Reviews

I can only comment negatively about one scene in the movie. I thought the movie was extremely effective in building up the intensity of certain scenes, however they used probably their most dramatic and climatic orchestra number for a scene where they simply dumped bags of money into a truck and drove off. My girlfriend and I stood confused as the music built up and built up, then finally climaxed. Didn't make a bit of sense to either of us.

With that said- I thought this movie was outstanding. Benicio Del Toro has this presence about him that radiates "coolness", and Ryan Phillippe did a remarkable job as well with his role. There were scenes in which hardly any dialogue was spoken, yet whole paragraphs were spoken through facial expressions. Thats a testament to the abilities of the actors right there. The double meaning of the game of hearts explanation was fascinating and fun to decipher.

Plots twists galore, not a single one of them predictable. The terminology was all new to me (i.e. bagman/dejudication I think it was...) and it made me feel like I was actually participating in the movie.

This is a thinkers movie, and some people may not be in the mood for that. The entirely creative car chase scenes and shoot out sequences are enough to satisfy the most mindless action fan, however.

This movie is just cool.

My girlfriends co-workers told her this movie had a lot to do with women and that they were basically the main characters in the film. They also said some men might not enjoy the movie for that reason. They were half right.

While the females may have received a greater amount of screen time, I didn't feel at all that the movie was "based" on women. I thought all the characters received adequate screen time in order to develop their characters. At one point the film takes close to a 30 minute departure from the main plot to explore the relationship between the governor's daughter and the leader of a group of thieves.

That said- each and every single character in the movie was fantastic. Not only in the actor's portrayal of them, but their significance in the film. I really found myself experiencing an emotion over each of them.

The fight scenes were beautifully choreographed and showed such ridiculous imagination it was almost frightening. The very first battle scene alone made me quickly draw comparisons to the greatness of the Matrix, but quickly surpassed it as the movie drove on. I can't fully expressed how astonished I was left at the end of each and every single combat sequence in this film. I am taken back when I think of how the actors had to truly have knowledge in using the weapons they employed. Incredible respect goes to them.

The subtitles? Not a problem. I even thought after a while that I was beginning to understand the foreign tongue.

Scenery in this film was absolutely breathtaking. There's no need to elaborate on this- take my word on it.

Gladiator was another one of my picks for best movie of the year because of its sheer grandness, but "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" was enormously more anchored in its premise and creativity. This movie is outstanding.