I really dug the blended of different styles here. This tells the story of a protégé to a sort of mystic for the imperial court. When ominous signs are seen, the mystic foretells doom, only to find himself killed and his protégé framed and driven mad by the death of his love.
Then shit gets weird. We have shape shifters and kabuki theater and animation blended into the real life acting. This is a fantastical story told in a fantastic way....fantasy blends with reality and it never misses a beat.
The story told is sad, yet adventurous and wild. The later scenes filmed almost like the movie is a theater play are just fun.
Quite the inventive experience, and well worth watching.