Final fantasy

Rating: 9/10 (5 April 2004)

First of all, I have to say I was disappointed by the start of this film. The story, about a magical sword and a coterie of fighting monks, is pure 'Star Wars', and the fight scenes (viewed purely as such) are spectacular, and sometimes funny, but never convincing (and notice almost no-one dies: in one scene, Zhang Zhiyi's character, who continually fights with mighty swords, nonetheless expresses horror that someone actually got hurt in a fight). We now live in the age of second generation special effects, which exist not to feign reality but to outdo it, which is in a way quite pointless - the most gripping scene in 'The Matrix' for me was the one where Keanu Reeves nearly fell off the skyscraper; once he got his magic powers, all my interest waned.
But 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' grew on me as it went on. For a start, it's one of the most beautiful films I have seen, with stunning images and music. And once you start to see the outrageous movement of the characters as a kind of music too, rather than as plot, the film gains charm. Though there is variation in tone, skilfully handled by director Ang Lee, everything in this fantastical world is logically and aesthetically consistent, and gradually it envelopes you. And in spite of all the fighting, the film does not fetishise weaponry, in sharp contrast to the trigger-happy 'Matrix'.
Plus there are three strong, individual, female characters, all-well acted, and a great performance from Chun Yow Fat in the leading role. And a subtle tale of unexpressed love that surprises one with the force that it carries at the denouement.
So enjoy the trickery with wires, and then ignore it. This is an old fashioned film in modern clothes: an epic, beautiful tearjerker, and none the worse for that.