The meaty role of warlord Cao Cao is anchored by the acting prowess of the film's iconic star, Chow Yun Fat, who, with his age and experience, fits the role to a T.
What's less conventional is how the story uses a female character, Ling Ju (Liu Yifei), to take on the task of narration as she witnesses history in the making.
We first see young Ling Ju being rounded up with her childhood pal, Mu Shun, and forced to learn martial arts alongside other orphans in a military boot camp.
The purpose of this clandestine venture is to train the children of Cao Cao's dead enemies so that, in time to come, they can carry out the assassination of Cao Cao.
Ling Ju and Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi) later infiltrate Bronze Sparrow Tower, where the ageing Cao Cao resides.
As Cao Cao's favourite palace maid, she realises that there may be others who are similarly thirsting for his blood.
There is Emperor Xian (Alec Su), a puppet ruler under Cao Cao's control, who may have some dirty tricks up his sleeve, even though he appears more interested in artistic pursuits over his kingdom's affairs.
Then, there is Cao Pi (Qiu Xinzhi), Cao Cao's son, who is eyeing the throne with great impatience.
Liu, previously seen in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011), impresses with her beauty and elegance.
More importantly, her character serves as a counterpoint to Cao Cao's steely demeanour, while occasionally bringing out his tenderer side.
The relationship between Ling Ju and Cao Cao reminds me of the danger and deception lurking beneath the tumultuous affair between the characters played by Tony Leung and Tang Wei in Lust, Caution (2007), though on a less-intense level.
As Ling Ju gets to know Cao Cao better, she can't help feeling a surge of admiration and affection but, ultimately, her heart belongs to Mu Shun.
So, it's a significant flaw that Hiroshi is miscast in his role here, and viewers would likely find it hard to accept the bond between the two onscreen lovers.
Except for a couple of sequences that feel a little fake due to the use of computer graphics, The Assassins boasts impressive sets, costumes and production values, backed by cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding and art director Yohei Taneda.
If you're hankering for non-stop majestic battle scenes, you'd be disappointed.
This film focuses more on Cao Cao's character, his inner turmoil and the secret conspiracies brewing around him.
Wang Bin, who co-wrote Hero (2002) and House Of Flying Daggers (2004), steers clear of melodrama in his screenplay, while conjuring tension in outlining Cao Cao's relationships with Ling Ju, Cao Pi and Emperor Xian.
Expect a more positive portrayal, compared to Cao Cao's vilification in the Chinese literary classic, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms.
It's to Chow's credit that his complicated character's internal conflict - between nobility, passion and loneliness, as well as the traits of suspicion and ruthlessness - is brought out masterfully.