A good escape, though, we were taken away from the 'individualistic' heroes, normally seen in those WAR-heroes, this movie offered another type of cruelty or brutality and 'bloody killing' instead, especially from a story which brought us back to 10 century, or later Dang dynasty, which also challenges appreciation of the audience and critic viewers.  

As Hollywood dot com advertised, he is asking the big whys to the “incest crime”, or at least, the killings within the 'king' family. However, we can not forget the fact that a coming-to-be good Oscar movie should be viewed by numbers of historians thoughtful  in the  West and East, even before it could be possibly nominated.
 
'The curse of the ( golden, )  flowers', in fact, as it was so entitled in English, really lightens the massy killings as it was visualized; However, the impact of movie might have on our young both East and West is no doubted worrisome;  Good movies of historic topics respect the facts; ask good questions to viewers nowadays; inspire or edify the audience too.  

But, this time I am quite slow in the sense of what was he talking about or depicted from what offered by Director Yi-mo Z. who has been always challenging, trying, bringing his imaginations and his unique Chinese visions to the world.  

BUT, what worries me the most is not only the ‘Killings’ but it is that there are numerous good stories similar to the ‘Great battle’ of “Troy” in our history, rather than this negative ones. even similar to the ‘Great battle’ of “Troy” in our history, of which the majority of west populations are lacking the basic understanding of the back ground; added, if some of the viewers are young and un-read, how can they imagine this part of the Chinese history? What pictures might be left to their mind when they got out of  the cinema? Good movies if touch historical motif shall tackle the significant one or develop good stories but not the other way around.  

Sadly, as commented by a ‘National Post’, it’s only a ‘soap opera done on a grand opera scale’ or type of movie you watch, ‘sit back, relax, and take it all in... .’  Though how ‘spectacular’ it maybe when watching, but empty you feel when came out of it.  So, maybe it is too much of symbolism, or too heavy in bloody-color.  Still not worthy than simply the ‘black and white’ one, even kills the tastes .  

One thing is true, he added a lot of 'Art' of Beijing  opera to one talented singer "Zhou" from Taiwan if I am not wrong? BUT, to use the art of Chinese opera in the designs of costumes or the eye-catching ‘higher swell’ of bras of the ‘light pinks ’ or imperial ladies and maids in waiting, unrealistically what so ever, to show, to detail, to ‘satisfy’ a few watching ‘killings’ only?  

Maybe, it was his trying or intention to learn something new from the Western style to meet the international standard. Maybe or other wise, Director Yi-mo Z. needed a little NEW inspirations: A Chinese Kong-Fu soldier plays a vital, and heroic  role of individualism; a by-himself fighter, in a critical moment of the situation, which seen often in West Style, met a beautiful lady, dangerously, but in his and her miracle actions ploted, rescued somebody?