An exquisite film crammed with underlying themes

Rating: 8/10 (12 November 2014)

*********POSSIBLE MINOR SPOILERS**********
Master Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow)is a retired warrior and something of a legend amongst his community. Li Mu Bai possesses a sword called 'Green Destiny' and although this sword has brought Li some joy, it also carries a lot of painful memories. Following a conversation with his friend Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), he decides to leave his sword in the care of Sir Te (Sihung Lung) who acts as 'custodian' for the sword. However, when the sword is stolen, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien do everything in the power to recover the sword.
For me, this was a very well written film which really focuses on three aspects; MORALITY, CHOICES, AND CONSEQUENCES. It's clear that Li and Yu both care deeply for one another and later it's also revealed that they both have feelings for each other. However, it's also revealed that Yu was engaged to Li's brother before he was tragically killed in battle. Both Li and Yu subdue their feelings in order to respect the memory of Li's brother. It would probably be fair to assume that Li's brother probably wouldn't want Yu to be unhappy, but Li and Yu are both respectable and have a real sense of morality and loyalty towards Li's brother and therefore decide to keep their relationship platonic. The relationship between Li and Yu is one of the main underlying themes within this film - again they had a choice to be together, but felt that it would be morally wrong for them to be together. Due to all this back story, a romance would have been believable, but the writers keep this on the back burner which ultimately gives the audience plenty to think about.
The second major focal point in this film is Jen (Ziyi Zhang) who is a young woman who is being forced by her parents to marry someone who she doesn't love - again this topic is mentioned, but isn't treated in a heavy handed way and in some ways is only mentioned to get more of an understanding of Jen's confusion at this point in her life. In some ways, Jen is a bit of a cliché in that she's a messed up young woman that is searching for some direction in life. Her characters themes are CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES; Jen is taken under the wing by evil Jade Fox (Pei-Pei Cheng). Jade is the person who was responsible for the death of Li's master and therefore he has a score to settle with her. For Jen, this is about CHOICES; throughout the film, both Li and Yu try to recruit her as a disciple, but Jen has always been a free spirit and is less than co-operative. Likewise, although we're lead to believe that she's allied with Jade Fox I tended to get the feeling that she wasn't really on anyone's side - after all, she hid the training manual from Jade so it's clear that she doesn't have much loyalty towards Jade either. Ultimately, Jen's choices lead to CONSEQUENCES and by the end of the film there are both positive and negative CONSEQUENCES that result from her actions.
From a technical perspective, the film is also wonderfully filmed with some of the most beautiful cinematography that I've ever seen. It's pretty to look at, but it also has the substance to back it up. The fight choreography is excellent and as mentioned the film was emotionally engaging and very well-written.
CTHD is a very good film which is filled with underlying themes focusing on love, betrayal, morality, choices and consequences. It really is a 'work of art'.