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reviewed by Katie
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The
film stars
Chow Yun Fat
(friend of
John woo and
martial arts
film hero) and
Michelle Yeoh
(her out of Tomorrow
Never Dies) as
two
“star-crossed
lovers”
whose honour
and whose
situation as
Wudan warriors
has so far
prevented them
from
confessing
their love to
each other.
Just as Li
(Chow Yun Fat)
decides to lay
down his sword
to enable him
to live a life
with Jen (Yeoh)
it is stolen
and the two
are forced to
embark on a
search for the
thief which
stymies their
relationship
once more.
What is most
amazing about
this film is
the
choreography
and filming of
the fight
sequences.
This is most
definitely a
martial arts
film, but
directed by
Ang Lee, whose
previous
credits
include Sense
and
Sensibility (I
kid you not!),
it is fighting
transformed
into art. The
grace and
power of all
the fighters
in the film,
particularly
in the combats
between Li and
Jen (Zhang Zi
Yi) is
astounding.
It’s
intricate,
complicated
and powerfully
controlled.
Add to this an
intriguing
anti-heroine
in Jen, a
young
noblewoman and
self-taught
Wudan warrior,
and a simple
story that
plays your
heart like the
cello used prominently
in the
soundtrack and
you have a
moving and
inspiring
film.
Katie
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