If you REALLY think about this film and have seen other martial arts films, this is NOTHING special, hated it in fact

Rating: 5/10 (21 April 2001)

Flying Is no problem. I can suspend disbelief enough to understand that these are supposed to me "mystical" figures. But to see them pumping their legs just looks ridiculous. OK, that being said, let's talk about the actual substance of the film.
Well, except for some beautiful cinematography and a great soundtrack, there's not much substance to this film. The plot IS razor thin. The only character that gets developed is Jen, and she's contemptable with her foolish attitude. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh have the most stale romantic tension about them. in fact, you need a couple of characters telling michelle yeoh that she has feelings for him to even know at all.

The fight scenes are just plain ridiculous, wasn't impressed with them at all usually when people fight in a martial arts film, you notice an exhibition of acrobatic prowess and it looks like the characters are actually trying to hurt each other. This was not the case with CTHD. It looked like the characters were being swung at each other from ropes and they were playing pattycake (no, really) rather than fighting to the death.

The flashback, while without a doubt enjoyable and the most beautiful part of the film, ruins ANY and ALL forward momentum this film had going for it. I felt so detached from every character except for Jen, and I HATED her character, even though she's extremely gorgeous.
There is no plot, so therefore you wouldn't think that there'd be any holes, but there still manages to be holes in there anyway. How did this Jade Fox manage to learn all this stuff from a manual when she said herself she couldn't interpret it? How did she get into the service of Jen in the first place? Why does Michelle Yeoh's character get mad at her for no good reason? watch that scene again. it's like she just gets mad so there would be a convienient way for them to fight. It's completely ridiculous. People make fun of the Phantom Menace Star Wars Plot. In so many ways CTHD is a rip off of Star Wars. Young girl (luke/anakin) being trained by evil old crusty master (emperor palpatine). Rougish rebel (Leia/Han) becomes love interest. Chow Yun Fat (Qui Gon Jinn/Luke/Obi Wan) tries to convert Jen over to the good side of the Wudan (force) it's just silly. 3/10