Inspired by the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet, Legend of the Black Scorpion (USA) aka The Banquet (International) definitely lived up to reputation as being one of the most aesthetically pleasing films to come out of China/Hong Kong in quite some time.

The cinematography and musical score for this film were its obvious selling points. Everything from the outdoor locations to the indoor sets were exquisitely well crafted, as were the intricate costume designs and makeup artistry. The overall visual experience you get from this film is just outstanding. Composer Tan Dun also puts together quite an impressive score which helped to set the mood for its audience and intensified the beauty of this film tenfold.

This is where this film’s strengths end however. Its failure begins with its weak storyline and character development. The characters never seem to connect to its viewers and their performances felt more rehearsed than realistic. The film also dragged at the most inopportune times. There were several moments which actually started off strong only to end up being followed by some tiresome dialogue which would make the best of us nod off.

From a purely aesthetic level, it is easy to be swept away by this film. It is perfect in almost every way. Yet from an emotional standpoint, this film leaves its audience yearning for more and leaves you with more questions than answers. Legend of the Black Scorpion should only be watched if your a die hard fan Shakespearean type plots. I can’t really recommend this film to anyone else. After the first hour or so, it became quite a chore to finish.

Synopsis:

In 907 AD, the Tang Dynasty is in tatters; infighting snarls the imperial family. Crown Prince Wu Luan loves Little Wan, but his father takes her as his Empress. Wu Luan goes into exile, studying dance and music. His uncle murders his father, taking throne and Empress; uncle sends assassins to kill Wu Luan. The Crown Prince eludes death and comes to court. The Emperor arranges for Little Wan’s coronation and dispatches Wu Luan to a distant land; he then calls for a midnight banquet on the 100th day of his rule. Poison, treachery, Wu Luan’s return, and the love of the innocent Qing for Wu Luan set up the final entanglements. No Fortinbras or Horatio lay the dead to rest. Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}

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