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The Emperor And The Assassin [DVD] [2000]
 
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The Emperor And The Assassin [DVD] [2000]

DVD ~ Li Gong
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
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Frequently Bought Together

The Emperor And The Assassin [DVD] [2000] + Warriors Of Heaven And Earth [DVD] [2003] + The Legend Of The Shadowless Sword [2006] [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: Li Gong, Fengyi Zhang, Zhou Sun, Xiaohe Lü, Zhiwen Wang
  • Directors: Kaige Chen
  • Writers: Kaige Chen, Peigong Wang
  • Producers: Kaige Chen, Bai Yu, Hiromitsu Furukawa, Philip Lee, Sanping Han
  • Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language Mandarin Chinese
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 11 Feb 2002
  • Run Time: 161 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005R0CX
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,769 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Set in 221 BC, The Emperor and the Assassin tells of Ying Zheng (Li Xuejian) and his obsession to unite seven Chinese kingdoms and become the first Emperor of China. The film mixes spectacular battle scenes with court intrigue, counterpointed by the King's complex relationship with the only woman he has truly loved, the Lady Zhao (Gong Li). From protocol-ridden palaces to wide open grasslands, this is a visually striking film, both beautiful and at the same time burdened with the horrors of the period.

Though this was the most expensive film ever made in China, director Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine) nevertheless retains a tight reign on character and psychology, recalling Kurosawa's Ran (1985) and Kagemusha (1980). The cast, particularly the two leads, are magnificent and both production design and score are first rate. While the unfolding story has similar appeal to Gladiator and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it can be as confusing and jarringly edited as the original (pre-director's cut) version of The Last Emperor (1987), and for the same reason--despite its 154 minutes--the film was cut by approximately 30 minutes prior to release. The full version may eventually reveal a masterpiece, though in its present form it is still an exceptionally powerful and compelling drama.

On the DVD: The Emperor and the Assassin’s original 1.85:1 image is transferred anamorphically, and while not up with the finest DVDs is still sharp and detailed. Strangely, despite the film being presented in DTS theatrically, the DVD offers mere three-channel Dolby Pro-Logic. No more than adequate, this is a serious disappointment when at least Dolby Digital 5.1 would be the accepted norm. The film can be watched with the original Mandarin soundtrack, with or without English subtitles, or dubbed into English. The extras are a 4:3 trailer and a serious, comprehensive commentary by director Chen Kaige. For anyone wanting to know how to mount such a large-scale production, there can be few better guides than Kaige.--Gary S. Dalkin

DVD Description

DVD Special Features:

Director's Commentary
Filmographies
Trailer
Languages in Dolby Digital Surround: Mandarin, English
Subtitles: English
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.4 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A thought provoking, bombastic, historical epic., 1 Mar 2002
This film is not only a thought provoking historical epic on a grand scale, but also an extremely engaging political thriller.

It tells the story af a king in ancient China and his struggle to unite the country into one unified kingdom. As well as epic battles the film focuses on his personal relationships, with other rulers and members of his own household, and how they are worked out in true Macchiavellian style. If you have read and appreciated Sun Tzu's "the art of war" then watch this film.

In the finest traditions of "Ben Hur" it literally has a "cast of thousands," a welcome relief in the age of computer graphics. The (infrequent) battle scenes are truly awesome.

I do not think it would be too inappropriate to compare the story to the finest shakespeare plays in terms of subtlety and depth. Although it can at times be an effort to watch, it is a film which will stay with you long after it has ended. Your appreciation will grow as the complex and highly emotive story strands work themselves out in your brain hours and even days after you have watched it.

