“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is just like “The Matrix.” Just like “The Matrix” except that “Crouching Tiger” actually has high-quality dialogue and acting, a story that holds up to multiple viewings, unpredictability … and no Keanu Reeves.Sure, there are insane martial arts action sequences, seamless effects, and a storyline based on the dominant religious lore of the country — the Chinese film takes its name and many of its ideas from Chinese mythology and Taoism, and “The Matrix” draws heavily on the Christian tradition.But the similarities end there. While “The Matrix” is a display of special effects excellence weakly justified by a mediocre story, “Crouching Tiger” is a sweeping tale of romance and responsibility that is enhanced, not carried, by its visual brilliance.The story begins with a sword called the Green Destiny. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat, “The Replacement Killers”), the greatest warrior in China during the Han dynasty, decides it is time to part with his prized sword in order to pursue a more peaceful future — perhaps with Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh, “Tomorrow Never Dies”), a fellow warrior.Shu transports the sword to Sir Te (Sihung Lung), and it is stolen by a building-leaping thief who knows the ways of the Wudan warriors. Li and Shu pursue the thief while soon-to-be-married noble Jen (Zi Yi Zhang) deals with her secret relationship with Lo (Chen Chang), a desert bandit.In the process, many asses are kicked, and nearly every move ever seen in “Street Fighter II” is brought to life. However, there is a striking lack of blood and gore resulting from the violence, in contrast with most American films. Also, there are no fight scenes that do not involve women martial artists — females dominate both the story and the action. The fight scenes instead take on the characteristics of a beautifully-choreographed dance — but with really sharp weapons. The martial arts displays are captivating, particularly one of the final battles in which the power of the Green Destiny is revealed.The characters jump off walls and skim across water, not quite flying but moving with grace and agility that would put Spiderman to shame.Even when someone isn’t having a blade embedded in his forehead, “Crouching Tiger” speeds along, never dragging. The movie doesn’t seem to be even half its two-hour length.In large part, this is due to the gorgeous visuals. The scenery is beautiful, spanning desolate deserts and lush forests. The vibrant colors make some scenes seem three-dimensional.Everything in the film functions to make it that much better.Each setting comes alive with its own distinct attributes and are perhaps just as much characters as Li and Jen are.The dialogue is simple but powerful, and the English subtitles are easy to read, which helps maintain the fast pace.Characters reveal new layers with each successive scene, becoming increasingly complex and interesting.Rolling drums and breezy wind instruments add intensity to a fight scene while conveying tranquility during a tender yet aggressive lovemaking sequence.All of this enriches a plot which is a far cry from the kind found in western action films. Female leads who could easily kick Keanu Reeves’ ass, a not-so-happy yet not unhappy ending, and no faceless enemy trying to destroy the human race add up to an unconventional mix of fantasy, mythology and romance.There is no saving the world or getting the girl — in a traditional sense, anyway.So, basically, “Crouching Tiger” is nothing like “The Matrix.” All that could make it better would be adding more scenes, perhaps. The open-ended conclusion leaves many questions unanswered.However, these ambiguities do not detract from the story, even though the conclusion is more of a mystery than Keanu Reeves’ career. *****