A beautiful hodgepodge

Rating: 7/10 (5 February 2005)

I have to disclaim this review by first explaining that it would not originally have been my choice of movies to go see. I don't usually pick Chinese Martial Arts movies out of a crowd. However, I'd heard from so many people how amazing it is, so I decided to see for myself.
My opinion is mixed. The best parts of the movie are the visuals and special effects. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed, resembling artistic dancing. The fantasy sequences of people flying and standing on treetops are especially breathtaking, as is the scenery and cinematography.
The acting was also fairly good, with performances by Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh, among others. The only really noteworthy performance, in my opinion, was given by Zhang Ziyi as Jen, the confused daughter of the Governor. She came across as convincing in portraying a mix of naiveté, confusion, wistfulness, and prodigious talent, all hidden between a hostile exterior.
Where the movie falls apart is with the plot. I found that it lacked direction, seeming to travel haphazardly in one direction and then another. Ask any writer or English teacher what makes a good story, and they'll reply that it has to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Seems simple, right? Well, that basic principle got lost somewhere along the way with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Characters change their missions almost by the minute. Flashbacks occur at odd times. The love stories seem to be thrown in simply to appeal to a Hollywood audience, without any real need for them in the plot. The result is somewhat of a hodgepodge.
Of course, it's a beautiful hodgepodge to watch. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is worth seeing in theatres simply for the visuals. The bigger the screen, the better. It doesn't quite translate to DVD with quite the same effect.