The Assassins (Bronze Sparrow Terrace) 铜雀台

 Released Year: 2012

Directed by 赵林山 Zhao Lin Shan

Casted by:

周润发 Chow Yun-fat as 曹操  Cao Cao
刘亦菲 Liu Yifei as 灵雎 / 貂蝉  Lingju / Diaochan
玉木宏 Hiroshi Tamaki as 穆顺  Mu Shun
苏有朋 Alec Su as 汉献帝  Emperor Xian of Han
伊能静 Annie Yi as 伏皇后  Empress Fu Shou
邱心志 Qiu Xinzhi as 曹丕 Cao Pi

 Story:

The film is set in China between the late 190s and 200s towards the end of the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao had defeated Lü Bu and many other rival warlords to gain supremacy in northern China. In 216, Cao Cao was granted the title of a vassal king - King of Wei - by Emperor Xian. He then had the Bronze Sparrow Platform constructed as a display of power.

Lingju is the orphaned daughter of Lü Bu and Diaochan, and she, like many other orphaned children of Cao Cao's enemies, had been recruited in her childhood by Cao Cao's rivals to be trained as assassins to kill Cao Cao. She met Mu Shun, a castrated man, and fell in love with him. Lingju and Mu Shun both eventually found their way into the palace: Lingju became one of Cao Cao's mistresses while Mu Shun became a eunuch in the palace.

Throughout the film, there were two major attempts on Cao Cao's life. The first was masterminded by Empress Fu Shou and her father Fu Wan. This plan failed and Cao Cao had the conspirators (including the empress) executed in front of Emperor Xian. The second was a revolt led by the imperial physician Ji Ben and his supporters, but the rebellion was swiftly crushed. There is a brief scene showing that Cao Cao suspects that his son Cao Pi is involved in the assassination plots.

Mu Shun failed in his attempt to kill Cao Cao, who revealed that he knew all along that Lingju was planning to assassinate him. Cao Cao promises to spare Lingju's life, and in return, Mu Shun disguised himself as Cao Cao and rode out of the city, only to be killed by Ji Ben's followers. Lingju later committed suicide to join Mu Shun.

  L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:

Well, this is the historical film talks about Cao Cao building the bronze sparrow terrace in his late life to embrace his success during the war time. What surprise me the most is Liu Yi Fei has a very very brave acting which she shows her nice body to us :) But the storyline is a bit bored though...

The Messenger 风声

Released Year: 2009
Directed by 陈国富 Chen Kuo-Fu & 高群书 Gao Qin-Shu

Casted by:
周迅 Zhou Xun as 顾晓梦 Meng
黄晓明 Huang Xiao-Ming as 武田 Tanaka
李冰冰 Li Bing Bing as 李宁玉 Yuk
张涵予 Zhang Han-Yu as 吴志国 Guo
苏有朋 Alec Su as 白小年 Nian
Story:

During world war II, at Nanking, 5 person is working for the Japanese Government. The messenger Meng; the translator Yuk; army leader Guo; assistant gabenor Nian & army contacted Kim. Not long later all 5 of them are invited by the Japanese Lieutenant Tanaka to a mansion.

5 of them were suspected to be a spy for the anti-japan-group. To investigate who's the spy, 5 of them back-stab each other. Nian was the first to be tortured to admit that he is a spy based on his wordings are found the same from the spy list. Nian was tortured to death. Tanaka later on found out that the spy usually contact with an old man. Tanaka purposely invite the gang to a lunch and the old man appear to collect the information.

Tanaka forced to bring Kim out for investigate, but he get freak out and killed himself with a pistol. Yuk was the second one to drag out, but when she thought she will be tortured like previously by striping off naked, but she was inform to stay in her room.

Tanaka and gang left Meng and Guo in the room. They got the radio on and heard that Meng accused Guo of being the spy and putting a code on a cigarette. Guo trying to strangled Meng but Tanaka they all stop him. But Meng later on announce to Yuk that she's the spy and Guo was released in hospital. Meng later on was tortured to told out the person behind by rubbing her vagina on a rope. Suddenly an attack from Meng to bite off Guo's ear, and Meng was shot to death.

Tanaka's mission failed and he was slice on his throat when he was send back to Japan, and the person who killed him is Guo. Guo went back to find Yuk after the war, and he told her that actually he's the person who behind the spy and the spy is really Meng. Both of them know each other and try to find out a way to send the message out to their group and finally Guo managed to do it when he's in the hospital.

L² Scored: 8/10

L² Comment:

The movie is damn good, never a part which is boring. Alec Su good performing although not a huge appearance. Li Bing Bing is surprisingly good in her acting and this brought her the best actress in a lot of awards.