The Banquet: the idea of setting a William Shakespeare play in this particular historical time and place is sound; however, the tone used by Xiaogang Feng is too broad, operatic and the at same time, the characters are unengaging. Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun’s performances are fine, but the acting is, in general, weak and erratic (at times wooden, at times excessive). The film is visually sumptuous (Tim Yip’s art direction, as well as the costume design, are a feat to the eyes) and some of the fight scenes, beautiful. Tan Dun’s score is a bit heavy-handed.