For the casual western viewer, this period Chinese melodrama poses some real challenges. However with patience, an earnest desire to comprehend the production, and a good rewind button, the rewards are worth the effort. Ancient China, court intrigue and courtly etiquette, an evil plot, assassins, beautifully handsome young actors and actresses, and a bit of comedy for the groundlings, Love is More than a Word is a tale unfolding upon the screen as if in stunning calligraphy upon an unrolled parchment. The sets and staging are amazingly brilliant and lush in color, the costuming and makeup likewise breathtaking, the huge cast and extras all very convincing in their various rolls. Few stories of this homoerotic genre are told with such obvious material investment; one can easily believe the budget for this production was immense. Director Chen Peng has previously had a success with another similar production in this genre, Like Love, an unpretentious, lively and light-hearted tale of a college romance between a brooding, menacing undergrad, An Ziyan, and his endearingly ditzy but earnest classmate Maiding. But despite its enjoyable playfulness, where Like Love lacked for budget and production quality, this much more impressive effort shines brightly.
Not for the culturally feint hearted, the complex plot and obscure cultural touchstones make this wonderful little film a genuine effort as I have previously stated, but if you have the time and a willing heart, you won't be disappointed.

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One expects a certain degree of melodrama and cheesiness with any formulaic romance /action/bl/whatever. But this goes overboard without a life preserver. Yes the actors are handsome and the teasing genuine, the comstuming adequate as are the sets, but if you're looking for a three dimensional character, forget it. After 20 episodes I thought finally we had something interesting. Could we be touching the human condition in the character of Wang Zhi Shui, whose background story was full of pathos? But no sooner had I fallen under the charm of a rich kid taking a poor suffering kid into his home and heart, than we see the wretch throwing eggs at the co-stars sister in a silly motivation that came off more like misogyny . In fact the way the sister character is treated throughout the entire production simply screams, "China!? Get into the 20th century at least on women's issues!" The characters are one dimensional and border on the offensive. You'll find more depth in a swimming pool.

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Sublime

Other reviewers have described this film as subtle and hypnotic. To this I would add intense and profoundly moody. The directors pacing is intense and the cinematography beautiful. The plot itself is somewhat perplexing, as one cannot quite figure out exactly what the relationship is between Seiryo and his female interest Shino. All of this achieves a kind of beautiful foreboding atmosphere.The chemistry between these two lead actors is such that their lack of any follow up projects together these past few years is a shame . Many films you can watch one time, enjoy them adequately and be done with them but not this one. It lingers and almost disturbs your conscience. Overall well worth the time.

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