Amazing this plodding bore has conned so many.

Rating: 3/10 (27 April 2004)

I've given this movie some points because there are some technical areas which are done more than competently... ...A great deal more than competently, splendidly in fact. What a waste. Hitchcock said the 3 things to make a great movie were 'a great script, a great script and a great script'. All of the talented film makers involved in this drivel must have been creaming themselves so heavily in an orgy of self-congratulation that they neglected they were making a movie and less forgivably, being a kung-fu movie, an entertainment.
This dog failed to entertain utterly. Chow Yun Fat is a great favourite of mine and so obviously they ruined it by giving him a character with no character. Same with Yeoh. The script was risible and self-important.
It went on forever, I couldn't watch it in one sitting.
The main part of the film was the fight sequences. I have never been so bored in any film. I have no problem with fantasy and can suspend disbelief (I like LOTR well enough for example) but I do have problems with something that tries to justify its unbelievable nature by being boring. Episodes of Monkey were more engrossing.
A terrible movie, a terrible waste of time and talent. Impressive to those who'd go 'ooh' at a Jean Michelle jarre light show.
Rubbish. Watch Enter the Dragon instead or if you like Mr. Chow, Hard Boiled.