“A marvelous spectacle ignites the screen as the martial arts genre is reconsidered as a fabulous feminist epic. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) is a legendary warrior whose 400-year-old sword is stolen upon retirement and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) is the martial arts master and friend who promises to retrieve it. They meet Jen (Zhang Zi Yi), a politician’s daughter and fearless fighter, harboring the desire to escape an arranged marriage. A need to avenge his late masters murder has Li meeting Shu Lien in her search for the sword. Their paths cross too with Jen’s and that’s only the beginning. The plot twists are numerous and the stylized action sequences stunning to watch. And the clumsily concealed love between Li and Shu Lien adds a steady sense of humor. At the film’s core is a love letter to a popular genre and a testament to the art of filmmaking.” -PSIFF 2001