Chinese cinema is clearly not for everybody. It’s not everyone’s ability to calmly watch how warriors that are fragile in appearance with three smooth waves of their hands smash entire units, toss knives and shurikens along an unnatural trajectory and demonstrate incredible acrobatic capabilities. This is too unrealistic, although it is worth admitting that it looks beautiful. The article will describe films about Ancient China, the list is presented below. Immerse yourself for some time in the world of palace intrigues, attempts on emperors, unhappy love and skilled warriors.
The Hero (2002)
We will begin to describe films about Ancient China with the film “Hero” directed by Zhang Yimou. His work boasts the perfect combination of a spectacular demonstration of martial arts and an unusual plot. Although the beginning here is quite ordinary.
Endless wars led to the fact that China was divided into several principalities. The rulers of each of them struggled for a long time for the right to be the emperor of the Celestial Empire, but the king of the land of Qin succeeded most of all, who, in general, was stronger than anyone else. They often attacked him, but he always turned out to be one step ahead of his killers. The only ones who instilled fear in him were three experienced mercenaries who were famous throughout China for their ability to bring matters to the end.
One day, the Nameless Warrior comes to the imperial palace, who claims to have got rid of his enemies. Only the ruler is in no hurry to rejoice, he is too distrustful of the guest’s words. Therefore, he asks to tell him about each of the battles, and then he expresses his own thoughts on this subject.
The House of Flying Daggers (2005)
The scenes stuffed with martial arts contain many films of that era (Ancient China). Almost every second picture is shot about kung fu. And this time it could not do without it. Gone are the days when the Tang dynasty flourished. Now she has many enemies who have already formed the insurgent movement “House of Flying Daggers”. They were nicknamed for their high skills in throwing weapons. Moreover, the locals are delighted with them, thanks to the desire of the rebels to punish the rich and help the poor.
Key events unfold around the local police captain Jin and the blind dancer Sen Mei, who is a member of the rebel clan. They meet like enemies, but eventually fall in love with each other. Only nobody cares about their desires, each of the warring parties has their own plans for this couple.
“Kill the Emperor” (2006)
But feature films about Ancient China come in a melodramatic genre. Although not without battle scenes. The painting “Kill the Emperor” describes the story of a prince named Wu Luan and his girlfriend Wang, who have grown together since childhood. And as soon as they matured, they began to experience feelings and fell in love with each other. But they could not be together, because Father Wu decided to marry the girl himself.
Unable to bear such grief, the prince decided to leave the imperial palace and went south, where he studied dance, music and martial arts for a long time. Time passed and Wu's father died. The guy received a letter in which he was invited to the coronation of the new emperor. Wu Luan is going home, but he will have to hurry up until his lover is married again.
The Curse of the Golden Flower (2007)
Do not forget that films about Ancient China are necessarily saturated with intrigue and conspiracy. This is discussed in the next picture. Having returned from a long campaign, the emperor finds out that he is not particularly expected, and his wife has long been living with another man. To take revenge on his wife, he begins to poison her every day with small portions of poison. Upon learning this, a woman plans to overthrow her husband so that her son takes the throne.
She plans to arrange a riot during the holiday of chrysanthemums. The army of the son receives special capes on which golden flowers are embroidered. On the appointed day, the son will go against the father, and the father against the son. And each of them is ready for anything for the sake of victory.
“The Battle of the Red Rock” (2009)
Films about Ancient China often describe large-scale battles, the outcome of which does not always depend on the number of armies. In the year 208 e. in order to unite China, the emperor decides to go to war on two independent states. A large army without any problems destroys small units of one of the kingdoms. And the remaining forces of the Shu state have to escape in the citadel at the Red Rock.
Then they send an envoy to the ruler of the second state with a request to join forces and try to oppose the imperial army. And they manage to get help, but the forces are still unequal. So they will win this war only thanks to cunning and strategic thinking.
“Detective Dee and the mystery of the ghostly flame” (2010)
Concluding describing films about Ancient China, let us turn our attention to this intricate detective story. Moreover, there are not many of them. Events take place during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. In honor of the coronation of the first Chinese Empress, a huge stupa is being built in the capital. But the triumph is delayed, as strange things begin to happen in the city - several people publicly burn themselves.
The empress decides to investigate this incident, therefore, attracts Judge Di Zhanjie, who was once imprisoned for disagreeing with government policy. Now he was promised both a place at the palace and the long-awaited freedom. But does he need all this?