Amazingly beautiful, both choreography and story

Rating: Null/10 (25 February 2001)

Since there are numerous plots given here I will not waste space reiterating what has already been said. I went to see this with a friend who knew I was studying Chinese (Mandarin/Hanyu). I had wanted to see it. I don't normally like martial arts movies, but it has something for both the die-hard macho man and for his sentimental counterpart. But the thing that struck me the most (beside understanding bits and pieces of the dialogues and characters and picking out the Cantonese pronunciations that slipped in) was the beauty of the whole thing. The landscapes, the costumes, the people, and, most importantly, the choreography of the fight scenes. They were truly awe-inspiring. The scene in the bamboo trees especially. I am glad that I went to see this movie. It's the first one in a movie theatre that I walked away from without being disappointed. I was delighted and may even see it again just to watch the fight scenes.