The Banquet is a stunning looking film by Feng Xiaogeng, a very loose adaptation of Hamlet.
In this version, set around 900, the Emperor has married Wan [Zhang Ziyi] who was in love with the Hamlet figure, Prince Wuluan [Daniel Wu]. Wuluan is sent away to follow his artistic instincts. But when the Emperor’s brother Li [Ge You] murders him and seizes the throne, Li decides also to kill Wuluan.
Wan (now Empress) warns Wuluan and, escaping the assassins, he returns to the palace. This leads to much more intrigue and treachery as the various parties strive to get the upper hand.
The cinematography is impressive (by Zhang Li) with a number of striking episodes including the early raid by masked men on the artistic group where Wuluan is in hiding. 
Similarly, Wuluan, ostensibly to celebrate Wan’s remarriage to now Emperor Li, organises a mime play which depicts how Li murdered the previous Emperor.
But, in this film, the stinking visuals are matched by a core of emotional interest, largely due to Zhang Ziyi (usually in red) who shows a balance of vulnerability and violence as she struggles to survive in a male-dominated world. It is she, rather than Wuluan, who is the centre of the film. She spars with the more idealistic Qing [Xun Zhou] (usually in white) who is in love with Wuluan.
While there is lots of blood, the fight scenes are positively balletic (choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping).
The film is not perfect. The male actors, especially Daniel Wu as Wuluan, are rather inexpressive and the music (by Tan Dun) is often far too melodramatic when a more muted soundtrack would have empathised the visual aspects.
But well worth a look.
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