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Review:
 For years, Ang Lee has been flirting with greatness. Such films
as "Eat Drink Man Woman" and "The Wedding
Banquet" are considered minor classics, and ever since, he's
been trying to outdo himself and achieve something timeless.
Unfortunately, more than not he's produces such overblown crud as
"The Ice Storm" or "Ride With The Devil."
Okay, that one wasn't crud, but it was disappointing all the same.
But just when it seemed that he was never going to reach his full
potential, he gives us a pleasant surprise. What just might be one
of the best kung fu movies ever made.
It's China sometime in the first millennium. Li Mu Bai(Chow Yun
Fat), master of the mystic arts, has decided to pack it in. He is
tired of the life of a Giang hu warrior, and after deep
meditation, he finds he can't achieve enlightenment. So he goes to
the Yaun Security company, run by his old friend and companion Yu
Shu Lien(Michelle Yeoh). He gives her his magic sword, the Green
Destiny, and tells her to give it to their old friend Sir
Te(Sihung Lung), who's currently in Beijing. When she give it to
him, the old knight refuses, as no one is worthy to wield the
sword save Master Li.
But there is one other....
While staying at Sir Te's residence, Shu Lien meets Jen(Ziyi
Zhang), a comely young lass who's the daughter of the governor of
a western province and about to be married. She's very interested
in Shu Lien's line of work and confides that she's not too happy
with her current predicament. A friendship is sparked, and Jen's
governess(Pei-pei Cheng), isn't too happy about it.
Then, the following night, the Green Destiny is stolen by a
flying ninja who's pursued by Shu Lien over the rooftops, followed
by fight scene that seems to have been stolen from "The
Matrix."
At first, it seems very silly, but the special effects begin to
grow on you. We quickly figure out who this magical ninja is, as
does Shu Lein and Master Li [who was coming anyway]. We discover
as well that Jen has a boyfriend from the boonies named Lo(Chen
Chang).
What makes this film great is what happens between the fight
scenes. The acting here is brilliant Chow Yun Fat has shown
western audiences that he can act by blowing away Jodie Foster in
"Anna and the King," and Yoeh did the same with Pierce
Brosnan in "Tomorrow Never Dies." Both had been known in
dozens of Hong Kong action movie, as well as serious dramas.
There's really great chemistry between the two of them, as well as
between Yoeh and the young Ms. Ziyi, who is lots of fun to watch
as the ingenue turned martial arts goddess. The flashback scenes
between her and Chen Chang are even better than those between Chow
and Yeoh.
All in all, the story is enthralling and the flying part
becomes part of the magic of it all. This is one of the best of
the genre ever made, and should be seen by even those who despise
subtitles. If there were any justice in the world, this would be
the first Kung Fu flick to win a best foreign language
Oscar.
Eric Lurio
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