Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

7

BertoflyingfoxFeb 28, 2016

A solid 7 for me. I wasnt expecting it to be of the same calibre as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because well...this isnt the same director/crew as back then and I'm not sure why people would expect an exact re-tread of the first movie.A solid 7 for me. I wasnt expecting it to be of the same calibre as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because well...this isnt the same director/crew as back then and I'm not sure why people would expect an exact re-tread of the first movie.

Director Yuen Woo-ping did a great job. Netflix clearly wanted a much less deep story to tell but with obvious connections to the first and I feel this delivered. The sets and fight scenes were the parts I enjoyed most, while some of the character development felt a bit rushed.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

lghulmFeb 27, 2016

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 byI 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.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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1

KannedFarUFeb 26, 2016

Whoever produced this is an epic butt-hole. The movie was Americanized beyond recognition. Filmed in English with Chinese dub optional. Some of the asian actors have are speaking with a fake British accent. The music is cheesy and sounds likeWhoever produced this is an epic butt-hole. The movie was Americanized beyond recognition. Filmed in English with Chinese dub optional. Some of the asian actors have are speaking with a fake British accent. The music is cheesy and sounds like a made-for-TV movie. The characters are cheesy and boring. This movie has none of the charm of the original.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

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5

MeritCobaMar 4, 2016

Before Mad Max: Fury Road was released there was a certain apprehension that it would just be a rip off from an earlier Mad Max movie and funny enough it was. But Fury Road not only redid The Road Warrior but did this on high octane. ItsBefore Mad Max: Fury Road was released there was a certain apprehension that it would just be a rip off from an earlier Mad Max movie and funny enough it was. But Fury Road not only redid The Road Warrior but did this on high octane. Its mayor asset is that it never gives you pause to catch you breath and come to your senses. Whack them with another sequence of over-the-top actions before they start to focus on the weakness of the plot, characters and dialog! And it works. It is an awesome example of story telling that can only be done in a movie: using mostly visuals, sound and action-sequences and thus the movie comes into its own. Fury Road would be hard to write down: it would bore you to death if it did.

In comparison Sword of Destiny's fault is that it resembles earlier movies but doesn't add anything to it. Everyone wants to get that sword, the good guys gather a band of heroes to protect it, the bad guy send a lone anti hero to steal it, a girl tries to do the same at the same time: they get caught by the good side. Eventually they are forced to make an alliance when the bad guy sends an army to get by force what he couldn't get by thievery.

The acting is good, the quibbling between Natasha Liu and Harry Shum is amusing, the characters are the usual suspects, the story is mwah, the dialog trite, the fights all too familiar and because there are so many of them and done on a large scale they dominate the story line.
Sword of destiny fails where Fury Road didn't. It takes the same things we have seen over and over again, the flying fights, the few versus many fights, the running over walls, rooftops and such. It awed back in the day, but it doesn't now as Sword of Destiny doesn't energize it or give it a new twist.
And while making the same kind of movie without changing a thing must have felt like a safe option, in the end, and certainly in comparison to its predecessor, it becomes a let down. Sword of Destiny should have been to the first movie what Fury Road is to Road Warrior. Not just over the top mind you, just energize and alter it. They could have added more into this movie: more depth, more poetry, different fights, more personal ones, new kind of characters, new kind of allies, new kind of fighting methods, new weapons, new ways of filming, new sets, new scenery, new landscapes, new lighting methods, new kind of anything..but instead they walked the safe road. And in a world where the new gets old fast this is a sin and thus it gets punished.

Sword of Destiny is, by all means, not a bad movie, but nothing makes it stand out and at the end you are glad it is over and done with and that not yet another bland sword fight will erupt. Ultimately it is forgettable.

Two final observations:
-Thinking of it, there is also something very sad about the movie..The only thing that seems to matter and is talked about ad nausea is fighting. It is all they do and want to learn to do better. It gets noted that the fame of a hero last 20 years after his death/disappearance. The ultimately sadness that if you are not one, you probably won't get remembered at all. And what a sad world it is where nothing but fighting seems to get appreciated. Not writing, not poetry, not farming, not creating anything. Just killing is what matters, for that is what fighting is

-I applaud having and older woman play an important part in this movie, especially as woman actors are usually relegated to supporting roles or a television drama leads once they hit fifty. Still doesn't make it an eight I am afraid.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

royphishoohMar 25, 2016

Some entertaining sequences but there's not a lot here. Simply not in the same class as the original film. Many reviewers have commented on the English dialogue and I would have to agree, the film should have been in Mandarin.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

quincytheodoreFeb 26, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A smaller approach to the epic saga, a fine dance of blades nevertheless.

Bearing a legendary name can be either a blessing or a curse, "Sword of Destiny" is bound to be compared with its Oscar level predecessor. To be fair, the lack of Ang Lee's visual vision is truly apparent and the movie operates on smaller production as well, however that doesn't take away from its identifiable stylish choreography. This is a solid action martial art movie that is burdened by the legacy and expectation of its name.

Story resonates with the first movie in more ways than one. It has a couple of estranged romance plots in the backdrop of martial art world, which feels like an attempt to replicate the already proven formula. It's admittedly difficult not to be haunted by the ghost of the original, specifically since it doesn't have the same caliber of chemistry, for example the mentor-student relationship is clearly inferior to those of Chow Yun Fat and Zhang Ziyi had.

