I didn't really think there was much of a story, and I wasn't expecting one. To me, it was just pure fun. The comedic action elements were clever and inventive, as I've come to expect from Stephen Chow, but for the most part, it was only slightly less mindless than the typical kung fu action flick. And that was just fine.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. In my mind, it is beyond compare. I didn't consider it pretentious, just stylized.
