History Film / LegendOfTheBlackScorpion

* ConspicuousCG: Some of the blood effects look a little out of place.

* {{Fanservice}}/MaleGaze: Lingering shots of Zhang Ziyi in her birthday suit are littered throughout the film, including a BathtubScene.

* BlackWidow: [[spoiler:The Empress only married for power. Once she was in position, she murdered her husband.]]

* {{Fanservice}}/MaleGaze: Lingering shots of Zhang Ziyi in her birthday suit are littered throughout the first half of the film, including a BathtubScene.

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: The general response to the Empress. There were those who had misgivings about her at the beginning, but by the end virtually everyone hates her.

* AllForNothing: [[spoiler: Wan ultimately ends up losing everything she actually loved in her grab for power. Then someone killed her.]]

* EvilUncle: That whole killing Wu Luan's father and taking the throne thing.

* ReassignedToAntarctica: Wu Luan is made an ambassador to Khitan. Everybody knows he's really being sent to his death for pissing off his uncle.

* StalkerWithACrush: The Emperor has been watching Wan for a long time before they marry. He's very familiar with her routines for removing her makeup and entering the bath.

* DroppedABridgeOnHim: PlayedForDrama. [[spoiler: Empress Wan is abruptly killed by an unknown assassin at the very end of the film, with no warning and very little foreshadowing.]]

* AmbitionIsEvil: [[spoiler:Wan ultimately ends up losing everything she actually loved in her grab for power. Then someone killed her.]]

* WomanInBlack: The Empress wears either black or red for most of the film. Black is worn particularly in scenes where she's quietly scaring the crap out of everybody.

Because of the time it was made, the similar setting and themes, and the fact that Creator/GongLi was originally slotted for the role of the [[ZhangZiyi Empress]], the movie is often compared with ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower''.

''The Night Banquet'', known also by its international release title ''Legend of the Black Scorpion'', is a 2006 {{wuxia}} adaptation of Shakespeare's ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', with a few notable changes and twists. Gertrude's {{expy}}, the Empress Wan, is rewritten as a much younger and more ambitious woman, who is playing a game of her own as the revenge plot marches on.

In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Wu Luan is a prince who has left home to pursue the arts to forget his heartbreak, since his father has married Wan, the woman he loves. Three years later, his uncle murders his father and takes the throne and Wan for himself. Wu Luan returns to court at the summons of the Empress to protect him from assassination attempts, and from here he attempts to learn the truth of his father's death and exact revenge on his uncle, while struggling to come to terms with his feelings for his step-mother and his betrothed, the devoted [[TheOphelia Qing]].

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The role of the Empress was originally intended for Creator/GongLi, who was busy with ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower'', or another actress of that age like MaggieCheung. When ZhangZiyi took the role, the character was aged down and the story was rewritten to allow for Wan to be younger than Wu Luan.

* WomanInWhite: The Empress at the beginning of the film, and during her first on-screen meeting with Wu Luan. This is an emphasis of her lost childhood innocence and purity.
** Qing is generally seen wearing more white than most other characters, but it isn't until the end she's dressed all in white. Echoing Wu Luan's introduction, Qing performs at the banquet wearing the same pure white outfit and the mask that has become increasingly stained and black. [[spoiler: By the end she is dying, and Wu Luan finally realizes he loves her.]]

* ManInWhite: Wu Luan wears white throughout most of the film while most of the cast is wearing some combination of red and black, highlighting his loneliness, lack of allies at court, and purity. His mask on the other hand turns increasingly dark as the court becomes more corrupt.

* MeaningfulEcho: "Do you know why I love this colour...?"
* MissingMom: There is no mention of Wu Luan's actual mother. Or Qing and Yin Sun's mother.

* OhCrap: During the banquet, when characters realize they, or someone they love, is going to be or has been poisoned.

* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Qing and the Empress. In their first scene together, they're even wearing white and black respectively.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Disregarding the fact [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity she's gone slightly loopy by this point]], [[spoiler:[[SheIsTheKing Emperor Wan]] is left desolate and alone by the end.]]

