Superb film, if you understand it

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2001)

I've been a long time fan of the wuxia film genre, so when I first saw the Internet trailer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I was ecstatic. Finally -- Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh together, a (relatively) big budget and no English dubbing. Expectations were high... ... and were met. I was prepared to be the jaded viewer who had seen it all. Hyperkinetic fight scenes? Been there. Amazing wirework? Done that. My preparations were for naught. I was stunned at how far technology and the masterful direction of Ang Lee took this film. Peerless special effects, action, acting and story came together in a film that I will never forget. Only a screen full of superlatives could do this film justice, and I ain't got the space.
If you've never seen a Chinese 'kung-fu' movie before, see this. But keep the following things in mind before going (and before reading some of the earlier, negative reviews):
1.) Wuxia is fantasy, not reality. This is not revisionist history, there is no attempt to keep things historically correct. Suspend disbelief. 2.) Masters can become as light as a feather, strike with the force of a wrecking ball, paralyze with a touch. They just can. Get over it. =) 3.) Every Chinese film I've seen (and I've seen a LOT) has a different sense of sentimentality from that of Western films. Some consider it to be too saccharine or perceive it to be insincere. This is a sticking point - if you don't like it, you don't like it. 4.) This is a story about love. Sure, it has staggering fight sequences, but the core of the film revolves around love and what it does - negative or positive - to those who are caught by it.
Experience this film. You MAY not like it, but it's worth taking the risk. If you're lucky enough to be part of the 90% of us who appreciate Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you will be very, VERY happy you went out of your way.