Beautifully crafted romance / action flick

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2001)

How can some one say this is not a great film when it's greatness attacks your senses in a way that you can never imagine. Ang Lee really manages to create one of the most plausible romance pictures ever. I saw the film yesterday, expecting a lot from it from all the hype surrounding the film. Zhang Ziyi is one of the most beautiful oriental girls i've ever seen, and the way she performs all the fight secuences develops a dancing effect that i've never seen before. It's not that it never existed, it's just that it's almost romantic. I think of it as the way Leon (The Professional) kills, so sadly. Gee, this flick has it all. Outrageous photography, breathtaking fight scenes, amazing landscapes, real romance and great acting from all the leads. I was impressed by the way this movie came to me from the screen. I thought it was going to be just okay because all the hype had me wanting to see it so badly, but i ended up loving it and planning to see it at least 4 times more. Do yourself a favor and go see it if you hadn't. I'm glad it beat the hell out of Amores Perros at the Globes, IÃ±arritu thought he had it, but he was defeated by a way-better picture. I hope Mexican moviemakers will take a shot at a different kind of movie in a near future.