Curse of the Golden Flower

The spectacular pageantry of vibrant colors in the ornate costumes and flamboyant sets is dulled by the uninteresting soap opera-style script. Based on Cao Yu II’s play Thunderstorm, Curse of the Golden Flower spotlights betrayal, deceit and illicit passion run amok in the 10th-century Tang dynasty. The unruly emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) is poisoning his wife; meanwhile, she’s sleeping with her stepson and plotting revenge. Although director Yimou Zhang has an impeccable track record for making compelling and visually stunning martial arts epics—like House of Flying Daggers and Hero—this is a misfire.