem to be a certain character the story is focused on; and, additionally, as western/European spectator you may find it hard to get into the setting as it is strongly determined by traditional Chinese custom and history. The storyline reminded me slightly of some Greek tragedy - the patriarch ruling his kingdom and his family with a cruel hand, the hand of destiny causing almost impossible coincidences, eventually leading to a (unconscious) romance between sister and brother, the monumental struggle of vast armies and heroes for honor and power. Nonetheless, I had the impression that the story was maybe just a little bit too simple as it can finally be distilled to a rather conventional family tragedy with elements of personal ambition and mother-child relationship. Moreover, virtually all the movie plays inside the emperor's palace, which is beautifully modeled, but the story just does not have the depth to fill a movie playing almost in a single location - a little bot more or intrigue, of surprise, of background would have elevated the film to the class the big Chinese movies define. Additionally, some of the computer effects, especially city/palace backgrounds, seemed somewhat obviously digital and almost cheap. Summing up: Good movie, but nothing there hasn't been before.
Review of Curse of the Golden Flower
