Review of The Grandmaster (2013) by Lee M — 10 Mar 2014

This film puts the "art" back in "martial arts." Director Wong Kar-wai brings a dance-like interpretation of kung fu to the screen, often utilizing slow motion and a heavily romanticized musical score.

It is a spectacle to say the least. I didn't care much for the story but this film has plenty of eye candy. The Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography is easy to see as the film unfolds. As the film opens with slow-motion kung fu in the rain, I couldn't help but feel that it was truly one of the most impressive things that I have ever seen.

I also adored the sequence when Gong Er is practicing kung fu with such sensitivity that it nearly transforms into ballet. Unfortunately, the story is confusing as it jumps throughout time, never actually settling into a time that is the present.

This made it difficult to figure out when the film actually ended, particularly because I was getting excited for an epic battle but then the credits started to roll. This film isn't going to rock your world (notice that it didn't even make the short list for Best Foreign Film), but the cinematography is awesome and it has some of the most artistic kung fu in any movie that you'll see.