Producer: Wang Zhongjun

A well made drama that follows the lives of a small group of characters after an horrific event, ‘Aftershock’ may disappoint those looking for the regular disaster movie tropes but those in the mood for a rewarding character piece should check it out.

A personal story told on a grand scale ‘Assembly’ is as good as war flicks get, finding a near perfect balance between a personal journey and large scale combat.

It will probably be appreciated much more by the local audience but there is enough to enjoy for international viewers.

While it doesn’t always engage and could have used a little more oomph come the second half, Feng Xiaogang’s film is still a decent attempt at dynasty drama.

It is an elegant, richly designed and photographed tale of love from beyond the grave that rarely bothers itself with the imagery or shock-tactic clichés of the genre.