Unfortunately because this was supposed to be a sequel to the original oscar winning movie it never had a chance to cut thae grade of the first. But if you watch it on its own merits by the dynamic casting of Donnie Yen and Michelle yeoh, both legends in their own right, and look at the rest of the young cast there is good solid acting and great potential for the younger. I loved it because I watched it on its own merits and the combination of Donnie and Michelle and what was once thought to be was not I looked upon this as telling the story behind Michelle's character. How she coped with Chow Yun 's death and finding out a death had come to life. It is still a movie about honour, dignity, duty, piety, the martial world and a love refound and a love started. I do not think they could have made this in any other way because the great figure in the first movie was like no other. In this it shows that they had flaws and made wrong decisions and not everything is as you may think. The sword was supposed to be the centrepiece but truthfully I believe it was Michelle's character and opening her eyes and her heart and still remain true to herself and keep her love locked in a space in heart for another to be able to enter. There is now way you could compare the 2 movies as they were different stories and as I said before, it could not surpass the first. But it was wonderful to see what happened to her afterwards. It gave closure for me. Watch it as a stand alone movie.. You will enjoy it more.