The Emperor and the Assassin Movie Review 1999

Sumptuous historical drama (and a complicated storyline) concerns a united China's first emperor. Set in 320 B.C., China is a collection of seven rival kingdoms with Ying Zheng, the King of Qin (Xuejian) obsessed with uniting the country and then dividing it into provinces for proper ruling (with himself as supreme head). Naturally, this means war. Also involved is his lover, Lady Zhao (Li), who plans a fake assassination attempt to aid Zheng. But the assassin she chooses, Jing Ke (Fengyi), is trying to reform and things don't go exactly according to plan. Remember--power corrupts. Mandarin with subtitles.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 161 minutes.
Originally from Chinese.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, China, Big Battles, Assassination, Royalty, Politics

Screenplay

Chen Kaige, Wang Peigong

Cast

Xuejian Li, Gong Li, Zhang Fengyi, Zhiwen Wang, Sun Zhou, Chen Kaige

Cinematography

Zhao Fei

Director

Chen Kaige

Music

Zhao Jiping