Dazzling visuals, dizzying action and dastardly court intrigue mark this compelling costume epic set in 10th-century China. Chow Yun Fat stars as the Emperor, who gets involved in a power struggle with his three sons and his manipulative Empress (Gong Li). Liu Ye, Qin Junjie and Jay Chou stand out as the trio of backstabbing offspring. Directed and co-written by Zhang Yimou. Chung Man Yee received an Oscar nomination for his stunning costume design.