Extraordinary images!

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 2004)

I admit that I am unfamiliar with the genre of martial arts films and therefore probably missed many points that would be recognized by enthusiasts of these, primarily, Asian films. Having said that, I was totally mesmerized by the beauty of this amazing film that I watched this afternoon. I tend to judge films more on the quality of the visuals that I see rather than other major aspects of film so this was a visual feast of virtually unmatched beauty.
At the beginning of the film is the opening fight scene-shot in dark greys in the rain[!] and I was totally hooked after that. The beauty of Zhang's shot selection and Doyle's photography made those first minutes the worth of the film-the remainder was just cake frosting for me. I don't think that I will ever see a scene more beautifully composed and filmed for the rest of my years. Later on the fight scene with Maggie Cheug with the screen filled with the yellow leaves of autumn was nearly as beautiful.
Zhang's choice of billowing robes for the costumes in the martial scenes left an otherworldly aspect to what, under another director, would have been a standard fight scene fueled by the martial activity; his direction took the scene into another realm-one unanticipated by this viewer with the result being memorable.
A fabulous film that I will anticipate viewing a second and third time-the BEST!