Legend Of The Black Scorpion (a.k.a. The Banquet) [DVD] [2006] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet aka The Legend of the Black Scorpion certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful looking films ever made. A spectacular Chinese adaptation of Hamlet filmed on an epic scale with no expense spared and with all the action scenes that Shakespeare forgot to write, it's clearly aiming to be another Hero, with nods to Akira Kurosawa's Japanese samurai Shakespeare films along the way. Although it never quite hits the same highs, it works surprisingly well, with Daniel Wu's Crown Prince brooding over his father's murder by his uncle while his former beloved Ziyi Zhang is consumed by revenge in her desire to kill the new emperor as courtiers plot and intrigue around them. With superb art direction by Tim Yip, excellent cinematography by Li Zhang, striking fight sequences courtesy of Yuen Wo-Ping at his best and a fine score by Tan Dun (Andrew Lloyd Webberish end title song notwithstanding) and filled with colour, light and movement, it's always a treat for the eyes and ears - or rather it should be.While Metrodome's UK DVD, released as The Banquet, crops film from its original 2.35:1 widescreen ratio to 1.85:1 (particularly noticeable in the fight in the snow), the superior Region 1 NTSC DVD includes a good transfer of the film in its original 2.35:1 ratio with a decent selection of extras.