gee..old chinese martial arts film remakes

Rating: 2/10 (28 January 2001)

People flying in the air, gliding on roof tops, running on water? Gee, I think I've seen this stuff before in some old chinese martial arts film, although the special effects in the movie makes it look more realistic - but the bottom line is ... it looks so silly it is laughable. If this movie's goal is to engage the viewers with the fight scenes from female martial artists, then I don't think it was that great - basically it is like watching acrobats in Lincoln Center Asian Cultural shows - NO BIG DEAL ANYMORE. Chow Yun Fat, no matter how good he is in other films, is just misplaced in this film - he is a naturally gifted martial artists that this film calls for...a guy like Jackie Chan, Jet Li or the late Bruce Lee would have made this movie 10 times better. The story line is also just too simple for a 2 hr movie - recover a sacred sword from a spoiled brat who happened to be a good fighter from the secrets she stolen. I don't know how well this film is doing in Asia, probably pretty good simply from star attractions - but for those who thinks this movie is so great, they should realize that the majority of fight scenes are nothing special compared to other great chinese martial arts movies and I much prefer Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee fighting than Chow Yun-Fat.