beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (30 July 2001)

This movie is beautiful. In every single way. From the cinematography, to the score, to the acting, to the fights, and the costumes. WOW.
First off, if you plan on renting the DVD, it starts off dubbed. WATCH IT IN IT'S ORIGINAL MANDARIN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!!! I have no idea why they programmed the DVD's default to have dubbed English, I suppose it's the same reason why this movie began playing only in art houses for a month before Sony Classics found they had a goldmine in their hands. Then again, Life Is Beautiful was released in English in the 2nd release, so I shouldn't be surprised.
This is a romantic fantasy epic with martial-arts action interwined within. Yes, it is a love story fantasy movie first, martial-arts movie second. While the story is a bit simplistic, it is grand and powerful. Chow Yun Fat does an amazing job, as he did in Anna and The King (even if I didn't like that movie much). and of course the fight scenes are incredible. This movie is just beautiful.