Oops, not to spoil your excitement ...
But I actually watched it on its opening ... 23 dec?! i think ...
Likewise, I have little time to write reviews and during then, I presume I was more eager to write the one for Confession of Pain ... that's why ... hee hee

Anyway, I am glad that you like it ...

Hi wpqx, 
eagerly waiting for you more paragraphy review ...
here's my 1 cent worth

What I like ...

-- Topping the list has to be its ostentatious costumes (I hope it garners the Best Costume in Oscar), and to a large extent, its set design ... wow ... what a palace ... as usual, with Zhang Yi Mou ... Colors will dazzle and "blind" you ... they are VERY LOUD this time ...

-- Next would be the great cast, but most notably, Gong Li ... you would be glad to know that she passed on the role in The Banquet (also reviewed in this board) to Zhang Ziyi ... A great decision because this film allows her to demo her entire range of emotions ... of course some pple would go for Chow Yun Fatt, or Liu Ye ... or for many Asian "teens", they would go for Jay Chou (a very popular singer) ...

-- With rgds to the plot, some "non Asians" have likened it to a mix of some Shakespearean plays and tragedies ... but frankly, it was loosely based on a famous Chinese play "Lei Yu (Thunderstorm)" by Cao Yu (except the fact that it is transported to a different period and arena, i.e., the Tang dynasty) ... want to know what happens? watch the film ...

-- Finally, some/many Asians actually like the song at the end by Jay Chou (and for your info, it is also subtitled in English ...) ... you guess it, they have their minds set on the Oscar too ...

What I thought could be better ...

-- The emotional engagement. The plot is good, there are twists, there are tragedies, etc ... but somehow, I did not care for who lives or who dies ... maybe that is why after a lot of contemplation, I prefer "Confession of Pain" ... at least it strikes a melancholic mood ...

Conclusion:
Recommended. A commercial film that is laudable on its costume and set designs ... and maybe Gong Li.