Delightful spiritual journey

Rating: 10/10 (29 January 2001)

Having seen Ann Lee's some critical films (The Wedding Banquet, The Ice Storm, Sense and Sensibility, and CTHD), I have to say that Lee is a wonderful story teller, whose work needs to be digested slowly. If you can sit through the developing part of his movie, you will be rewarded greatly at the end.
Thanks to the amazing fight sequences, CTHD doesn't require that much patience to appreciate. However, the fight sequences are not mere show-offs. They come alone with character development. Some of the fight scenes may seem familiar for martial-art movie fans, but I've found more surprises within the stunt fights. Those surprises alone have won my respect and recognition for Ann Lee's talent.
The ending is also beautiful. I personally take it as an emotional outlet rather than literal fact. It makes a perfect circuit of my emotional flow, and that makes me want to see the movie again right after I leave the theater. Luckily I have possessed the DVD now, so I can watch it again and again, every time a delightful spiritual journey.