Well, what can you say?

Rating: 8/10 (19 July 2002)

I first saw this film, not in the cinema, as I had hoped, but on DVD. Never have been as gobsmacked. I watched 'The Matrix' the day before, but it's got nothing on this. Nothing. Well done Ang Lee (although, I'm ashamed to say, I hadn't really heard of him before this).
Firstly the action. WOW. When I heard from a friend that the same martial arts trainer that was used for 'The Matrix' had worked on this, I thought, cool, he could do more with (for lack of a better word) ninjas than guns. And I was not disappointed.
The first action scene, when the sword is stolen for the first time, blew me away. I had never seen anything like it before (having not yet saw, once again ashamed, Iron Monkey). The pure fluidity of the movements, the pace, even though they moved quite slowly through the air, the technique of the actors chosen. All were amazing.
Secondly, the story. I personally am not very used to the type of plots that appear from the Far East. But I was pleasantly surprised, it was a good, well paced romantic story, that entwined with the action, and the action entwined with it. Perfect.
9/10