**** 1/2 Breathtaking!

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2001)

Ang Lee has compared this film to an Asian version of his own Sense and Sensibility. Well, yes and no: the film is rich and visually splendid, and the story's structure closely follows the adaptation of Jane Austen's premier novel, but Lee's latest lacks the character depth and heartfelt sentiment that Emma Thompson infused her Sense screenplay with. On top of that, one of Crouching Tiger's main characters (Zhang Ziyi) is a woman devoid of any loyalty and therefore likeability. However, this film has much to recommend it, mostly awe-inspiring martial arts sequences that complement the excellent direction and drama very well. Peter Pau's cinematography is gorgeous and Tim Yip's production and costume design are first rate.