Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008)

More HK movies. This one has Andy Lau in it, which automatically means that the plot is about deception and being witty, which it is.

It was nearly the end of the Three Kingdoms Period in the war between the states of Cao(or Tsao) and Liu. The generals of the time were shrewed strategists, resulting in many surprising upsets in battle. In an attempt to end the war, the Kingdom of Liu executes a plan to crush the cities of Cao and sends their greatest general (Andy Lau) to do it. But the plan is cut short by the scheming granddaughter of emperor Cao, driving the armies of Liu into the hills where they are annihilated.

At the prospect of his impending death, Andy Lau reflects upon his lifetime spent on warfare. "What have we accomplished in our pursuit to unite the kingdoms? Where is the peace we fought for?", he asks.

This same idea is the theme of the movie Hero. It says that you must sacrifice your own ideals to allow "One China" to exist, which, surprisingly enough, is how Chinese people justify killing Tibetan monks, torturing political dissidents, and other crazy things. It is considered noble and wise to give up in the face of futility. Funny isn't it, how eagerly Chinese people are used as pawns?

Ending line: "The long united must divide and the long divided must unite."
Rating: 70%