Amazing martial arts, beautiful settings, a must see

Rating: 9/10 (7 June 2001)

After having seen the film, my brother told me that he actually wasn't sure whether he loved or hated this film. It is perhaps for its huge difference to average hollywood action movies. In my opinion this movie had deserved the oscar for best film instead of Gladiator, but Hollywood seems to be unable to acknowledge foreign genius in moviemaking. On the surface, the film deals with two warriors (a man and a woman) trying to recapture a stolen sword. But at the heart of it lie two tragic love stories who give this movie substance besides the amazingly directed action sequences. Those viewers who disliked the actors flying irrealisticly around and performing physically impossible things, like walking on water have not understood the essence of the movie. Go see it, even more if you are not a fan of kung fu flicks.