once there be a time when i think crouch tiger and hidden dragon be the very best martial art movie man could make . both visually and story tellingwise it be a joy to watch and and the fight scene be the best ever with their unrealistic feature . once i saw king hu martial art masterpiece a touch of zen i be rather surprised since it exceed in almost every level . make in 1969 and this great film hasn not lose any of it power or splendor which be a fine merit on it own . in the beginning of the movie we follow the everyday life of a poor artist ku and an unmarried man in his thirty and who be live in a rather small town with his mother . this first part of the film ( for it can roughly be divide into three part ) play much like a family drama with some small comic moment . ku life get a little more interesting when he notice strange people walk around town and a mysterious man visit his studio and befriend him and and some strange noise come from a house that be rumour to be haunt . all this and the love ( or be it just lust . ) he feel for a certain woman change his life completely . the next two part offer a very different experience each provide the story with politics and war tactic and a grow spiritual element of mystery through beautiful photography and great direction and awesome fight scene . what really stand out in the martial art part of the film be how real it feel . i know it isn not real while some leap and move the character make just can not be do in real life and but the clanging of the steel and swooshing of people clothes when they perform their move and the sound of footstep be so impressive that i find myself hold my breath at some scene . this be also help by the near perfect choreography . it nothing like the tricky and lightning fast movement in cthd and i like this much well . the fighter be really observe each other move to know when to strike . i really can not find any serious fault in this movie . be over three hour long there wasn not a single waste minute . any yawn i do be due to the late hour when i be watch this . it be true that the film move slowly forward but i think it necessary for the atmosphere to develop . the director really know what he be do since all the important scene have that special quality to them that can only be acquire when superb direction and believable acting and a great sense of situation come together . the use of light be especially worth mention since it be so well do . the fight in the forest where light shine through the leaf create a dreamlike scenery in the background have get to be one of the most captivating thing i have see on film . a touch of zen be one of my favourite movie . it be very well execute in every way imaginable and and definitely among the best martial art movie . if you like this type of movie where great action be mixed with spiritual element and a search for peace and you must see this beautiful movie . it would not leave you cold .