Last year saw a large number of espionage dramas, and the Huayi Brothers did not want to be left out. The largest private entertainment company in China, it assembled a cast of A-list stars and delivered "The Message" on Sept. 29, 2009. It recreated the War of Resistance against Japan, with the atmosphere really hitting the mark. The costumes were particularly authentic. The leading cast members delivered strong performances, especially Huang Xiaoming, who played a Japanese officer that might be his best role to date. The story, full of twists and turns, can really hold audiences on the edge of their seats. The movie raked in more than 216 million yuan (US$31.6 million) in ticket sales.