Rating: **
Director: Ching Siu Tung
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung (Chiu Wai), Donnie Yen, Joey Wang,
Yip Chuen Chun (Chuan-Chen Yeh)
A martial arts fantasy period piece full of flying and super-fu. Michelle Yeoh plays the cold and bitter ruler of a martial arts clan, aided by Tony Leung and Donnie Yen. Donnie is wonderful as a somber and emotionally tormented swordsman, and Tony Leung proves that he is a competent (and charming) swordsman. Joey Wang is also charming as Tony Leung's commoner girlfriend. The film has an awkward ending that seems to leave everything unresolved, but apparently the Taiwanese version of the film ends with Michelle Yeoh's character jumping off a cliff. There is also a fair amount of bizarre strobe photography in the action scenes which is kind of distracting.