Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

It's an incredibly beautiful film, but you'll only like it if you accept its unrealistic game and don't make a big deal out of the fact that the characters fly. But that's the beauty of this artistic action ballet, which also has wonderful characters and a very strong story, and it's not just action or art for its own sake. (04/07/2016)

Incredible fight scenes, fantastic performances, impressive story, and touching ending. However, upon further viewings, the first half becomes excessively drawn out, and the dialogues lack the same power and the long-awaited action seems to never arrive. But all the more surprising is the realization that the second half, where it turns into a ballet-like style, is even more impressive the second time around, and the ending becomes fatally charged with a stronger sense of fate. For me, though, the highlight will forever be the memory of the ambush in the desert and the subsequent honest romance. It's one of those films that everyone should see. (02/04/2006)

It may be a classic, but it didn't grab me by the heart or balls. Unfortunately, it took my five days to watch this film because I fell asleep four times, which doesn't bode well. Moreover, I wholeheartedly hate when someone flies on trees or rooftops, I follow the rule of no gravity-no fun and here it irritated me a lot. The choreography is top-notch, the final female fight is definitely the best thing in the film, but as soon as someone flies to a roof after a fight, the great impression is instantly spoiled and everything is more ridiculous than spectacular. 60% (03/25/2015)

A technically captivating and visually impressive romance that for me lacks the right attributes. The Asian setting and strongly non-standard elements are, admittedly, stunning in their unusualness, but on the other hand, they sometimes appear overly poetic in an effort to show the direction that applause and Oscars should take. An exceptional work, but certainly not among the elite company of the best. (05/07/2005)

“No growth without assistance. No action without reaction. No desire without restraint. The world is full of tigers and dragons.” The first viewing was for acclimatization, full of wonder and slight uncertainty. The second was for accepting the rules that formed the foundation of the previously unseen world of the film. And the third through fifth viewings comprised the most spiritual and moving emotional experience that I have ever had in front of a movie screen. But rather than a film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an epic cinematic poem that I can watch again and again, and that, like good music, never loses any of its impact. Ang Lee took the motifs of unrequited love, betrayal and responsibility and set them in a socially neutral, spiritually pure environment in which he could give them previously unseen dimensions. The “I’ve already wasted my whole life...” scene will resonate with me forever. (05/27/2002)