Hard to put into words

Rating: 10/10 (12 January 2001)

This film is almost too good for words. Whilst watching it I was mesmerized by the kung-fu scenes, the dazzling swordplay, and the incredible scenery. It was as if the storyline and characters took a back seat to the immediacy of visual stimuli.
About 30 minutes after I left the cinema I began to realize that the best things about the film were the very things I hadn't noticed as I was watching it. The story is strong and combines so wonderfully with the incredible character development that I feel I HAVE to see it again to learn more about the characters, because I know there are things that I missed the first time around. Oh yeah, I suppose it will also be nice to see the action sequences again, which, by the way were the best in any movie of this type I have ever seen.
So there you have it. It is a film that features some the best kung-fu scenes of all time. But the kung-fu scenes are not the best thing about the film.
One more thing. I know that there are people in the USA that will refuse to see this film because of the subtitles - one guy walked out after about 90 seconds of the showing I went to. All I can say is that they are missing out on one of the best movies of all time... just because they are lazy. It's "Life is Beautiful" all over again.