It's not really a martial arts flick

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2008)

Okay, this movie is decent, but it's not one of the best films of all time. It is certainly stylish, well thought-out, well acted and innovative in the elements that are combined in its execution, but the characters and story do not allow it to attain the status of masterpiece.
My main problem is that the background is sort of a vague fantasy. It is a distinct period piece with generous creative liberties taken on behalf of the director. We know it is Qing China based on the family life of Jen (Ziyi Zhang) but nothing in the film is particularly historical. There are vague horde-like bandits, Wudang martial arts, random snippets of "philosophy" that sound like they could possibly be Buddhist or Daoist, yet nothing is concrete. This kinda irked me when I watched the movie recently. Despite appearing as a religious or martial arts-themed film, the film doesn't investigate either of those things.
I also didn't particularly care for any of the characters. No one had a real sense of humor and the love theme (THE theme) struck me as cliché and predictable. The main character, Jen, is supposed to be some kind of symbol of tortured feminism from this period (she can't be happy anywhere in this society) but it didn't come across very eloquently. I found her a real hassle to watch on-screen. Or maybe that's the point?
The musical score was a bit much. I felt the film-makers were relying a bit too much on the music. Perhaps the film is indeed rather balanced, in making sure not to leave the viewer's attention on any one technical aspect, so in that regard it is a very good mainstream cinematic work. But the shots of the Gobi Desert "contrasted" against Yo-Yo Ma's cello playing was just over-saturation and bordered on self-parody.
I don't think this or anything else I've seen by Ang Lee is necessarily a masterpiece (although I should point out I have not seen Brokeback Mountain or Lust/Caution). But it is a very solid, entertaining film.