Proper Fantasy Film Making

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2002)

This is a marvellous film, a classic good vs. evil battle, with sweeping scenery, with epic battle, of fighting for what is right, and of individuals finding peace. And, yes, there are some spectacular fight sequences in the film, but to rate it solely on them is to miss the point. I dont think this is a Kung-Fu movie at all, its just a movie that has Kung-Fu in it. If all I wanted to see was fighting I wouldnt go to the cinema. I go to see a good story, well told, and this was certainly that. I was utterly absorbed.
Making films like this which are intended to appeal to the mass market without the use of English is also a very welcome step, as is the lack of a conventional 'happy ending'. This film is not instant gratification, which most of the cinema going public now seem to demand, and I for one am glad of it.
I honestly cant think how Ang Lee, possibly the best director working today, could make this film it any better. To the detractors in here critisising the film on the basis that people cant fly, well, no. I cant fly. Nor can you. But this is a FANTASY. That means that the content need not reflect reality all that closely. I think it unlikely that a small ring owned by a hobbit can control all the evil in the universe, but it didnt stop me enjoying a film about that.
The high rating in the top 250 is richly deserved, 10/10 every time.