Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2000] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

 

 

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I love this film, simply for me because it is beautiful.
The fight scenes are breath-taking, the musical score is so haunting (using the Cello to great effect) and the story-line is one long roller coaster ride of twists and turns.
Anyone who dismisses it because of the flying sequences is probably unaware of the wirework used in a hell of a lot of martial arts movies.
I have never found the dubbing a problem for the simple reason that I watch it subtitled in mandarin, otherwise it loses it’s genuine feel, it seems that in most films the transaction from eastern to western is not a happy one. It seems we take great pleasure in changing the voices to sound ‘wacky’ and entertaining, in most cases the most inappropriate voice actors are chosen and key parts of the plot are missed out. It seems that we can’t cope with a complex storyline if we can’t read what the cast are saying, surely your brain couldn’t take it? So the people who put the effort in to read the subtitles are rewarded with the ‘true’ film, I must admit, I always watch Asian films with subtitles, how can you not like the sounds of the language being spoken?
Anyway, the film for me is totally legendary, one of a few more recent martial arts movies I have enjoyed.

Beautiful cinematography, an amazing soundtrack, moving performances from the whole cast... Oh, and some of the most breathtaking fight-scenes ever filmed. The first fight between Jen and Shu-Lien - the roof-type scene - is mesmerising, and the elegance with which all the fighters move makes Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne look like clumsy wranglers by comparison. If you haven't seen this film yet, you'll have heard by now that the characters can practically 'fly' - causing a lot of short planks to moan that the film is "unrealistic", as though Ang Lee had tied the cast to ropes and made them fly all by complete accident - but if you have the intelligence to suspend disbelief, this is one of the greatest movies of recent years. A shame that the same can't be said about the DVD, though. The 'making of' feature contains virtually nothing about the making of the film at all. But most unforgivable is the fact that for some unfathomable reason, the English subtitles provided on the DVD are not the same as the ones that were used in the cinematic release, and completely ruined the tone of the film for me - especially in the final romantic scenes where the new translation seems clumsy and staid. I am completely gutted at this alteration, in fact, and feel a little cheated that we are not getting quite the same film as the one we saw in the cinema.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a traditionally made wuxia, or Chinese martial arts film. It fulfills most of the melodrama shown in standard kung-fu movies, and yet it is so much more than that.

Chow Yun Fat plays Li Mu Bai, an outstanding warrior of the Wutan style of martial arts and swordplay. He is on a mission to avenge the murder of his Master, but he is also bound with honour to deny the love he feels for his best friend, Yu Shu Lien, played by Michelle Yeoh.

Mu Bai gives Shu Lien The Green Destiny, his cherished sword, and asks her to deliver it to Sir Te, Lung Sihung, a leader and a friend of her father.

As soon as the sword gets placed on display, it gets stolen. It is widely believed that Jade Fox, the arch-nemesis of Mu Bai, is behind the disappearance of The Green Destiny.

Shu Lien, however, believes that Jen, the daughter of a governor who is a house guest of Sir Te, has something to do with it. The story continues as Mu Bai and Shu Lien attempt to regain possession of the sword.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is beautiful on many levels. It depicts diverse landscapes of China, from the Gobi desert, the ancient metropolis of Peking, through to the southern Bamboo Forest.

The beauty of the film lies far deeper than mere scenery though. It lies within the human emotions, their connections and repressed feelings. Each character in the film is like a river, calm on the exterior with a current flowing fast beneath the surface.

The advantage of the dvd is for those who are put off by subtitles. The original production is filmed in Mandarin and subtitled in English. Dvd means that you can dub over the film in English, if you prefer. It is interesting to note, however, that both Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat speak Cantonese, and were, therefore, speaking in a language which was not their own.

The first real action scene is about twenty minutes into the film and it is difficult to do it justice, for it is far removed from your usual martial art films. It includes gravity-defying leaps, and body-defying contortions. Absolutely fantastic!

These acclaimed combat scenes are choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping, who also arranged The Matrix fights, and although I hate wire-stunt work in fight scenes, it does actually have a place in this film because the story supports it, Wutan warriors are trained to control this special ability. Ang Lee also saved the magical quality of these fights by cutting in for long close ups of the actors/actresses as they stare into each other's faces, scrutinising and trying to figure each other out. This is so much more than a mere fighting movie.

Michelle Yeoh is like a shining star in this movie. She plays such a humble and compassionate character, and yet is a true warrior, through and through.

Zhang Ziyi, however, is who really makes this film what is, a masterpiece. Her character, Jen, goes through so many different emotions, and she plays them flawlessly. She is the 'Hidden Dragon' of the title, her full name translating into, 'Nimble Jade Dragon'. Lo Xiao Hu, the Mongolian bandit that she falls in love with, is the 'Crouching Tiger', for his name translates as 'Little Tiger'.

The real heart of this movie is in the extended love scene between Jen and Lo, despite criticism to the contrary. Set against a backdrop of the Gobi desert, their relationship is refreshing in its sincerity.

The ending is tragic, and yet, it is not all saddening. Ang Lee's message, to be true to yourself, is clear to the viewer as the film draws to a close.

Truly - A work of art.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Cinematic wonder
If asked my favourite ten films, this would be one of them, and if asked the most beautiful films I`ve ever seen, this would be in my top three. Read more

Published 5 months ago by GlynLuke

1.0 out of 5 stars No
I watched this expecting something great after all the hype. WAs I ever a victim of extreme disappointment? The answer would be a firm YES. Awful on almost every level. Read more

Published 9 months ago by B. J. du Cille

5.0 out of 5 stars All-time Classic Film
This movie spawned a seemingly endless amount of (for me) inferior releases from other directors in the far east trying to move into the western market. Read more

Published 11 months ago by KaesarSosei

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete Trash
Awful effects of people flying through the air and running up walls, very obvious they are just on strings.
Completely unrealistic and boring fight scenes. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Wristband UK

4.0 out of 5 stars Original.
There has been a flood of asian martial arts film in the West recently, and I think this is one of the originals. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Louise Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent.
What seems to be lost on many of the 1 star reviewers is that this is a fairy tale. Many expected a 'realistic' film where 1 man destroys entire legions of adversaries with the... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Tarmo

5.0 out of 5 stars The film that brought Chinese Cinema to the world
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is the film that took the martial arts to the west for a whole new generation. Read more

Published on 28 Oct 2009 by Russell G. Pottinger

4.0 out of 5 stars Crouching Tiger etc revisited
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Having just visited the village in South China where much of the film was staged I decided to watch again this iconic film. Read more

Published on 4 Sep 2009 by Susan Fletcher

5.0 out of 5 stars If you dont like this film, theres something wrong with you
This film is awesome. I guess martial art movie fans who have gave this film a poor rating could be that they have watched typical kungfu films for years which most have little to... Read more

Published on 7 Feb 2009 by Ponums

2.0 out of 5 stars Just got bored and found it silly.
I watched this for the first time recently and couldnt understand why it was so popular, i found this film utterly boring and very stupid for e. Read more

Published on 1 Aug 2008 by M. robinson

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