"The Banquet" or "Legend of the Black Scorpion"

I wrote this review several years ago after seeing this film.

Shakespeare.

"To be, or not to be? That is the question."

Well, that may have been Shakespeare's question, put into the mouth of one of his most tragic heros, but what is the answer?

Even today, I still find it oddly compelling and fascinatingly interesting that there are still those who like to take old Shakey's worn out renaissance plays, dust them off and give them a little something different, in the hopes that they can "reach" a "modern" audience. Who can forget the Academy awards that year, when Whoopi Goldberg came out after every commercial in a different Shakespearian costume, and then, ultimately as the Queen of the Age herself, Elizabeth I? That year, certainly brought the turmoil of the 1500's vividly to the public's imagination, and you can still feel it lingering, even today......But what is it exactly about Shakespeare that makes us come back to his stories again and again? The sense of human longing perhaps? But a longing for what? Well, that depends on the character.... There's is power, wealth, love, hatred, revenge, honor, justice, just to name a few. It is interesting to sit down and watch a "modern" version of one of his plays. How the themes resonate in our minds and hearts to this day. I have always believed that one of the reasons why Shakespeare has survived however, is that his words are so poetic and lofty. One really feels as though one is no longer living in the streets of some modern city of the world, surrounded by cars and computers, cell phones and ipods. But one is transported to another world entirely. Never have I felt that as strongly as when I saw "The Banquet" (in it's U.S. DVD release, it is known as "Legend of the Black Scorpion" and stars Ziyi Zhang who was in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and "Memoirs of a Geisha".)

A Chinese retelling of the classic "Hamlet", "The Banquet" instills in our minds eye from the very first frame, the very first sound, the very first note of music, that this is no ordinary retelling of a well known romantic tragedy. As we are told the story, we first see significant differences in this version that take us outside of Shakespeare's Denmark, and lead us to discover that this may be a more sinister and provocative approach. With breathtaking cinematography, lush costumes, and beautiful music, we are transported back to China, and are introduced to the "hero" . The Prince, Wu Luan has been gone for three years, away from court, seeking solace in the arts. He had fallen in love with a girl, Little Wan, who was then wed to the Emperor, his father, and to escape the pain in his heart, he fled. We find him among other artists, singing a song that is filled with a longing that nothing in the world can seem to fill. 


"What blessed night is this? Drifting down the river Qian. 
What auspicious day is this? Dreaming beside my prince. 
Trees live on mountains and branches live on trees. 
My heart lives for your heart but you do not see me...." 


In between the verses, we are told by a narrator that Wu Luan's father has been usurped and murdered by his own brother, who then sends assassins to kill the prince. Unknown to the new "Emperor", Little Wan, whom he wants for his own, has sent out her own messengers to warn Wu Luan of the oncoming assassins, and to urge his return to court.

We are now introduced to the "evil uncle" and to Little Wan, whom he is trying to seduce into becoming his Empress. Sadly, it doesn't seem to take much for her to offer her hand, as well as everything else to him. We see them in some rather intimate moments, and get the feeling that she is not all that she seems. There are hidden agenda's going on in her thoughts, even the new Emperor is aware of them. But somehow, she manages to convince him that she is his.....completely.

Now, no version of "Hamlet" would be complete without it's Ophelia. But I must say, that I have never seen a portrayal done with more tenderness and sympathy, than in Qing, who, we gather, has been in love with the Prince for years. He has never written her in the past three years since he has been gone, but she has remained faithful to him, and dreams of him every night. When he comes back to the palace, having narrowly escaped the assassins, he asks her how his father died. She tells him that they believe it to have been the sting of a scorpion. Somehow, he does not believe that this could have been very likely.

So, now he confronts Little Wan, wearing his artistic mask and shabby clothes he comes to her. She is startled to see him like this and asks, "What has happened?" He replies by saying, "Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" He confronts her with asking how his father died. He wants her to look him in the eye and tell him herself. She takes him into her arms, a hint of their long ago affection still between them, and says, "The pain in your eyes breaks my heart. Don't ask so many questions. Don't think to much." He pushes her away, saying that his rags have soiled her bathrobe. She hits him, and then demands to know what he has in the old sword case he is carrying with him. Inside she finds the sword of the Yue Maiden and a song......"A love song?" she asks. "No, it is about loneliness." She suggests that he sing it for his friend Qing. He says that she would not understand. "No one can really understand another person. If we did, we would not feel so lonely." Little Wan then goes on to berate him about having spent the last few years pursuing the arts. She says that a "real" man should be strong and courageous. She reminds him that he has responsibilities to his people, etc. He responds by asking, "Hasn't my uncle already assumed those responsibilities?"


I will not spoil the story, as those familiar with the original play remember, the prince leaves and upon his return, a celebration is held, and in this version it is no different.


A great banquet (where the original Chinese title comes from) is held and many secrets are revealed, truths told, and lives lost. Qing confesses her love for Wu Luan by performing the same song, we were greeted with at the beginning of the film, and as she dies in his arms, he realizes the devastating consequences of his and others actions.


In the end, like in the game of chess, only the queen (or in this case, the Empress) is left standing.  Having won the game, she goes about her business, however, fate has not yet played her last move, and one card, the card of death, has yet to be played.