Greatest Movie Ever Made

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2009)

You may look at my summary and think: "are you crazy? It is a Kung-fu Film!" But I stand by what I say, this movie is perfect. First and foremost, I must denounce the common misconception that this movie is weak on plot. It has the most intricate plot in film. I could go into a summary, but I want to avoid the spoiler tags and convince people to see this. You will not notice the plot of this film the first time that you watch it, nor the second time. It is a complex net that slowly falls into place. Why do people notice it so slowly? It may have something to do with being distracted by the fights, or it may just be too subtle, but I guarantee, there is a strong plot there.
In other matters, the acting is surprisingly strong (especially from Michelle Yeoh) and the organization of the story and editing is outstanding. Even the screenplay, a rare treasure considering the film is thought of as a Kung-Fu film, adds to the poetic feel of the movie. But finally, the true secret to this masterpiece is the tranquility created by the visual/audio combination. With one of the best scores ever, that sets a very relaxing mood, it complements the visuals of the film beautifully. Between the stunning on location scenes and the authentic sets, the art direction is flawless. And the key to the stunning visuals is truly the cinematography. As the music builds, you feel the perfection of the shot is building, and even the overall film. Even without the great plot, strong acting, and poetic screenplay, surely the score complements the cinematography in a way that is artistically unmatched. This film is sublime. I want to die watching it, and listening to the Yo-yo Ma Cello solo, looping and waving, like bamboo rustling in the breeze.