A MASTERPIECE! Here are a few notes to help appreciate this film:

Rating: Null/10 (30 December 2000)

With an IMDB rating of 8.8 and rave reviews, if you don't like it, then I guess you just don't understand the beautiful complexity of this film. Here are a few notes:
1. This is a multi-layered film, of suppressed romance, Taoist spirituality, martial art choreography, tragedy, and much more. Even the title suggests (in Chinese) that everybody in the film is a kind of "hidden dragon".
2. The story is from a 4 volume (Chinese of course) novel of the early 20th Century.
3. The music includes the genius of Yo Yo Ma's cello and Coco Lee's singing (she was a Miss Chinese America pagent winner).
4. It may be obvious but needs to be said: CTHD is refreshingly NOT a Hollywood film! There is so much cultural style and depth!
5. The women AND men are strong and full of 'eye appeal', and both excel in the fight scenes as well as exhibiting genuine emotions. A marvel of brilliant marketing!
6. The ENDING, which seems to confuse many viewers, must be interpreted at a symbolic, spiritual, and perhaps mythological level. If you only see it on a superficial level, then you will only get the unsatisfying superficial meaning.
7. The SCENERY includes the Gobi Desert, Yellow Mountain, and a bamboo forest. Breath-taking!
8. The script, story, costumes, acting, cinematography, editing: all 10 out of 10. It is rare to see all of this superbly done in one film.
A MASTERPIECE THAT SETS NEW STANDARDS IN FILM-MAKING.