Original? Nope, just very well done (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD))

Member Name: moongod

Product:	Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Date:	10/04/01 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well executed, beautiful, Michelle Yeoh rocks

Disadvantages: Seen it all before

Well done to Crouching Tiger for being classy. 'Nil points' for originality.

This is Chinese cinema for the masses (and not of the Oriental kind). Unoriginal story lines – all packed together – ninja sword stealers, frustrated warrior women (Mulan?), unrequited love (every single Chinese film, that great nation of oppressed people that they are)…And what on earth is Chow Yun Fat doing in this? Top of the bill and yet it’s obviously a film about the women. Hooray for Michelle Yeoh who brings a dignified grace to the screen that’s been missing for too long. And a cheer for Ziyi Zhang who is perfectly billed as an impetuous young girl who is too intelligent for her own good.

However, fantastic fight scenes (don’t YOU want to go running across rooftops?), a tiny smattering of humour and beautiful cinematography wins the viewer over. A good film, yes, but THAT good? Not really. Like I said at the beginning. It’s just classy and it knows it.

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