What's the Big Deal About This Flick?

Rating: 3/10 (12 March 2001)

I endured this movie yesterday, and I am afraid I walked out wondering what all the hullabaloo is about over this film. In its defense, I'm not used to have to read my movies and I found myself struggling to see the scene while digesting the scintillating dialogue.
It seems to me we have a film that alternates between bland conversation and unusual (to say the least) martial art fantasy sequences. So? This, then, is a classic film? Huh-uh. Different, yes, but hardly exceptional.
Who were all these people? Why should I care about any of them? At the end, what had been accomplished? Seriously, I'm not sure what the point of the film was.
While there were some clever moments (after the mauling the men took) and the photography of everyone's seemingly unlimited abilities to deflect weapons was OK, the rest left me flat.
Maybe I don't "get it". If so, I'm glad - because if this defines great film-making, I can save a lot of money on tickets. I'll stay blissfully un-enlightened and see movies I don't have to work so hard at to understand or enjoy.
Should this take the Oscar I will lose what little respect for Hollywood I had left.