Film Reviews

Curse of the Golden Flower

• Rating:
• Director: Yimou Zhang
• Starring: Chow Yun-Fat
• Details: Hong Kong / China 114mins (15A).

In 10th century China, on the eve on the Chong Yang festival, Emperor Ping (Yun-Fat) returns with his son Prince Jai (Chou) to join in the celebrations. His wife, the Empress Phoenix (Li), isn't happy to see him as she has eyes on another man, Crown Prince Wan (Liu) - Ping's son from another marriage - who is also conducting an affair of his own. The Emperor is aware of his wife's infidelity and orders the house doctor to administer a drug that will slowly drive her insane. But Phoenix knows of her husband's plans and plots her revenge. As you'd expect from the director who brought you Hero and House Of Flying Daggers, Curse Of The Golden Flower is a overwhelming visual spectacle with a massive cast, expertly choreographed battle scenes, beautiful, postcard-esque, cinematography and truncated epic-style plot - but this time Zhang injects a little Shakespearian tragedy (and a bit of Dynasty) into the proceedings. It's a welcome addition but the film's overtly cynical theme and uncaring, cold characters, who fail to garner support from the audience, leave the viewer rather detached from it all. The hyper sensitive, overblown nature of the film overshadows the story and characters, which seem like also-rans to how the movie looks. Maybe next time, Yimou Zhang and co. will concentrate more on getting the characters and plot nailed down instead of the visuals.

Review by Gavin Burke