I wasn’t too keen on going to watch this, but my friends talked me into it, and I’m glad they did. This film is dangerous! I felt like I could leap over the rush hour traffic as I came out of the cinema!
I usually have a problem with films that are too unrealistic in their action scenes. In this one, however, although flying over the roof tops seems far-fetched to begin with it is filmed in such an unapologetic way and acted/choreographed so gracefully that we realise and accept it as a natural part of the world the film is portraying. As for the chop-socky stuff, the choreography and execution is flawless, but the direction is even better than that.
Never have I seen such complicated moves, so transparently captured and, thankfully, mostly without that most dismal of hollywood cliches, the slow motion shot. The acting? Top class from Fat and Yeoh who, in their characters’ inability to express themselves to each other, successfully convey through facial expression (incredibly subtle in Fat`s case) their unfulfilled desire.
But the revelation has to be young Z.Z. (I can`t remember how to spell her name here!). The screen explodes into life every time we see her face. I was convinced that I had seen her in something else. I was wrong, of course, she just has a very memorable face; I saw through one plot device immediately as a result. No attempt is made to hide it really, her eyes give the game away. During her fight scenes, she shows unbelievable explosive energy. The scary thing is, it`s ALL real! No CGI or camera tricks could possibly manufacture the martial arts energy demonstrated by the main actors, her especially.
I don’t usually write about the sound tracks but with this film I felt I needed to. The soundtrack is both subtle and uplifting when it needs to be. The quickening beat of drums during the fight scenes, the marvellous cello playing by Yo-Yo Ma throughout, and loads of other stuff that I know was there, but enhanced the on-screen action so perfectly that I didn`t notice it.
It was too short by about 5 hours. The appalling song halfway through the end credits. I leapt out of my seat, up the cinema steps and through the exit without touching the ground when this started.
Great film