Poetic!

Rating: 10/10 (23 March 2001)

I saw this movie last night. I went to the theater high on expectations having read the reviews and seen the trailer. I went with my wife and my sister-in-law who actually didn't want to see this movie. One of them wanted to see "Chocolat" and the other one "Amores Perros." The point is, I was so sure that this movie was worth the effort to convince them to see it with me. They agreed. And I was right.
The movie started quite normal. Soon after people started to make fun of the Mandarin accent (This is one reason why I don't like going to public premieres.) Then the fighting began. Let me tell you how beautifully choreographed they were. It was like watching a ballet. Just as beautiful. Every movement is worth of your attention. They'll make your jaw drop. Even more when the fighting reaches higher ground (or no ground at all). People started yelling this was "Dragon Ball Z". Shame on them! They just didn't know what they were watching. After the movie my wife told me that she liked it, but it was too much. That they have overdone it with the fighting sequences (especially the bamboo treetop one near the end of the movie.) This brought me to the conclusion that this movie was not meant for everybody.
It is esentially an epic love story. Wonderfully portrayed by Yun-Fat Chow ("Anna and the king") and Michelle Yeoh ("Tomorrow never dies"). The acting was good enough to make you really care about the characters.
It is more than a great movie. With an astounding cinematography that leaves you breathless. In one word: Poetic. Sometimes it makes you feel as if you were in a dream of some kind.
One word of advice: Don't listen to anyone but yourself . DON'T pay attention to the commentaries people throw at the theater. They just don't get it!