Review of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016) by Robert D — 28 Feb 2016

This broke my heart a bit. The original was a thing of rare beauty... true poetry in motion. Sixteen years after the first movie, the entire populace of martial arts-savvy China now speaks English? This concession for Generation Doesn't Read so they don't have to strain their entitled eyes with subtitles is the first sign of trouble.

It's great--in theory--to have Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Yu Shu Lien, but her performance lacks passion. The high-flying, rooftop-skipping acrobatics of the original are back, but everything is lit with bright studio lights that make this look like a movie made for a cable network.

The supporting cast is an inert as the Terracotta Army... and about as emotive. Crushing disappointment and the palest imitation of the original masterpiece.