Hard to see what all the fuss is about

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 2001)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon is heading in the direction of becoming possibly the most successful foreign language film ever.At No.7 in the top IMDB movies,and nominated in many oscar categories,it has certainly taken the overseas film market by storm.All this,plus the promise of exciting martial arts action,is enough to entice the punter in.Until you notice another factor about the film :it's arthouse style.Good reviews off the professional critics send the public hurling in flocks to see it.But for the common man,here's a review to set the records straight.None of the actors involved are even known over here,and their muted performances are very hard to acknowledge.Ang Lee isn't directing an action movie.The Ice Storm wasn't an action film.This is meant to be an insight into the morals and values of 19th Century China,with martial arts being in place for the ideals of revenge,grace and defence.But the story itself is very hard to unscramble,and stretches out,at 2 hours,beyond the limit such a story could muster.90 minutes would have been a more suitable time frame.And the action itself looks rather cheap and unconvincing.Why on earth were the characters able to fly everywhere?Overall,a very strange movie,and hard to understand the warrant of such merit.**