History as fiction

A Terracotta Warrior 1990

Directed by Siu-Tong Ching, the film starts as a melodramatic tale of forbidden love between an official (Zhang Yimou) of the first emperor's retinue and one of the imperial concubines (Gong Li). The affair is exposed and the official is buried alive in a terracotta mould, but not before he consumes the elixir the emperor has been searching for the world over. The lovers meet again in the 1930s and Zhang, as the officer, back after 2,000 years of hibernation, goes on a Superman-style romp, leaping over buildings, hopping across car roofs, still with his pheasant-tailed cap and bonnet in place.

The Emperor's Shadow 1996

Primarily a story of two individuals - the first emperor, aka Ying Zheng, and a musician, Gao Jianli - and how their lives inter-cut each other as Ying, who knew Gao as a child, kidnaps him from the neighboring state of Yan, trying to arm-twist him into writing a paean to a newly expanded and unified China. The film, by Zhou Xiawen, packs powerful performances by two consummate actors, Jiang Wen and Ge You, as they clash over values, expansionist policies and a woman.

The Emperor and the Assassin 1998

Chen Kaige directs and also stars as Lu Buwei, the mentor, manipulator and also, purportedly, the father of Ying Zheng, the would-be first emperor. Ying sends his favorite concubine Zhao (Gong Li again) to the neighboring state of Yan, to hatch a murder plot against himself - giving him a "legitimate" reason to start a war against Yan. The scheme backfires when Zhao rejects Ying for being a bloodthirsty tyrant and falls for the assassin instead.

Hero 2002

This is Zhang Yimou's answer to the Wachowski Brothers' classy action flick (The Matrix, 1999) in which arrowheads slice raindrops in slow motion. Red and gold autumn leaves swirl and envelope two of the most stunning Chinese screen beauties (Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi) trying to outmaneuver each other, suspended in mid-air. The story, about how a band of rebels hatch a complicated plot to assassinate the first emperor, is only an excuse to feast one's eyes on grand vistas, color-coordinated sartorial marvels and almost lyrical, stylized, fight sequences.

The Myth 2005

Another story about reincarnation and unfulfilled love, told in the format of a Hong Kong martial arts action adventure film, directed by Stanley Tong. Jackie Chan plays the legendary general Meng Yi, who attracts the affections of Korean princess Ok-Soo, who is chosen to marry the first emperor. They meet again in the present when Chan, an archaeologist, enters the First Emperor's tomb to find Ok-Soo, who had consumed the elixir of life, still waiting for him.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 2008

The sequel to Hollywood blockbusters The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), this Rob Cohen-directed film shifts the scene of action from Egypt to China. Protagonists Rick and Evelyn travel to China, and run into the first emperor - back from the dead after 2,200 years and for some mysterious reason called "Emperor Han" - who wants to conquer the world with the help of his Terracotta Warriors.