High Expectations, Mediocre movie

Rating: 3/10 (28 November 2017)

I consider myself open-minded, I'm curious about any movie that stirs interest among other people.
I've no problems with foreign movies, as long as I can understand them (or can find a decently subtitled edit) I watch them eagerly.
So when I say I'm very disappointed by 'Crouching tiger,hidden Dragon' it's not out of prejudice, or for it being unfamiliar with my usual choices.
It really is mediocre, considering the budget and the target genre.
Cinematography is good (and that's why is 3/10), the rest of it is null or minus.
Story is void. The beginning hints some good backstory, which soon turns out absurd and very weak. Scenes follow each other without a real plot.
The timing is really bad (seriously, a 20' flashback with nearly NO connection to the main action?).
Fights are good, but as many say, nothing special considering other movies of the same era (or older).
Character development also is absent. Characters act as some stereotypes out of some ancient romantic poem. Pretty bad idea in an action martial arts flick. It simply does not work, and looks stupid. The only character I found believable and worth of sympathy was Shu Lien, and she was underdeveloped and often left out.
To conclusions: many ideas definitely could work, the execution is poor. Bad timing, weak plot, poetry above narration. Mind that if the latter is done properly, it can yield great results. Here its not done properly. Decide: kung fu movie, or poetry. If you wander between, you risk to result ridiculous.