Simply put, this movie is a true modern-day classic and deserves all the praise and accolades it has received. Ang Lee must be commended for taking a well-worn genre and injecting new life into it by combining the fantastical with his own expert and subtle direction. 'CTHD' isn't as crazy as some wuxia movies of the past; there are no disappearing ninjas or flat-out gymnastics taking place in the sky, but it perfectly balances the somber, contemplative tone with out-of-this-world martial arts. I'v seen hundreds of films from this genre, 'Duel to the Death', Tsui Hark's classic 'Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain', etc. and I'm happy to say that 'CTHD' ranks with the very best of them. PS- to all those who are still confused by the 'flying' in this movie, you aren't supposed to question it, it's just something that's commonplace in these kinds of films. So, LET IT GO.
Rating: **** (out of ****)
Rating: **** (out of ****)