Without a doubt the best movie of the year

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2001)

My girlfriends co-workers told her this movie had a lot to do with women and that they were basically the main characters in the film. They also said some men might not enjoy the movie for that reason. They were half right.
While the females may have received a greater amount of screen time, I didn't feel at all that the movie was "based" on women. I thought all the characters received adequate screen time in order to develop their characters. At one point the film takes close to a 30 minute departure from the main plot to explore the relationship between the governor's daughter and the leader of a group of thieves.
That said- each and every single character in the movie was fantastic. Not only in the actor's portrayal of them, but their significance in the film. I really found myself experiencing an emotion over each of them.
The fight scenes were beautifully choreographed and showed such ridiculous imagination it was almost frightening. The very first battle scene alone made me quickly draw comparisons to the greatness of the Matrix, but quickly surpassed it as the movie drove on. I can't fully expressed how astonished I was left at the end of each and every single combat sequence in this film. I am taken back when I think of how the actors had to truly have knowledge in using the weapons they employed. Incredible respect goes to them.
The subtitles? Not a problem. I even thought after a while that I was beginning to understand the foreign tongue.
Scenery in this film was absolutely breathtaking. There's no need to elaborate on this- take my word on it.
Gladiator was another one of my picks for best movie of the year because of its sheer grandness, but "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" was enormously more anchored in its premise and creativity. This movie is outstanding.