Not As Great As Advertised

Rating: 4/10 (12 March 2001)

I'm sorry but this movie is way too over-hyped. Don't get me wrong, it's good but not as great as advertized. The characters are shallow and sadly underdeveloped, the acting was very weak (especially Chow Yun-Fat who was inexplicably terrible in this film) and, yes, only one fight scene (the secon fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang ZiYi towards the end of the film) was any good. The plot is nowhere near being original and the characters have no real motivation. Even worse, the best performance in the film (Cheng Pei-pei as Jade Fox) was sadly all too short. I could not care about Li Mu Bai's fate since I felt nothing for him. As much as I wanted to feel something for Jade Fox (again, the best performance in the whole film) but she was underdeveloped. Cheng Pei-pei impressed me so much as an actress that, while watching the film, I was hoping for a five to ten minute monologue with her detailing her past with Li Mu Bai's teacher. Then I could decide wether I felt her character was wronged, misguided, or just plain evil. Jen was simply annoying and I was hoping for her death all throughout the film. I love Michelle Yeoh as an actress and, despite a solid performance, I felt she was not at her best. Both romances were quite boring and I only had marginal interest in the romance relating to Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien because I felt a degree of simpathy for Shu Lien (due greatly to Michelle Yeoh's performance). I'm a HUGE Chow Yun-Fat fan which is why I was horrified at his "I'm only here to sell this movie" cardboard cut-out performance. Had this been the first film I had ever seen him in, I'd never give anything he ever starred in even a glance.
The fights were pathetic save for that second fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. Nuff said.
As for the score, I only noticed there was music in this film during the awful desert flashback scene. To be honest, I wish I hadn't noticed the uninspired music at all.
The cinematography was nothing to write home about. The scenery and settings were gorgeous but the cinematography itself was quite ameteurish. The sets were gorgeous and inmense and the supporting characters were fun and well acted.
Despite the fact that it may sound like I hate this film. In all honesty, I don't. It was filled with good intentions but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The film was way too hyped when it is nothing more than an average weekend rental.
It's by no means terrible but by no means the greatest movie of this or any year.
Well, those are my two cents.