Still, "Sword of Destiny" has a couple of surprises. It works better when it’s trying to develop something of its own, although it's a difficult endeavor since the movie utilizes so many nostalgia angles. The subplot with younger couple is decent, it's one of the flashbacks which doesn't feel encumbering.

The antagonist side is actually interesting, with more sinister villain and henchmen. The female assassin is intriguingly strong, perhaps more than the ragtag army from opposite side. It also has strange witch character who gives prophecy. In a way the movie has archaic oriental touch like that of Dragon Tiger Gate. Unfortunately, they are not given more spotlight beyond typical bad guys.

Without Ang Lee, the visual is certainly different. The original had such gripping vistas, even more enchanted by the characters leaping through the air. That sense of liberation is now more constrained in plain or dark spaces. However, "Sword of Destiny" will not disappoint in the fighting department, in fact this is a more than decent showing for Wu Xia.

The action choreography is appropriately done. There's a benefit in having Woo Yuen Ping as director as he knows how to implement the scenes with fluidity. Fight scenes are gripping and intense, using the mix of blinding fast as well as technique strikes. It's one of the better displays of martial art genre, even compared to higher budget titles.

"Sword of Destiny" deals with the same predicament as the characters, it's haunted by the legend of Li Mu Bai, which is an inherited risk of donning the name "Crunching Tiger Hidden Dragon". It's quite unfortunate since it might distract audience from what is a good stylish action movie on its own.

PS: It seems Netflix version is in English, but the one shown in IMAX has Chinese dub with English subtitle.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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1

KalmanFeb 27, 2016

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 YenCroucheing 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.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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6

A7sus4Mar 1, 2016

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 poorlyIt 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.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

disobedientlibMar 1, 2016

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 understandI 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.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

UsernameTakenMar 5, 2016

No one should expect anything close to the original given it being a direct to Netflix production so I wouldn't be too harsh. I think the most unfortunate thing about it was the decision to film it in English. I think most viewers of theseNo one should expect anything close to the original given it being a direct to Netflix production so I wouldn't be too harsh. I think the most unfortunate thing about it was the decision to film it in English. I think most viewers of these kind of genre films prefer them stay true to form then try to pander to North American audiences. The storyline is quite rudimentary and awkward and is made more so by the fact that it's in English but the action scenes are excellent, beautifully choreographed, and while not anywhere close to the original they are at least entertaining. People who enjoy these sort of films will either be extremely disappointed or indifferent I don't think there's a middle ground. For me it was one of those films that I watched simply because I couldn't find anything that I hadn't already seen. So, if you're looking for a little time waster with some martial arts action it's certainly not terrible but don't go into it with high hopes.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

ColginatorJul 4, 2016

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remains one of the greatest martial arts films ever made. The breath-taking cinematography and graceful fighting sequences led it to become the highest grossing film in a foreign language in North America,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remains one of the greatest martial arts films ever made. The breath-taking cinematography and graceful fighting sequences led it to become the highest grossing film in a foreign language in North America, helped open up the west to Asian cinema and is quite simply a masterpiece. But sadly The Sword of Destiny seems to capture very little of the beauty that made Crouching Tiger so incredible and instead feels more like an attempt to cash in on the legacy of Ang Lee's original film.

Taking place 18 years after the original film, Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) returns to defend the sword Green Destiny once again, this time from the evil Lord Hades (Jason Scott Lee). She is assisted by Silent Wolf (Donnie Yen), her ex fiancé who she believed was dead. Meanwhile a young woman known as Snow Vase (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) who is training under Shu Lien begins to fall for Wei Fang (Harry Shun Jr), a young thief who attempted to steal the sword for Hades. The film rehashes several story beats from the original film but recreates them with far weaker characterisation and lacks the same depth of its predecessor.

The only returning cast member from the first film is Michelle Yeoh, who does deliver a good performance by bringing the same wisdom and nobility that she bought to the first film. However every other character suffers from a screenplay that is incapable of doing anything other than filling up time until the next action sequence. The main romance in the film between the two young lovers is never able to create any real chemistry. Even Donnie Yen, one of the greatest Chinese action stars, is unable to do anything with his little screen time and the incredibly bland script other than fight and look stoic.

The cinematography mixed with the vast landscapes looks nice at times, but at others the film suffered heavily from an overuse of CGI that feels like a very misguided departure from the natural beauty of the original film. Also instead of being filmed in Mandarin like the original film, the actors instead all speak English. Obviously this is done to appeal to a wider demographic, but it ends up distancing itself even further from the tone of the original film.

Out of everyone who could direct a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Woo- Ping Yuen could at first seem like a good choice. He's directed some of the greatest action films from China (including Drunken Master and Iron Monkey) and was even the action choreographer for the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. And he is able to pull of some great fight sequences throughout the film, including one creative sequence battling along a frozen lake. But as impressive as the fight choreography is, it never recaptures the tone of the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Whereas the fights in Crouching Tiger played out like a delicate dance through which two warriors communicated, Sword of Destiny is an impressive display of fighting skill and stunt work, but nothing much else.

Also whilst Woo-Ping Yuen is quite possibly one of the greatest action directors of all time, his style just wasn't suited here. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon wasn't really an action movie. It was a romantic drama cleverly disguised as a martial arts flick. But Sword of Destiny is instead just an action movie with a weak romantic sub-plot tacked on.… Expand