The Emperor And The Assassin (1999) Movie Review

This is a really big film. It sprawls across the movie screen as only a big historical epic can, a bit like a luscious Reuben-esque woman on a couch. To start with, it deals with story of the first Emperor of China, Ying Zheng (Li Xuejian), and his obsessive ambition to unite the seven kingdoms under his rule. Gong Li plays his lover, Lady Zhao, who goes to rather extreme lengths to help Ying Zheng to achieve his goal. However, Ying Zheng's ruthlessness shocks even Lady Zhao, and she falls in love with a reluctant assassin, played by Zhang Fengyi, who is then given the task to end the megalomania of the tyrant king.

The vastness and style of this film almost covers up its flaws. But it has a big one. The film is rather confusing and obscure. Yin Zheng's plot to bring about the downfall of the kingdom of Yan, for instance is extremely convoluted. Add to this the archaic ancient practices shown in the film, and it muddies up the water even more. But, as I've said, this is a really big film. Physically, it is sumptuous - the battle scenes are spectacular, creating a sense of movement and emotion that only hundreds of real people in ancient armour (recruits from the Chinese army) bashing each other, can create. The research gone into the costumes, buildings, customs, etc create a world that future history students could probably use as a reference guide.

The First Emperor looms large over subsequent generations because of his profound influence on China. His achievements were many, but outweighed by his historical cruelty and despotic rule. Li Xuejian's Ying Zheng here is portrayed as a very human man who seems inadequate on the surface, but hides the kind of steel which can order the slaughter of hundreds of children to force an enemy state to capitulate. Unlike the First Emperor portrayed in "The Emperor's Shadow", this First Emperor is perhaps not quite right in the head. Gong Li's Lady Zhao gives the melodrama needed for her role, and though generally excellent, it seems that sometimes even she wonders what she's doing. Zang Fengyi's transformation of his character is perhaps one of the more better performances in this film in terms of character development. Overall, this is an epic film, but its flaws make it a less than perfect film.