Shadows in the Palace sure is a journey. You definitely have to be in a certain type of mood to watch this drama, and if that mood is lighthearted, funny, romantic, etc, then this movie is definitely not for you. This movie is like a very long and grueling road trip with many hurdles and surprises along the way. It can seem to drag on sometimes but even then, the historical setting and the mystery/surprise factor keeps it interesting. This movie isn't quite my style at all, but it still kept my on my toes, and after I finished, I was glad I watched it. There are some twists and turns in the story and the ending is ambiguous but it will definitely make you think. The cast does a great job of sucking you into the story and there is heart in this movie after all. But don't forget, some of this movie definitely falls into the horror genre and some scenes can be very difficult/painful to watch, so if you're not a fan of gore.. You can still watch the movie, there's not many of those scenes and you can just shut your eyes. Over-all it's a pretty interesting movie, although I probably won't re-watch it. Ever.