A masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (26 March 2001)

Wonderful film. Breathtaking martial arts scenes, gorgeous cinematography, wonderful sets and costumes. Poignant double love story. The cast is beautiful to see, and the acting is marvelous. Also this movie works on multiple levels. It's a reflection on the nature of spirituality, intergrity, and karma as well as an action film. And yes, I liked that the women did a lot of the fighting, and that they were not just beautiful looking, but also strong and capable. Why don't American movies have more of these kinds of roles for women? I'm not surprised that this didn't win the Oscar for best film. It's too unusual and off-the-beaten path for American tastes. Oscar likes movies that are predictable--and this was anything but.