Finally decided to post my review for this movie since there isn't one, but I have first to say that's totally an unpopular opinion! I always wanted to write about this movie because I loved it and still I think it's so underrated though I can totally understand why people were disappointed and did not like Shanghai Triad as much as other Zhang Yimou's movies such as "Raise the Red Lantern", "To Live", '' House of Flying Daggers'' etc. I read diverse opinions here and there and why people didn't like it that much, expecting something else considering it's a crime movie, but what I can tell is that all what happened was in my opinion really logical and I knew it would be like that and not otherwise. Maybe it's because I enjoy more those type of stories which might not be everyone cup of tea. I found the first part of the movie a bit too slow, everything was shown from Shuisheng's point of view and the second part was my fave, I simply loved it, In the first half of the movie I did not like JingBao's behaviour she was in my opinion too strict, capricious, mean and too superficial but in the second half I simply fell for her, I loved how she showed such a different side of her. This is how I rated this movie : A 7 for the first 45 mins because like I said they were a bit slow but I still enjoyed the scenes with JingBao in the Cabaret, her singing and strong presence. The second half was simply a pure 10 for me, JB singing with Aijao and Shuisheng, plus all her scenes with Aijao's mothers were so touching and beautiful in my opinion, not to mention the setting with the gorgeous and breathtaking sceneries. Overall : 8.5. This movie is simply one of my favourite Zhang Yimou's, I'd say My 5th favourite, that's how much I loved it. I gave not less than a good 8,5. It's purely subjective and maybe I'm among the few who loved this movie but simply I was amazed by Gong Li's wonderful acting, the sceneries and the touching scenes with the little boy and little girl. Gong Li as always was ravishing, outstanding and a pure beauty, making this movie even more enjoyable for me. Would recomment it at least to her fans.