A great war epic that spreads a message of peace rather than violence, A Battle of Wits is one of the most important and entertaining Chinese films of the year.
Written, directed and produced by Jacob Cheung Chi-leung, the film is adapted from a popular and critically acclaimed manga that follows the adventures of a warrior pacifist in China during the Warring Kingdoms era two thousand years ago.
The main character, Ge Li, is played by the charismatic singer-actor Andy Lau Tak-wah. He is a disciple of Mozi, whose school of thought emphasises the principle of universal love. He travels to a weak city-state to help the 4,000 people there to battle the all-conquering army of Zhao.
The film is Cheung's dream project. The filmmaker, best known for his realistic small-scale dramas that touch on social and cultural issues, spent 10 years convincing sceptical sponsors to invest in the epic.
While it is far from perfect, A Battle of Wits is a very beautiful film that should silence the critics. The battle scenes rank among the best for a Chinese production, and the larger-than-life characters have Shakespearean dimensions.
The romance subplot involving Ge and a female warrior played by mainland actress Fan Bingbing, is powerful and intense.