It takes a few minutes to get used to the idea that the most skilled fighters can defy gravity, but the way characters run up walls or skip across the surface of water begins to give the movie's elaborate chases and fights a unique fairy-tale feel. The magic is incredibly convincing because it does not rely on special effects. Actors actually balanced precariously on bamboo while suspended by harnesses, shifting their weight as they swung at each other with heavy swords. The movie's fantasy heightened by lavish settings, filmed on location across Asia. Nevertheless, attention to detail makes every scene realistic, outside of the flying actors.
Further authenticity is added through language.
The actors speak in Mandarin Chinese, giving dialogue a rhythm and tone that no Hollywood actor could match. Reading the subtitles becomes second nature within minutes. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon could not have been made in Hollywood. The insurance companies wouldn't go for putting actual superstars into harnesses fifty feet above the ground. The settings and language that enrich the plot aren't available in the United States.