The Banquet is a historical drama film directed by Feng Xiaogang and released in 2006. The film is based on William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, and it tells a story of political intrigue, romantic betrayal, and bloody revenge in ancient China.
The story is set in the Tang Dynasty, where corruption and cruelty have become rampant. The Emperor Li (Ge You) and Empress Wan (Fan Bingbing) rule the kingdom with an iron fist, but their authority is threatened by rebellion and external enemies. The Crown Prince Wan (Daniel Wu) is a weak and indecisive heir, while the General Guangming (Zhang Ziyi) is a patriotic warrior who holds a grudge against the Emperor for betraying her family.
The plot thickens when the Minister Yin (Ma Jingwu) is murdered, and his son Wu Luan (Daniel Wu), who has been exiled to a Buddhist monastery, returns to attend a grand banquet hosted by the Emperor. Wu Luan is a talented actor and musician, and he uses his skills to uncover the truth about his father's death and to avenge his family. Along the way, he falls in love with the Empress Wan, who reciprocates his feelings, but their romance is doomed by their political allegiances and personal ambitions.
The Banquet is a visually stunning film, with lavish costumes, intricate sets, and epic battle scenes. The film also features a haunting musical score by Tan Dun, who won an Academy Award for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The movie was a critical and commercial success in China and abroad, and it received several awards, including Best Director and Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards.