Rent RED SORGHUM Instead

Rating: 6/10 (9 August 2001)

I didn't like CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (on video, dubbed in English). It looked really good, and I'm sure if I'd seen the non-dubbed version, it would have been more dramatic, but otherwise it didn't do anything for me at all. The scene where they're fighting in the trees, supposedly one of the highlights, seemed silly to me. After the first couple of fight scenes, I began fast-forwarding through the rest of them. I'm sure for some people, the way the characters floated around like Superman and all that was magical, but to me it just looked like a bunch of people swinging around on suspension wires. The effect didn't work for me at all. I've heard people talk about how exciting the action is and the sweeping drama of the story, but the story fell flat for me too; I wasn't into it for a second. I found it predictable and not at all engaging (this might have been different had I not seen the dubbed version). The photography was excellent, lots of pretty scenes, but that wasn't enough to keep me interested; I was bored through the whole thing, and by the time the ending came around, which I didn't think was much of an ending, I just didn't care. When it was over I said, "That's it?" Something happens to one of the main characters in the end, but you *know* the character will be back for the sequel (or prequel, whichever one they're going to make). I think if this movie doesn't grab you from the start with the fantastic way the characters literally move and jump around, it never will. This time next week I doubt I'll remember anything about it.
I know I'm in the minority, but really, beyond all the nice pretty pictures of the mountains and the trees, etc., I wasn't engaged by this film at all. I know most people seem to love it, but there will be others who will wonder what all the fuss is about.
If you want to watch a beautifully photographed, engaging and dramatic film from China, pick up RED SORGHUM; it clashes the fantastic with reality in a way CROUCHING TIGER never even approaches.