Strange and spectacular

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2001)

The most breathtakingly beautiful film I've ever seen (and heard- the music is wonderful). All the best elements of the romance, martial arts, and dramatic genres- with a little bit of Western thrown in, too. Surprisingly deep plot, full of unrequited love, jealousy, and nobility gone awry. Comparing this movie to the standard Hong Kong chopsocky trash is like comparing good music to the Backstreet Boys'- it's just a completely different frame of reference. The flying stunts were somewhat distracting at first, but were more palatable later when seen as a metaphor for the supernatural martial arts (and spiritual) abilities of some of the characters. Truly amazing, strange and original.