The Emperor's Shadow
by Xiaowen Zhou
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Qing Xu, Wen Jiang, You GeDirector: Xiaowen Zhou
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: Mandarin Chinese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Letterbox, 1.85:1
Running Time: 123 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-10-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Fox Lorber
Movie Reviews of The Emperor's Shadow
Movie Review: First we kill all the musicians
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Emperor's Shadow" is a Chinese production that rivals anything by legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. The film has breathtaking cinematography, brilliant acting and an intriguing story-line. It's all so good, it shines even through sub-titles.
The plot puts one in mind of Shakespeare's Henry VI, in which a character named Dick the Butcher utters the immortal line "First, we kill all the lawyers!" In this case, the butcher is the first emperor of China, who says in effect "First, we kill all the musicians!"
As a musician, I naturally take umbrage at that idea, but I must admit I understand why he would find my kind dangerous. Lord knows, someone who would rather play music than eat is difficult to control. Of course we all know from the tale of the grasshopper and the ant that musicians eventually receive their comeuppance, but I think beheading is way over the top. Then again, maybe that's not such a bad idea for some present-day "artists" whose success far exceeds their talent. Anyway ...
Not to give away too much of the plot, but the emperor eventually realizes that musicians have their virtues, and so he solicits a musician to compose a national anthem as a way to compel the people's obedience. The plot thickens because the greatest musician in China is the son of the emperor's wet nurse, an "adopted" brother who so despises the ways of the emperor that he intends to assassinate him.
Is that a Shakespearean plot or what? Trust me, everything else about this film is equally superior.
Summary of The Emperor's Shadow
The Emperor's Shadow is a majestic tour-de-force that captures both the epic sweep of the formation of China's first ruling dynasty and the poignant struggle of star-crossed lovers against the cold hand of tradition and the relentless march of history.Art House & International DVD Video
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