I am certainly not saying ALL genre films have bad acting and bad writing.
I am saying I can accept a somewhat lower standard in those areas if the subject interests me greatly, but that's where I draw the line.
I find that genre films have a high frequency of being badly written and/or acted. (Perhaps that goes for mainstream dramas too; I could very well simply not notice.)
What I'm saying is that Crouching pleased me greatly. It was true to its genre while still catering to me as a westerner: quality writing, adequate actors, great pacing, great budget/effects.
Now that I've read your reply I will add another item to my list of what makes Crouching such an exceptionally pleasing wuxia film for me: that it does not rely on (too much) prior knowledge. I still don't think that's the main reason I remember it so fondly over the dozens of other attempts, though.
Many other wuxia films obsess far too much on the film as a painting - they look astonishing, but there's not much engagement behind the surface. Others are simply behemoths collapsing under their own weight. Yet others inject their stories with the rather peculiar pratfalling kind of humor that went out of vogue in the west with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Yet others exceed the limits of their budgets. And some simply have no budget.
But rest assured, the genre is very dear to me regardless - I meant what I said when I am capable of lowering my standards in my special-interest areas! (And to not make that sound as a slight: I love that films from China, Hong Kong, Korea etc can be such surprising five star efforts, and I love that "my" western film scene is getting strong and healthy competition
)
And I have high hopes you and I have a bright future: very soon now the Chinese film industry will reach (and surpass?) the standards set by Hollywood (and to a lesser extent the European scene) - hopefully Crouching Tiger will be remembered as a trailblazer and not an exception!
Best Regards
Zapp
