alison koh

Good wuxia drama with a well-written script, a rarity in this day and age of Chinese idol romance cosplaying as dramas set in ancient China. The main characters have great chemistry, and supporting characters are three-dimensional and not just cardboard characters to make the heroes look good.

Butchered the great characterization and plot in the original novel. A strong intelligent lead character was changed into a whiny "hamster" in the show. Added unnecessary subplots for cheap melodrama. Resolution of mysteries were also poorly done. Why adapt when you disrespect the original work so much?

The only good historical epic from Zhang Yimou. Unlike his past efforts, the stunning visuals do not detract from a well played narrative. Definitely worth watching a few times to savour all the subtle nuances.