Sacrifice (China) - A very good storyline but the Ooomph Didn't Come

Sacrifice (China)
Synopsis:
This is an historical epic set in China's tumultuous Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 B.C.). It is set in the Kingdom of Jin where Zhao clan has won favor in the court of Duke Ling much to General Tu Anqi's displeasure. To add insult to injury, the young Zhao Shuo has returned from war a hero and is expecting a child with Ling's beautiful sister Zhangji where, Tu is jealous because of the love he lost and subsequent setting hi sight to the throne. Tu then plans an assassination on the Duke and frames the Zhao family into mass execution by slaughters all 300 remaining members of the Zhao clan for the killing of Duke. In a bid to save her unborn son, the pregnant Zhangji implores her doctor, Cheng Ying, to induce an early birth and adopt him. Cheng manage to hid her son aka future to the throne and reluctantly swap with her own newly born son to confuse Tu. However, due to some off timing, his son was killed together with his wife at the hand of Tu. Chen decided to take revenge by meticulous plan to making Zhao's son, Cheng Bo and Tu having son-father relationship hoping that one day Cheng Bo will kill Tu after discovering that it was Tu who killed his parents.
Review: 
I am not really keen on watching China costume epic movie but Red Cliff by John Woo really make me stand up and root for the battle scene and its war strategy. Hence, i decided to give this movie a chance since its famed director is Chen Kaige. The first half of the movie is truly engrossing with the wicked General Tu played by the brilliant Wang Xueqi (who also plays a brilliant villain in the Reign of Assassins) plotting and executing the members of Zhao. The color usage for the costumes are beautiful and sharp, where many China costume movie excels. However the main actor, Cheng Yin portray by Ge You unfortunately falls blend with less expression and didn't inject the much needed emotion aspect of the film to anchor such a theme. The second half of the movie falls short and the ending left much to desired.  
Verdict:
I give this a 3 star out of 5