This is what filmmaking should be.

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2001)

If every other movie of 2000 had been miserable, this film alone would have redeemed the entire year. I have never seen such an amazing film. The locations, the cast, the action sequences, the sets, the theme - all so beautiful you want to weep for sheer joy - that is, when you aren't laughing out loud at the audacity of the sequences. This is what filmmaking should be, and it is easily the best film Ang Lee has ever done.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a timeless story of achingly beautiful magical realism. The film seems to have something for everyone; battles to the death, intrigue, revenge, 2 epic love stories, humor, excellent acting and majestic filming. And for those of you with a feminist bent, there is nothing better than seeing a 16 year old girl beat the pants off of a bar-full of trained assassins, mocking them as she goes. In the final big fight scene between the female leads, I believe they manage to showcase every weapon known to a Chinese warrior.
The fight scenes were so fast-paced that I have already vowed to see the movie again, to better appreciate all of the fancy foot and handwork going on. But I want to see it again anyway - how often do you find yourself saying, "Wow," as the screen goes black and the credits start to roll?