SummaryCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny tells an epic story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption, set against breathtaking action in an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the Martial World. [Netflix]
SummaryCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny tells an epic story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption, set against breathtaking action in an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the Martial World. [Netflix]
I am glad I had low expectations, because they were fulfilled and THEN some. Sword of Destiny has its cheesy moments, but also has its amazing ones. Often, the movie rivals and sometimes exceeds Crouchin Tiger Hidden Dragon. It fails in some areas, but I love this movie and already know it (like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) will be one of my favorites.
I am glad I read some reviews before watching. They lowered my expectations and let me know I was not going to get a movie in the same vein as the first (which was a 10/10). Instead I got a classic bit of kung-fu drama, not shakespearian by any means but clock-full of genre tropes and good fun because of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but those that say it is very different to the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon are right.
It's a little unfair to any sequel to use its predecessor as a yardstick rather than considering it on its own merit, but in this case, it's impossible to put the original movie aside. Not just because of the title, but because Sword Of Destiny mimics its predecessor in so many clear and frustrating ways.
If the only martial arts movies you’re seeing are “Crouching Tiger” pictures, it’s good to know that they’re keeping up with the state of the art, even if they’re not actually inventing it.
There are a few inventive battles on a frozen pond and atop the tiled roof of a temple, but they are so CGI-enhanced as to seem cartoonish, not marvelous.
The emotional connective tissue that made Lee’s film so poetic, romantic, tragic and thrilling is missing here, reducing Sword of Destiny to a series of loosely related fight sequences and gauzy, overwrought flashbacks.
Clocking in at just 96 minutes, Sword of Destiny feels heavily truncated, lacking in narrative substance. Scant characterisation and timid action choreography don’t help matters, while an over-reliance on simple sets and CGI landscapes mean Grant Major’s (The Lord of the Rings) production design lacks the resonance of the previous film.
Ignore most of the critiques.
If you liked the original, you’ll love this.
Enough of the old to be legitimate, blended with wonderful new characters & story.
Above all, it’s *gorgeous*, and provides closure.
It was okay. It really was no where near as good as the first which was great because it focused on the characters relationships and culture. This in turn enhanced the phenomenal martial arts sequences. This was just a series of poorly developed characters with sloppy relationships fighting each other. Rather disappointing.
Une suite plutôt inutile au premier Tigre et Dragon sorti il y a plus de 15 ans (!) mais pas totalement désagréable pour autant... il faut dire que le premier film se traînait en longueur(s) sous le prétexte de jolis moments remplis de poésie et de regrets (avec la guimauve qui va avec, cela va de soi !) alors que la suite se traîne... sensiblement moins mais s'avère moins "poétique" à cet égard.
Evidemment l'attrait du premier film était la magnifique Zhang Ziyi et le charismatique Chow Yun-Fat qui distribuait les leçons comme on distribue les coups de pied au cul : avec classe et générosité. Mamie Yeoh est toujours là mais c'est Donnie Yen qui est venu donner de sa personne : il s'en sort honorablement mais Donnie ne fait pas le Chow.
Cela dit, l'histoire reste fort bancale dans les deux cas de figure, elle manque de liant, d'allant et surtout de rigueur ! elle se borne à faire du nunuche avec du gnangnan compassé à droite et à gauche et elle recycle ici la structure de base du premier film avec son thème récurent de vieille vengeance qui veut tout récurer au sabre.
Comme le premier Tigre et Dragon, il s'agit d'un film de câbles et d'épée... il me semble que les combats sont toutefois moins spectaculaires dans ce numéro 2 même si le rythme général est moins endormi. Egalement moins bien filmé de manière générale même si... l'ensemble demeure très présentable.
Un ensemble -justement- qui laisse une impression moyenne : le film se laisse voir mais n'emballe pas non plus comme son prédecesseur, loin de là. Il s'avère un brin en deçà, ce qui n'est clairement pas formidable finalement.
I didn't have great expectations going in, and I was okay with that, but I was still disappointed. Biggest mistake of entire movie in my opinion was to film dialogue in English. Didn't feel right; dialogue felt forced. I can understand wanting to appeal to those (mostly in the US, I imagine) who don't like subtitles, but to me the English dialogue did not ring true and ruined it. I even tried the Chinese (dubbed over) with English subtitles but that was even worse! The action was okay, but felt like a pale copy of the original, right down to the same exact angles and moves and pull backs. Just can't recommend this let down of a movie.
Croucheing tiger hidden dragon (part 1) is certainly one of the best
martial arts movie ever, due to deep characters , love and emotion,
short but extraordinary fighting scenes, beautiful scenery and
magnificent music.
With Donnie Yen and Michelle, fantastic 4K scenic pictures and music
reminiscent of the first part the sword of destiny had many ingredients
to make our expectations high. However what was delivered is just
saddening.
The plot is clearly lacking quality failing to elaborate on the
different characters and transporting emotions. While we could feel the
love and respect between Michelle and Li Mu Bai in part 1 we are
completely lacking same in sword of destiny. If a movie is not deep
than only action can partially compensate this lack,
Again we get shocked of what we are being presented. Fighting scenes
much below capabilities of Donnie Yen and everyone else. For example in
the fight scenes of part 1 between Michelle Yeoh and the young Zhang
ZhiYi the green sword of destiny is really the matchmaker in a well
orchestrated dramatic fight. Going back to the classic *The Sword" with
Adam Cheng we find another sample of incredible fight scenes where the
sword is making the little difference between the two world best
fighters in a culminating dramatic fight. Same movie (The Sword) we
find a fantastic elaboration of how a ninja stealth fighter attacks
incredibly out of nowhere, bringing our hero into serious trouble. What
happened to sword of destiny plot... where the strange lady in red is
kind of mimicking this ninja style against Michelle Yeoh. Sword of
destiny is so far behind the classic. Also we find much better
elaboration of similar fighting style in Azumi 2 ... The makers of
Swords of Destiny are clearly not deep into martial arts and deliver
zero.
Sword of destiny does not include surprises, no long or convincing
fight scenes, no drama... Characters are introduced, fight, die...
Without anything appealing to the spectator.
My advice to Netflix: next time do not just hire great actors. Hire the
best movie makers. Clearly 14 blades with Donnie Yen is the best
martial arts movie of this decade. This is the caliber that should have
been delivered and this is the crew that should have made sword of
destiny. This movie outperforms with incredible fight scenes not seen
before and leaves you crying at the sad end. Sword of destiny delivers
none of that.
Production Company
Netflix,
The Weinstein Company,
China Film Group Corporation (CFGC),
Dongyang Paige Huachuang Film & Media Company,
Film 44,
Yucaipa Films,
Pegasus Taihe Entertainment