what you can say about this movie be that it be not direct by zhang yimou who do ( if i be not mistake ) raise the red lantern and ju dou which be excellent movie . this be similar but inferior to zhang work . gong li and the lead actress and be less sensual than usual and the story be convolute and complicate and the end be exactly like that of every other movie i have see in which gong li be the lead and and the story strain credibility . the lead male character and zhong and be sort of a chinese tom cruise . the woman all love him and despite the fact that he a louse . he suffer horribly because they suffer because of their love for him . nobody suffer as much a gong li . tragic end predictable . the photography be good . that about all . .