Year:
2000
Studio:
Sony Pictures Classics
Feature:
4/5
DVD:
4/5
Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon is a masterful martial arts movie that combines action
with a subtle love stories. The story takes place a couple of hundred
years ago in China. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) is a master Wudan
swordsman who wants to retire from the life. Yu Shu Lien (Michelle
Yeoh) is a fellow Gian Gain (the bandit, police, mercenary class).
Early on we find out that they have an unspoken love that can never be
stated out loud because of tradition.
In any case, Li Mu Bai entrusts the Green Destiny sword to Shu Lien, to
deliver it to Sir Te in Peking. The sword is immediately stolen by the
Jade Fox (Cheng Pei Pei), which pulls Li Mu Bai back because he has
sworn vengeance against the Jade Fox, a woman bandit who poisoned his
master and stole the secret fighting book of the Wudans.
It's pretty obvious that the thief was not Jade Fox, but her disciple,
the daughter of Governor Yu, Jen (Zhang Ziyi). Jen is an eighteen year
old who is betrothed to a man she doesn't want to marry. The Gian Gain
life is intoxicating and with the tutelage of the Jade Fox she has a
become and expert swordswoman.
Jen is the main thread of the movie. There's a whole chase theme as Li
Mu Bai wants to redeem her and teach her. Jen has her own love story
with a desert bandit, Lo (Chang Chen), the whole flashback scene where
she meets him takes 20 minutes. And in the end it's Jen who finally
finds her way.
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There are lots
of ethereal fighting scenes. Wudan is a martial arts discipline that
stresses smoothness and harmony. The combat scenes have lots of
floating around and really obvious wire work. But that's all part of
the style of the movie. The background music is especially nice, adding
to the surreal quality of the fights. There is a real plot and dialogue
for a martial arts movie. The movie looks great and is very
professional looking. Definitely a movie designed to be distributed
world wide.
The DVD has a commentary track with director Ang Lee and writer James
Schamus. Fairly good commentary with lots of insights into making the
movie and lots of anecdotes. There is a 20-minute making of special and
a 13-minute interview with Michelle Yeoh.
What I liked: good love stories. dreamy quality to the fights, good
plot.
What I didn't like: both love stories have tragic endings (arguable but
I think the endings were rather sad).
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