Michelle Yeoh's character (Siu Lin)
I really liked Siu Lin, the drunken maiden in this movie. Michelle Yeoh was part of the reason I wanted to see this film and she an Jet Li make a great team!
I liked how they introduced her character, who was a lute player looking for her ex-husband, Murang Pai, who had left Siu Lin for Eunuch Liu's sister, who had promised him wealth if he would leave Siu Lin. Obviously, Sister Liu and Siu Lin have some kind of rivalry going on with each other and it's a shame that wasn't explored further. When Siu Lin gives Murang Pai his lute back, Sister Liu is insulted and a fight breaks out (with good choreography). What I liked best about this scene, is that while Sister Liu does come from wealth, she's not as experienced a warrior like Siu Lin. Yes, Siu Lin is poor, but she has superior fighting abilities and that's something that money can't buy. In the end, Siu Lin is the better fighter.
My favorite scene though was Jun Bo (Jet Li), trying to help Siu Lin kick her habit of drinking, as her bitter divorce has left her with a broken heart. Jun Bo tries to make her quit, but Siu Lin won't listen and so he makes her break bottles of wine over his head in an attempt to waste the wine. Siu Lin, enraged, starts taking her anger out on Jun Bo by fighting him and he begs her not to. Siu Lin hisses, "Don't tell me what to do. I'll fight if I want." Miss Li tries to break it up, but Siu Lin's anger has made her too strong and she throws the woman off her back. Jun Bo, finally slaps some sense into Siu Lin (literally) and shouts at her to stop living in her past, because it will only become her burden if she continues to cling to it. Siu Lin, realizing Jun Bo is right, ceases her fighting and begins to cry. Michelle looks lovely when she's happy or sad.
After that, Siu Lin swore that she'd do everything in her power to help Jun Bo after Chin Bo betrays him and the rebels to the Eunuch's warriors. Indeed, this is a movie about redemption, friendship and loyalty, three traits that are noble within the human spirit.
If anybody else likes Siu Lin, please post.