Incredible Fighting Sequences...and Little Else

Rating: 6/10 (8 June 2001)

Let me preface this review by saying that I had heard heaps of praise for this film. However, after having watched it myself I must say that I'm a bit disappointed.
While there is a great deal of emphasis on the martial arts choreography in this film, that seems to be the overriding -and only- leitmotif here- do whatever it takes to start another fight sequence. The performances were good, but I got up thinking that I missed something. I didn't. There just wasn't much there, except for some brilliant fight scenes. But in and of themselves, fight scenes do not make a movie great.
The cinematography was excellent, and perhaps deserving of an Oscar -but the original score was totally forgettable. Hans Zimmer should have won the Oscar hands-down for his scoring of 'Gladiator'.
'Crouching Tiger' was an entertaining movie, reminiscent of all those cheesy Kung Fu Theatre marathons I saw as a kid. But this movie simply fails to tell an intriguing story.
That's only my opinion...I'm sure that plenty of you will disagree. So be it -to each is own. It just didn't evoke any emotion in me.

Here's a suggestion: if you want to see an absolute masterpiece of Asian filmmaking, go rent 'The Seven Samurai'. In my opinion, Seven Samurai -Along with Ikiru (both directed by Akira Kurosawa)- are the most beautiful movies ever made.
My rating: 6/10