Daniel Wu plays Crown Prince Wu Luan, the Hamlet figure who seeks revenge against the uncle who now sits on his father's throne. Zhang Ziyi, who's become a staple of Chinese period films, plays the devious Empress Wan who secretly plots to seize ultimate power herself.

The movies features some wire-driven swordplay action choreographed by the famous Yuen Wo Ping, but this is not really a kung fu movie and while the fight scenes aren't bad, I lean more toward realistic, feet on the ground combat than watching guys magically float from balcony to balcony.

The real attraction for me is to be dazzled by the incredibly detailed sets...the carved doors, the statues, the furnishings, the court robes, and even the bizarre armor and masked helmets of the Imperial Guards, as well as to listen to the archaic dialogue and watch palace rituals unfold, all elements in transporting the viewer to a time long ago and thus escape from our everyday existence.

Just seeing all that is almost worth the price of the purchase alone, but the acting is good and the music is hauntingly beautiful too.

Anyway, if you're easily bored by watching a tale of palace intrigue and want non-stop kung fu, look elsewhere, but if you like lavish historical dramas, give this a try.