The Grandmaster

China   d/ Wong Kar Wai

There was a time, thirty years ago, when these kung fu fighting films were fresh and startling. One, Crouching Tiger..., even crossed over to the mainstream and played in Peoria.

But now the bloom is off the rose...as the first extended fight scene rolled on by I found it impossible to keep my attention on the screen. This is all cartoon violence...who cares if one or a hundred of the toons get killed?

Elegantly lit/shot but it's time to move on folks. This genre is dead.

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