Completely absorbing

Rating: 10/10 (1 October 2006)

The incredible nature of this movie lies in the nature of the incredible... and making it believable. Of course, in reality, I don't believe that people can fly. But, for this two hours, there was not one thing about transcending to higher plane of existence and having that transcendence manifest itself as hyper-natural abilities that did not make sense. Certainly, it was much more realistic than the common one-punch knockout so easily accepted in action films today. The incredible cinematography and heart-wrenching main theme were only prologue to an even more incredible story, one of love and hate that combined with angst and hope and heartbreak to form a web that the viewer, if one is of any feeling and emotion at all, could not help but be tangled in. Those who have less-than-stellar appreciation for this outstanding cinematic masterpiece mainly complain that they were anticipating something other than what this film gave them, but have little issue with the film itself not delivering well what it delivers: the consummation and pain of new love contrasted with the heartbreaking tragedy of love that endures only through a veil of tradition and honor.