Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Wang Du-Lu
Starring:
Chow Yun-Fat
Michelle Yeoh
Ziyi Zhang
This story is set in China somewhere in the 18th or 19th centuries. The plot line revolves around 4 characters: Li Mu Bei, a martial arts expert and owner of the Green Destiny, a powerful sword, his companion Yu Shu Lien, also handy with swords, a young Mongolian warlord named Lo & the object of his affections, a cunning girl named Jen Yu.
The story starts with Li Mu Bei giving up the Green Destiny as a gift. When Jen Yu learns of this her plot to steal the Green Destiny goes into action. Most of the story involves Li Mu Bei and Yu Shu Liens, search to recover the sword. It involves a lot of fantastic jumping and carefully choreographed fight scenes. There is one scene in particular where Jen Yu is cornered by a bars full of men and goes on a rampage, literally putting everyone in casts and wrecking the place. Behind this story however, a love story slowly unravels between Li Mu Bei and Yu Shu Lien. Also we learn of how the free spirited Jen Yu falls for the equally free spirited mongoloian Lo.
The costuming is superb and the scenery is breathtaking. While it is a stretch to believe the fighting scenes if you allow yourself to become caught up in the fantasy it will be a real treat.
I thought the underlying theme of the film was power, ultimately symbolized by the Green Destiny itself. While the sword gives great power to whoever wields it, it also takes away something else - something the main characters have all looked for but denied once they found it. And if you want to know what that is, well you'll just have to see the movie.
* = in subtitles
3 Stars
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