Interestingly, by the time the climax of the film is underway, you get so wrapped up in what's going on that you totally forget that there was even a story going on beforehand. And then you realize that there actually isn't a conventional story taking place at all. There are no bad guys, no unsolved mysteries, no psychotic arsonists on the loose, no extreme character conflicts, no heroics, and nothing to prove - it's just a team of firefighters doing their job. Director Johnnie To has cleverly manipulated you into caring for these people solely so he can put them in an extreme life threatening situation and make his audience squirm. The tension he creates is superb, and you find yourself constantly agonizing over their safety. Johnnie To has really pulled off something special with this film, and I never thought I would find an action film without guns, car chases, and kung fu to be so exciting.

After hearing all of the positive buzz about this film over the last two years, I was extremely anxious to finally see it, although I was also a bit apprehensive. The first red flag was hearing that director Ang Lee ("Eat Drink Man Woman", "Sense And Sensibility") who had never directed an action film would be making a kung fu epic. That illicited a bunch of snickering and skepticism in the film community. Secondly, Jet Li was initially cast to play the role of the retired swordsman, but was later replaced by Chow Yun Fat due to scheduling and possibly artistic conflicts. This concerned me, because now we had a kung fu film where the primary kung fu actor was being replaced by a non- kung fu actor. Lastly, for nearly a year before its U.S. release, Sony had been saying they had little faith in the film and would only release a dubbed version of it for the art theater circuit. This seriously frustrated me and made me even more nervous about the film. Thankfully, none of the aforementioned issues spoiled the integrity of the film. Director Ang Lee has done an amazing job of presenting an action oriented love story, and Yuen Woo Ping's fight choreography is utterly astounding. Chow Yun Fat does a great job with his limited action scenes and creates a dramatic sense of presence that I'm not sure Jet Li would have done as convincingly. After seeing the film, I couldn't see anyone but Chow in that role. And finally, much to my surprise, at the last minute Sony decided to give the film a wider release in its pristine subtitled form. Thank you, Sony!

First of all, the film is gorgeous and beautifully filmed. The breathtaking scenery is vast and serene, and the sets are beautiful. Michelle Yeoh delivers possibly her finest performance ever, both physically and dramatically. More than anyone else, the audience is truly in tune with what she's thinking and feeling. However, it's Zhang Ziyi who ends up stealing the show. Her fiery intensity is so overwhelming that she literally owns every scene she's in, and when she and Michelle Yeoh get together, the screen truly comes alive with energy. And much like the troubled teenager that she portrays, her emotions are destructive and all over the place. Driven by passion and fuelled by naivete and inexperience, her delivery is pure, raw, and all-consuming. She's a very dangerous woman whose power and passions are beyond her control... The action direction is flawless and beautiful to watch. Digital wire removal techniques have allowed Yuen Woo Ping to use heavier wires for more impressive stunts, and all of the players look exceedingly graceful in their maneuvers. It's also noteworthy that the combat sequences don't use the over-the-top smacking and clanging sound effects, making the battles seem much more realistic. The only real complaint I have about the film is that it seems a little long and slow paced - especially for a Hong Kong film, which generally tend to be frantic. And while I don't consider it "the 'Star Wars' of kung fu films" as Ric Meyers has, or a film to revolutionize the entire film industry as others have, I still think it's a fantastic film and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Asian swordplay or female action films.

A very well made film with a very dark and nasty sense of humor. The "Battle Royale" training video that the students are forced to watch is wickedly amusing. The film does an excellent job of capturing the very essence of teen angst, featuring overly melodramatic dialog and a completely over-the-top musical score . It's also shockingly and graphically brutal, causing me to jump out of my seat on several occasions. While I don't understand it, I found a sick fascination in watching attractive teenagers kill each other. (time for therapy, perhaps?) It's also quite satisfying if you like girls 'n' guns action, since the girls in the film are arguably more violent than the boys, and have no qualms when it comes to pulling the trigger (whereas almost all of the boys are impotent with their weapons). Things sort of fall apart towards the end, but the film never fails to be interesting. While it's not for all tastes, "Battle Royale" is a truly awe-inspiring action/horror film as well as a fascinating character study and a biting commentary on society. Check it out.