* HotMom: The Empress, who is four years younger than Wu Luan. Justified in that she is his stepmother and was engaged to him before marrying his father.

* AmbitionIsEvil: [[spoiler: Wan ultimately ends up losing everything she actually loved in her grab for power. Then someone killed her.]]

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Pei Hong is executed by being beaten to death. All the more cruel and unusual for the fact that he invented the method.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: The Emperor's death is ultimately rather pathetic as he realizes Wan loathes him. He deliberately poisons himself with the cup she prepared for him.]]
* DueToTheDead: One of the Emperor's [[PetTheDog rare good moments]] involves ordering that [[spoiler:Qing have a state funeral.]]

* BloodFromTheMouth: [[spoiler: Qing's death.]]

''The Night Banquet'', known also by its international release title ''Legend of the Black Scorpion'' is a 2006 {{wuxia}} adaptation of Shakespeare's ''{{Hamlet}}'', with a few notable changes and twists. Gertrude's {{expy}}, the Empress Wan, is rewritten as a much younger and more ambitious woman, who is playing a game of her own as the revenge plot marches on.

* MeaningfulEcho: "Do you know why I love this colour?..."

* BlackWidow: [[spoiler: The empress only married for power. Once she was in position, she murdered her husband.]]

* BloodIsSquickerInWater: Blood flowing into water is something of a motif in the film. At one point the emperor dropping a red grape into water evokes earlier examples of actual blood in water and signals that an execution is coming.

* DefrostingIceQueen: The emperor thinks this is what his wife is, even telling her if she is a lump of ice, she will melt in his mouth.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The role of the empress was originally intended for Creator/GongLi, who was busy with ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower'', or another actress of that age like MaggieCheung. When ZhangZiyi took the role, the character was aged down and the story was rewritten to allow for Wan to be of an age with Wu Luan.

* SarcasticClapping: After Wu Luan's play, the emperor claps, signalling that the audience may applaud. But what happens immediately following shows that he got his nephew's challenge and is going to kill him.

* StalkerWithACrush: The emperor has been watching Wan for a long time before they marry. He's very familiar with her routines for removing her makeup and entering the bath.

Because of the time it was made, the similar setting and themes, and the fact that Gong Li was originally slotted for the role of the [[ZhangZiyi Empress]], the movie is often compared with ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower''.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The role of the empress was originally intended for GongLi, who was busy with ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower'', or another actress of that age like MaggieCheung. When ZhangZiyi took the role, the character was aged down and the story was rewritten to allow for Wan to be of an age with Wu Luan.

* CryForTheDevil: It's hard not to feel a little sorry for [[spoiler:the Emperor when he realises he was just another pawn in the Empress's plan, and accepts death at her hands because "if it is your will, how can I refuse?" He dies in her lap.]]

* PyrrhicVictory: [[spoiler:The Empress wins the throne, but loses the man she loves in the process; first to another woman, and then literally when he dies.]]

* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Qing and the Empress.

* ManInWhite: Wu Luan wears white throughout most of the film while most of the cast is wearing some combination of red and black. His mask on the other hand turns increasingly dark as the court becomes more corrupt.
* ManipulativeBastard: The Empress.

* StarCrossedLovers: Wu Luan, originally with Wan, and then with Qing. The crossing of their stars in both cases is highlighted by the fact that in the scenes where the couples are closest to reaching their dreams of a relationship, [[ManInWhite Wu Luan]] and [[WomanInWhite Wan/Qing]] are both wearing [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience all white]] and moving together in a synchronized fashion. Wu Luan spars with Wan and performs a dance with Qing.

* StarCrossedLovers: Wu Luan, originally with Wan, and then with Qing.

** Echoing Wu Luan's introduction, Qing performs at the banquet wearing the same pure white outfit and the mask that has become increasingly stained and black. [[spoiler: By the end she is dying, and Wu Luan finally realizes he loves her.]]