Zhang, celebrated for both masterworks (Raise the Red Lantern), and pop hits (House of Flying Daggers), can't seem to make a film that isn't visually exquisite.

The action scenes are thrilling, but this is big, big, big melodrama!... It is an interesting history, a little bit of which comes to the fore in this film.

While there are some riches to be found under the surface for anyone who feels like watching this with a flow chart, Zhang is so clearly seduced by the spell of his own movie magic that everything else feels like an inadvertent side effect.

Albeit confusing at times, Cliff Walkers is an interesting historical spy thriller that shines for its visuals. [Full review in Spanish]