Shadow

Zhang Yimou's Shadow is his 2018 masterpiece to join the prestigious list of Chinese martial arts flicks! You could clearly see how the writer-director spared no expenses by utilizing every single cent of the budget provided to him to construct this motion painting! The production design is miraculous! Ship made out of bamboo, royal costumes, Yang saber, Yin Yang Taiichi diagram, bamboo jungle, bladed umbrella and castle midst waters are examples of gorgeousness! The entire film is color-graded to meet the style of Chinese ink wash paintings, with shades of black and white dominating the screen while giving chance only for the browns of human skin to show itself. We may never see the likes of this visual style again.

Deep sound design, minimal background flute score, zither composition and the slow-mo effects are revolutionary! Zhao Xiaoding's cinematography has some of the most breathtaking compositions, shots and framings you'll ever witness in cinema! The action set pieces are fantastic too, with the army's secret infiltration into the enemy's city by cocooning themselves in bladed umbrellas as they slide down a rain drenched road shooting crossbows being the supreme highlight of the whole show! Practice sessions with umbrella and stick, hand-to-hand combat, traitor beheading and the dagger payoff are amazing!

The filmmaker excels at portraying romance and forbidden love between the Shadow and the Commander's wife. With well-defined characters treading across the theme of Yin and Yang from start to finish, you can't help but smile knowing that you've finally manage to find and watch a great movie! While the final revelation is definitely predictable, the double reversal at play is cool nevertheless!