Reminded me a lot of Twilight_Of_The_Forbidden_City, only this one is even more downbeat. Yes, the photography is stunning and the opera scenes and Gong Li are beautiful to watch. Yes, Leslie Cheung is in fine form as the perennial victim. And the odd friendship between Leslie and the court eunuch is sensitive and even moving. But against a background of such ever-present cruelty, and frequent horrifying violence, this unrelentingly (at times, overwhelmingly) depressing story is just too much to take.

OVERALL : Miss it. Life's too short, and this film's too long.