A very good, but overrated film

Rating: 8/10 (10 March 2014)

Being more a fan of 70's Hong Kong Kung Fu films (mainly Shaw Brothers) and not a fan of more modern Kung Fu films that overuse CGI, I was reluctant at first to see this film. However, after reading many positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint me. In fact, it impressed. However, I still believe that this film is kinda overrated.
The plot is somewhat complex, although easy to understand, and has to do with a rare Sword of great power, the Green Destiny Sword, being stolen, a young aristocratic woman, Jen Yu, who is in love with a bandit, Lo 'Dark Cloud', and a Kung Fu Master, Master Li Mu Bai, who tries to find the sword.
The plot is quite good, as well as the acting, and it is surely better (in terms of plot) than most Kung Fu films I have seen. The plot, although complex, it is, as I have already mentioned above, very easy to understand. My personally favorite character is Master Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow), who gave an excellent performance.
The fight scenes, although sometimes overuse the supernatural element, are quite good. While not as good as in old 70's Kung Fu movies, the choreography is exciting and very well done.
Overall, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the better Kung Fu films I have seen. But still, I believe that people who view this as the "best" Kung Fu movie or a "masterpiece" are overrating it. Although it is a quite good movie and it impressed me, I have seen other Kung Fu movies which I consider better, like One Armed Swordsman (1967), Blood Brothers (1973), Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) and Young Master (1980). So, while a quite good film, I would not say that it is the best Kung Fu film.