Breathtaking

Rating: Null/10 (11 January 2001)

Not the transcendental experience promised by some critics, but very, very good nonetheless. A beautiful, moving, elegant picture. I read that "Crouching Tiger" is to the martial arts film what "Stagecoach" is to the Western - it represents the apotheosis, the absolute zenith of the genre. I wouldn't disagree with that. It's by turns exhilarating, hilarious and heartbreaking - what else do you want from a movie?
The irony is, Ang Lee's previous two film were also excellent. They were in English. Now this Chinese-language film looks like being his biggest hit in both Britain and America. Isn't that strange? Why did no-one go to see "Ride With The Devil" or "The Ice Storm"?
I think we should be told.