Highly recommended, the best film I have ever seen.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Visually remarkable, dramatically absorbing, 8 Jan 2008
By Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane "almac1975" (Fife, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This is a very absorbing and beautifully made film. It recreates China 2,200 years ago, in the time of the great Emperor Q'in (pron. 'Sheen'), who unified the country, was responsible for the linking of the Chinese defensive walls into the Great Wall of China and ordered the manufacture of the famous terracotta warriors to guard the gates of his tomb. A retired, remorseful assassin is persuaded to make an attempt on his life, which in the end he does. Everything about it visually is impressive, indeed breath-taking. The acting is good - lots of intense close-ups. However, if this does not sound a silly comment, it is a very 'Chinese' film in terms of character behaviour and motivation, and it is sometimes difficult for a Western perception to make out why a character thinks as she/he does or apparently changes viewpoint without any clear reason. I do not say this as a criticism - I had a similar reaction to watching traditional Chinese opera a while back, but that did not spoil my enjoyment of it. No-one should hesitate from watching this film if the subject appeals.
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34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Epic - like Hero through a different lens, 22 Nov 2005
By WJ Davidson (Edinburgh) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Directed by Chen Kaige (Farewell my concubine), this film shares much of its basic story with Hero in that it deals with the end of the Chinese Warring States period, the creation of a unified 'chinese' empire and a plot to kill the King of Qin, but the treatment is different in terms of cinematic style and the meaning behind the story.
The plot revolves around Ying Zheng (King of Qin) and his 'quest' to unify the other six kingdoms under his rule.
The film begins with the conquest of the Han and the main plot involves Ying Zhengs lover, Lady Zhao (played by Gong Li) going off on a clandestine mission to provide a pretext for him to attack another state Yan.
While she is away, there are complications at court and Ying Zheng, who is portrayed as a peace-loving unifier, gradually becomes (or is revealed to be) a ruthless tyrant.
The central question is whether personal desire for love and happiness can coincide with political ambition and a desire to save the world (or at least ancient China) through absolutist rule.
Or to put it another way, "What profit a man if he gains the world and loses his soul" ?

The cast of characters includes some convincing supporting performances particularly from Fengyi Zhang as the assassin Jing Ke.
Jing Ke is a very interesting character and he and Ying Zheng Ke are portrayed as living opposite lives in many respects .

The courtly intrigues are handled with depth and they are driven by the characters rather than to satisfy the need for plot twists.

This is a film which will reveal more with each watching and I suspect there are other subtle clues that I will never get due to my lack of knowledge about the culture.

In terms of cinematography, it couldn't be less like Hero. No beautiful painted scenes of ochre leaves, no wire fighting. The palette is subdued and the fights are generally short and brutally functional.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Definitely a historical drama (rather than an action film), but one with well developed characters and many scenes of real emotional depth as well as a grand sweeping backdrop of epic proportions.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid
The Emperor And The Assassin tells the same basic story as Hero. I wanted to get into Chinese cinema a bit more, and the amazon reviews talked it up. Read more
Published 7 days ago by A. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars Chinese history...
Chinese history, a good film. Not as good as many newer films in terms of action and effects, but the acting is strong, the assassination attempt is a bit laughable, but otherwise... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. R. C. Auty

2.0 out of 5 stars Chinese "history" hokum
I bought this for the history and was rather disappointed! "Hokum" rather than history would fit. The dubbing is poor, several characters have regular histrionics and at times the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by John Redman

5.0 out of 5 stars Originality at its best
I just had to put a review up to boost the rating of this utterly spectacular masterpiece. It does not deserve 1 or 2 stars indicated by others due to the "dubs", the film is... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rufus Mcgrufus

4.0 out of 5 stars The Emporer and the Assassin
Good film if not exactly uplifting!!! Needs concentration too or you may get a little confused!
Published 5 months ago by Nick

4.0 out of 5 stars the emporer and the assassin
great story and characters, always loved this type of film and this lives up to expectations.
Published 6 months ago by C. J. Towler

3.0 out of 5 stars More functional than completely inspired
Chen Kaige's The Emperor and the Assassin was one of the more expected Chinese flops of the 90s, coming so soon after the previous telling of the same tale, The Emperor's Shadow... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Trevor Willsmer

4.0 out of 5 stars The Emperor and the Assassin
This is a really strange movie. Quite a visual treat but far too serious ! Their are too many twists and turns that are just plain silly. Read more
Published 8 months ago by film - buff

3.0 out of 5 stars Bitterly depressing....
I think 68000 did not have a bad review, I agree with a lot of it.

In addition.. I've been a big fan of asian cinema for a long time, from when I was younger... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. A. M. HOGG

4.0 out of 5 stars A great film, bizarrely dubbed by clowns.
Enjoy the beauty of the film - and keep a finger hovering over the replay button if you're listening to the English soundtrack. Read more
Published 11 months ago by B. A. Thorn

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