Breathtaking and beautiful, a classic. I saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out. Having grown up watching tons of wuxia movies, I was a huge fan of the genre. It didn't matter the quality, I loved it all. So I was blown away choreography, cinematography and epic story of Crouching Tiger when it came out. I feel like this movie elevates the whole genre. I never knew a martial arts film could be so artistic and beautiful. After all this time has gone by I recently re-watched it because I wondered if I'd still love it as much. I was relieved that it really did hold up after all this time. It might sound a little extreme, but there are certain scenes and choreography that are so beautiful to me that I actually get teared up. The fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi is one of the best things I've ever seen. Just so impressive - both the choreography and the performance. The plot is kind of typical of wuxia and a bit uneven. It is the weak point of this movie for me. But it's elevated by the stunning scenery, cinematography and choreography. Two stirring love stories - one young and passionate and the other deep and mature - give the story emotional resonance.