As in many a film before, the enemies start falling in love.
This is a peg on which to hang many startling action sequences, mostly choreographed by Tony Ching Siu Tung.
They do look amazing and are quite beautiful to behold. Perhaps I may be getting blase, but a little of this goes a long way.
After all, while much of it requires some special techniques by the participants, we now know that a lot of it consists of wires, camera techniques and a lot of trickery. Still good to see, however.
The unusual historical setting helps to give the film a special flavour although history never intrudes into what is a high adventure story.
The script by the director together with Li Feng and Wang Bin does delve a little into character and the love story is deftly handled. But this is really a film of movement.
Whether it be those armies in the bamboo forest slicing off bits of bamboo and hurling them at the enemy while swords clash, or the blind girl undertaking her deadly dance to an amazed audience, the screen glows with graceful violence.
And the scenery is pretty good, too. There is a beautiful lily pond, rolling, golden fields, and the opulence of the Peony Pavilion.
Glorious vistas, indeed.
As for the performances, they are quite adequate in this sort of spectacle where faces can remain unmoved, whether in battle or in love.
Ziyi Zhang is lovely and Lau and Kaneshiro (it is he who falls in love with the girl) manage to convey simple emotions with simple expressions.
Really, a treat for the eyes rather than the mind.
