Movie Title: 夜宴 (The Banquet)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Year: 2006
The Banquet official site: http://www.thebanquetthemovie.com/
Daniel Wu…. *drool* Zhou Xun *double drool*… ah… must not miss. Yes, I once again watch a movie because of the people. but never for Zhang Zhiyi. Ewww… I still have no idea why many people make a big huh-hah about Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and solely look up to Zhang for it’s success.
Yeah, I heard from Brian, the lead character Zhang is playing in the movie apparently belongs to Gong Li (hip hip hooray) which she turn down in order to appear in Miami Vice. What a waste. How nice if she didn’t have conflict in schedules. I could see Daniel, Gong Li and Zhou Xun together. Not to mention directed by Feng Xiao Gang himself.
Yes, noted as one of the famous China director, Feng return to the big screen with this big bang. It’s been the talk of the town since like a year ago. The setting, the casting… it just leads on to get more and more attention.
Having and grouping the finest of the finest people around to create such a masterpiece. Who could help but to talk about it. Having Yuen Wo Ping as their action choreographer. Yes, always being branded as ” from the action choreographer from The Matrix Trilogy and crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” I think he failed to nail it in this movie.
The actions look stale, boring, reused and recycled a million times. The most disappointing part is after so many times doing it, have done it big for so many box office, he still can make this mistake. The first fight scene where the imperial guards fly out from the water. The wire on the guard at the left side was so visibly seen.
Being such a big person with big name in this industry… I just think he makes a commit suicide mistake. The blood splattering to the screen is just another old trick so old that I could just lick the screen and say… KETCHUP!!!
Okay back to the story… the story started with a brief narration of how china was weak and many different people rule different parts of China after the fall of the Tang dynasty. When at young age, Empress Wan (Zhang ZhiYi) and Prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu) is supposedly lovers until his father decided to keep Wan for himself and make her the Empress. Sadden by the news, Wu Luan hides himself far from the kingdom and persue arts.
Time as passes and the crown prince was still happily learning art at some hidden place until his father’s death. His uncle, Emperor Li (Ge You) killed the emperor and announced himself as the new emperor. He sent the “Lord of the Rings” ugly looking creatures like Imperial guard to kill Wu Luan. Knowing what is happening, Empress Wan sent some helps to Wu Luan as she still have feelings for him.
Unknown to many, apparently Emperor Li has been eyeing on Empress Wan for a long time and one of the main reason to the murder of the previous emperor. Loving her so much, she is quickly crowned as the new Empress again.
Wu Luan is sadden by the fact that his father’s death is no accident. Luckily he is often accompanied by his wife to be, Qing Nu (Zou Xun). Her character was a more opposite of what Zhang is playing. Zhang plays an unfaithful, greedy, bitchy like character while Zhou Xun is loyal, pure, innocent and simple minded.
There has been a lot of havoc happening when Emperor Li has decided to crown Wan to be the new empress. Wu Luan has also given up hope on Empress Wan. On the crowning ceremony, Wu Luan was supposed to perform sword fighting (a plan Emperor Li has set to kill him). He changed the performance in to an theatre performance hinting how he would want to poison Emperor Li.
Being so angry, Emperor Li sent Wu Luan off as an exchange to another kingdom, which in other words means D.I.E. Empress Wan then secretly sent the Minister’s son (Huang Xiaoming) to help rescue him. Thinking he is dead, the Emperor decided to held a banquet. Where he ordered everyone to join. Those who refused shall be killed.
Empress Wan then venture outside the palace and get some poison. She then ask the dealer. This is the most poisonous one? The dealer replied “No. nothing compares to a human heart.” I totally agree with his line. Nothing compares to a human heart
Apparently, the Empress wants to kill the Emperor and make herself the new emperor as she is sick and tired of being pushed here and there. Not to mention she is well aware that she is growing old and she will soon lost her place. But deep down inside me, I still think she wish that she and Wu Luan can rule the country together.
She then mix the drink with the poison and present it as a toast to the Emperor. The emperor is about to drink it until Qing Nu decided to perform to the Emperor. She then drinks a gulp from the cup.
Well… the ending was sorta some part expected… some part unexpected… and some part is still a mystery and it remains for you to wonder and kept guessing.
But looking at the subtle hints given… I think I know what happened.
A movie that people should pay attention and appreciate the backgrounds, setting and scenery. Skip the actions as it has been done so many times, flawlessly before. some of the camera angles were so good it just manage to capture the moment. Script wise, I am amazed. Daniel Wu actually speaks better Mandarin than Cantonese. I think Ge You and Zhou Xun both acted very well in the movie. Zhang however.. hmm I just think she tries too hard. Maybe she have the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers burden on her back.
What can I say, it is one of those movies crafted to win awards. Make some westerners go WOW and their jaw can’t close. Well, at least it’s better than The Promise. Way better.