Chrysanthemum's The Word

The first of two films seen in New York over the Xmas period was the latest Zhang Yimou Chinese epic. Though stunningly beautiful to look at, the plot slipped about all over the place, and the characters were all totally unsympathetic. This made it difficult to engage emotionally so I just sat back and absorbed the sensual colour schemes in the grand palace and the balletic battle sequences. Some of the CGI was a bit ropey though, I think ropey reality would have been preferrable, but reality wasn't on the menu here.