Okay...did i miss something?

Rating: 5/10 (22 January 2001)

**Contains Spoiler**
I thought that I'd seen one of the worse Kung Fu movies ever made and instead i come to read tons of reviews praising it. Did I miss something? The movie is decent compared to old 70's and 80's kung fu flicks, only it tried to provide some sort of plot that doesn't work in any sense. The characters seem to move about as if there was a great busing system and they toss in a lengthy back story about the young girl and the nomad only to never really use the nomad character again. The effects are no where near spectacular and i've seen better fight scenes a thousand times, again, in old Kung Fu movies.
Next, Wudan is supposed to be some sacred art but everyone can do it. And one lady learns it entirely from a book and then teaches it to another woman who apparently learned it well enough to keep up with the great swords man played by Chow Fat. Thats one very well written book, let me tell you. On top of that the little girl learns it on her spare time. I guess all that meditating isn't really needed is it. Just grab a copy of the book and when you can, slip in a couple of training sessions here and there and BAM! You can do Wudan too! Then, my biggest gripe, the story telling. The whole movie builds this sense that Chow and Jade Fox must fight and then they cheat you with that ending that takes five seconds. Chow is hit with a poison dart and knows he will die!!! The horror. Did anyone bother to think that maybe Jade Fox would have been smart enough to keep an antidote close to her in the slight chance that while making all ten thousand darts she may get pricked??? But no, so the little girl knows how to make it and decides to ride a horse (did anyone remember that she can essentially fly) to go get it and now, after everyone has seemingly been moving from place to place with no sign of travel time she takes an eternity to get the antidote. Just enough time for Chow and Michelle Yeoh to say what they have to say before he dies and she continues on with her life of never loving him. THEN! Which is the most bizarre moment, the little girl jumps off a bridge. Leaving Michelle Yeoh and the nomad guy. I guess they'll team up in the sequel.
The movie is, plain and simple, a typical kung fu movie with american production values, meaning a big budget. If you like Kung fu movies then knock yourself out, it was fun to watch. Otherwise go into the theater ready to read and try and figure out why...WHY they show the little girl, whose father is stabbed in the head, inviting the body guard guy in, seemingly for sex, and then never show her again(and the body guard guy basically fades away after that too). WHY there are scenes where the characters sound as if they are talking in modern tongue (i.e. Nomad guy to young girl, "i would have been here sooner but there was traffic???). WHY did Sony put up money for a movie that has been done better for way less money, hundreds of times.
P.S. I would like some one who really liked this movie to e-mail me and try to show me the light. Try and show me what i am missing because i have been really shocked to find people who really thought this movie as something special.
OVERALL A FOUR(4)
Thanks.