I had wanted to see this film ever since I heard about it and the tremendous praise it had been getting. Finally, last week, I got to see it at the cinema. My anticipation and expectation levels for this film were at an all time high so it really had to deliver.
The film is set in a fantasy version of ancient China and begins with a lengthy conversation between the two principal characters. Both are warriors played by Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh and they talk about Yun_Fat's characters longing to give up his warrior life and his legendary sword. The first thing that you will notice about the film is that it is subtitled, the actors speak Chinese throughout. Please, please do not let this put you off the movie. After a couple of minutes you won't notice, promise.
As the film began, I found myself waiting for something to happen. It's not that I'm not a fan of a slow build up but I wanted to see some of the action sequences. The first one is a chase scene between Michelle Yeoh and a mysterious ninja who steals the sword. A chase scene across rooftops with the characters almost flying as they leap from building to building. Flying!! It looks strange at first but go with it and again you won't notice after a couple of minutes. I wasn't that impressed by the first scene, it was good but didn't blow me away and I began to think the film wouldn't live up to expectations.
I didn't have to worry as the film continued at a fantastic pace as arch enemies arrive and we are introduced to Jen Yu (newcomer, Zhang Ziyi) a young girl trying to escape an arranged marriage who is not all she seems. The film then details the relationship between Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh and between Zhang Ziyi and her lover told in flashback. The battle scenes become jaw dropping and the storyline emerges you in this fantasy world down to the tragedy tinged conclusion.
The film is amazing and after my initial concerns, lived up to expectations. It is visually stunning, the acting is superb, the actions is breath taking and, well everything is great. Director Ang Lee has created a superb film and I can't wait to see what he does with the Incredible Hulk
My girlfriend who wasn't that keen on a "Chinese Martial Arts Movie" but loved it as well. I would have happily walked out of the cinema and gone straight back in to watch it again.
Superb film that should have won this years Best Film Oscar (not that there's anything wrong with Gladiator but that's an op for another time)
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Production Year: 2003 - Martial Arts - Director: Paul Hunter - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, James King, Karel Roden
Production Year: 1972 - Martial Arts - Director: Bruce Lee - Original Language: English\Cantonese\Chinese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall, Jon T. Benn
Production Year: 1991 - Martial Arts - Director: Tsui Hark - Original Language: Cantonese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Donnie Yen, Jet Lee, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Biao, Mok Sui Chung
Production Year: 1981 - Martial Arts - Director: Kenji Misumi, Robert Houston - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida, Masahiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama
Martial Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Sho Kosugi, James Ryan, Jim Kelly, Jimmy Wang Yu, Bolo Yeung, Christopher Lee
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