Same movie, different audiences

Rating: 10/10 (1 September 2002)

This is a response to all the HATE-reviews I've read/heard about "crouching tiger". As I'm personally quite crazy about "crouching tiger"-- it upset me initially to know that some people dont think much of the movie. But I thought about it and came to 2 possible conclusions: either the movie we each saw as "crouching tiger" was not the same movie OR each of us who watch the movie was different.
Well, apart from some dubbing and the size of the screen (home/theatre), I'm quite sure we all saw the same movie. However, what each of use wanted to see in a movie or in "crouching tiger" is probably quite different. So, without using any big words or labels, these are the things I LOVE about "crouching tiger":-
1) Michelle Yeoh. She is not at her most beautiful here (she's suppose to be a middle-aged woman) but I found the firm but gentle demeanour she portrayed here full of grace and wisdom. Okay x 2, I'm a fan.
2) The "Flying". To me, this is exactly how the "lightening skills" dreamed up by martial arts novelists should be portrayed. Quiet and effortless. It also helped that the cameraman was strung up on a wire to chase the "flying" actors - I felt like I was flying with them.
3) The Cinematography. I'm not just talking about the mountains and the desert-but also the 2 CGIs shots of old Beijing in daytime and at night. The various sets/buildings used/created felt old and lived in to me and there is what I would call the general "water-colour" feel of the movie. BTW, I like Chinese ink-paintings.
4) The Story/Directing. The story is extremely old-fashioned (the book that the movie was based on has been around for decades) but the way it was developed in the movie allowed me to empathise with characters. But I can understand that the story would be a bit complicated for people who didn't know any martial arts novels/movies beforehand. It could also be boring for people who didn't want to hear about retiring swordsmen.
5) Martial Arts Choreography. Finally, I get to see some martial arts moves done in real-time and in sequence instead of through lots of "snappy" editing and slow-motion. With real-time fight sequences, I get very caught up following each attack, parry and counter-attack.... Watch for Michelle Yeoh's 3 consecutive round-house kicks when she first fights Zhang Ziyi as well as Zhang Ziyi's consecutive forehand & backhand-parries with the Green Destiny in their second fight together.
I agree with the pace was slow, the story was not clever/original, etc.. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the movie because I dont need a movie to be fast or clever for me to enjoy it. Yeah X 3, I admit that I watch foreign/art movies quite frequently.
I think all the reviewers who said the movie was "boring" or "stupid" were being honest about their opinions. But to all the people who dont think that "crouching tiger" deserves to be on the IMDB lists, you may be glad to know that the majority of my friends agrees with you. However, it appears that on the review boards, you guys are in the minority.