...looks like a shadow, a charcoal drawing etched in blacks, greys and whites, with greenery in the exterior shots muted and masked in perpetual rain and fog.

...acclaimed and multifaceted filmmaker Zhang Yimou steps back into the realm of period martial arts drama to decide the fate of the city of Jing.

...fans of palace intrigue and metaphorically ripe violence will find plenty to like.

...spännande vändningar men framför allt visuella spektakel som får en att tappa andan.