Using Matrix-type fight sequences, the Chinese film (with English subtitles) attempts to mix action sequences with two doomed love stories. It works for the most part, but there were some instances where it breaks down.
The fighting sequences are awesome, but the action is few and far between in several instances. Also, the first few fight scenes are so poorly lit that you're not sure what the heck is going on. If one person wasn't wearing white, you'd be in the dark--literally.
The first twenty minutes are fairly slow, but it gradually picks up, and it also has some great dialogue...some of it quite amusing and very witty.
"Crouching Tiger" also is bogged down in the traditional ancient Chinese way: "you killed my master, now you must die", that sort of thing.
I was left, however, with a certain lightness of being after seeing the movie, which doesn't happen very often. It is an action film, but it also has a big heart and has more depth--in both character and theme--than American audiences usually get to see.
Go see this movie!
* * * * (out of five)
The fighting sequences are awesome, but the action is few and far between in several instances. Also, the first few fight scenes are so poorly lit that you're not sure what the heck is going on. If one person wasn't wearing white, you'd be in the dark--literally.
The first twenty minutes are fairly slow, but it gradually picks up, and it also has some great dialogue...some of it quite amusing and very witty.
"Crouching Tiger" also is bogged down in the traditional ancient Chinese way: "you killed my master, now you must die", that sort of thing.
I was left, however, with a certain lightness of being after seeing the movie, which doesn't happen very often. It is an action film, but it also has a big heart and has more depth--in both character and theme--than American audiences usually get to see.
Go see this movie!
* * * * (out of five)
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Rhonda
Rhonda