Drizzle/Zeng Jing tries to start a new life after being counseled by a monk. But she must, again, take up the sword of the assassin when her former partners-in-crime come to demand that she hand over the remains of a famous monk.
The flashing blades and swirling choreography of the endless fight scenes and the charisma of Yeoh keep you engaged but the end result falls far short of her Crouching Tiger triumph a decade ago.
Although it drags on a little too long, this Chinese martial arts flick is thoroughly entertaining, thanks to its even pace, strong performances and impressive choreography.
the film uses its wire-fu trappings to allegorise Buddhist notions of self-transformation in a world of illusions. Throw in some inventive chopsocky tempered by romance, and you have a fatalistic wuxia about the martial pursuit of a "normal life".
There's little about Chao-Bin's other work to suggest the splendidly choreographed ballets of swordplay that feature here, with Woo's dexterous hand obvious in the fight scenes.
