I get the idea behind jazzing up historical dramas. It's one thing to learn about battles in school while staving off the urge to nap, but to see them played out before our very eyes is a different thing entirely.  Forget facts and statistics; straight-up bloodshed is much more photogenic. Take An Empress and the Warriors, for example. It's a Chinese epic cast in the same vein as Curse of the Golden Flower and Hero. Here we have a film that ups the ante in nearly every department; it's big on visuals, big on action -- and, unfortunately, big on convention. Although its scope appears expansive and doubly impressive, An Empress and the Warriors fails to offer a story to match, succumbing to that most cruel and crippling of maladies: melodrama.

As our story begins, the kingdom of Yan faces tumultuous times. The nation is engaged in a struggle against the invading Zhao armies, a skirmish that takes the life of Yan's ruler (Liu Wei Hua). With the throne now vacant, trusted soldier Xuehu (Donnie Yen) must lead Yan's people to victory. Xuehu quickly abdicates in favor of Princess Feier (Kelly Chen), whose reign proves to be short-lived. Ambushed by the forces of the traitorous Hu Ba (Guo Xiao Dong), the princess finds shelter with a kindly doctor (Leon Lai) who turns her on to the plight of her subjects. Feier sets out to use her newfound humility to rid Yan of war, but there's still some work to be done. Hu Ba has designs on the throne and has amassed an army to help him seize it, coaxing Xuehu and Feier into battle one last time for the good of the kingdom.

Convention is a double-edged sword. Familiarity with a certain type of story can put viewers in the right mood and give them an idea of what to expect. But it can also be used as a crutch for creatively sterile filmmakers who wish to be excused from having to use their imaginations. An Empress and the Warriors, a well-intentioned and by no means lazy work, feels like it's been glancing at someone else's homework. In technical terms, the film seems as ambitious as they come. While not as gob-smackingly gorgeous as a House of Flying Daggers, it works wonders with a modest budget of $15 million. Capturing your gaze right off the bat is the costume design, ranging from heaping helpings of armor to the simple yet fetching attire Feier dons while bonding with the good doctor. Well-balanced as well is the action, which comes across as suitably epic and punch-packing without outliving its effectiveness. A little visual pizzaz also enters the mix, particularly in an assault on the doctor's treehouse pad.

Still, there comes a time when this film feels too good to be true. So much has boosted the picture's favor at the start, so the inkling of an imminent catch puts your optimism in a half nelson. An Empress and the Warriors begins to disappoint when it disregards the humanity of its characters in the name of making a Statement. Not a mere moral nugget to tide the masses over, mind you, but rather a message of such apparent importance, the next hour and a half must be devoted to explaining it in great detail. The viewer becomes all too aware about being in the presence of characters, not people they've grown to empathize with respect on their own terms. 'Tis a shame, since the acting is consistently solid; Dong gets jilted as a cookie-cutter bad guy, but Yen is in prime period action form, and Chen plays the strong-willed princess well without delving into the realm of stereotypes.

Watching An Empress and the Warriors reminds me of the lake scene in Frankenstein. You know, the one where Karloff's monster plays ever so delicately with a little girl, only for things to turn grim when confusion sets in. It's an extreme example, yes, but An Empress and the Warriors operates on the same wavelength. When it sticks to basics, it works like a charm, but when the story enters territory requiring a certain amount of tact, the film ends up chucking its subtlety out with the trash.

MY RATING: ** (out of ****)

(Released by The Weinsten Company; not rated by MPAA.)

Review also featured on: www.passportcinema.com .