Good but overrated

Rating: 5/10 (2 February 2001)

Every so often I find myself liking a movie and being forced to point out some of the bad things in it because it is so overrated. I hate doing that, so I will talk about the good things first.
Great action sequences -- the best martial arts action I have ever seen on film -- and a very good story make this one worth paying to see.
However, the flashback sequence in the middle of the movie was a big mistake. It went on WAY too long and involved a romantic subplot of little to no interest. This was NOT the interesting love story in the film and these characters had no chemistry together and the young girl was a brat. The real love story of course was with Chow and Michelle -- they were terrific and had great chemistry. This meandering flashback broke up the movie and took away the hypnotic effect that the film had on me prior to that point.
*spoiler alert* And the other complaint I had was Chow's still wanting to help the young brat (at the end -- before the incredible tree stunt scene) even after she had just tried to kill the love of his life!!!
*end of spoiler alert*
All in all -- a good but not great film.