2-Storyline/Plot : I never forgot this film even though it has been nine years since I first saw it simply because it had an unforgettable story; events were relly amazing to follow.
Action mixed with romance with a slight of mystery is one of my favorite types when it comes to Wuxia productions, I liked how they made the fighting scenes; they were captivating.
3-Acting/Cast : The best combination ever! there were chemistry between all of them. There were geat fighting scenes between the actors since they acted in total harmony plus they delivered great feelings when it comes to romance.
They were great cast even though I wasn't familiar with half of them back then.
4-The ending : Even though it wasn't what I wanted but it felt realistic on many levels.
5-My impression: I was so moved by this film; even when there were commercials I was anticipating what will happen next.
I even kept thinking about it even after it ended : It affected me in a great way .
6-Overall : If you like action-wuxia then you need to watch this.
If you like action combined with romance then you would like this.
If you like martial arts films then you you will like this.
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This review may contain spoilers
"A faithful heart makes wishes come true"
I first watched this film when it was theatrically released in my country years ago. All I had to go on was a friend's recommendation and zero background in the wuxia genre. To say I walked into the nearly empty theater apprehensive would be an understatement. My fears were for naught. In a matter of minutes, I was completely mesmerized by the cinematography, music, and acting. Having watched my share of fantasy and super hero movies, I had no problem with the flying and light body technique as the characters danced across rooftops or fought high in a bamboo forest. The graceful movements and fighting techniques were like nothing I had ever seen. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was the gateway into a new world for me. Little did I know that it would set the bar for all films that followed.Though this movie was a wuxia, the heart of the film were the two romances. Yu Shu Lien, the owner of a delivery escort service and Li Mu Bai, a warrior trained at Wudan had fought their feelings for years. Their love was unrequited as Lien had been engaged to Li Mu Bai's friend, but he was killed and the two would not act on their feelings. Now they are reunited as Mu Bai brings her his famous sword, The Green Destiny, and asks her to deliver it to their protector. His journey toward self-enlightenment has brought him to her and he wishes to leave the bloodshed behind them. The 400- year-old sword is too much temptation for Jen, a young woman engaged to be married but secretly trained by the devious Jade Fox. The incognito Jade Fox had poisoned Mu Bai's master years before for his refusal to teach her the secrets of Wudan. Lien is aware who stole the sword and works to return it without bringing any dishonor to the families involved. The middle of the film focuses on Jen and her previous love affair with Lo Xiao Hu/Dark Cloud, a charismatic desert bandit, and in the present when she takes the sword a second time to find her way as a wandering warrior. Mu Bai and Lien know she needs someone righteous to train her before she becomes a poisonous dragon. The treacherous Jade Fox has only vengeance on her mind for Jen and Mu Bai. By the end of the film the characters will collide in a deadly conclusion.
On a recent re-watch, I could see all of the classic wuxia elements from the over 200 martial arts movies I have watched since that long ago day in the theater. Ang Lee used those elements but blew them up into a grand epic, showcasing a wide variety of stunning scenery taking the genre where it had not been before. Characters traveled through the mountains, desert, verdant valleys, and lush bamboo forests. The inn and outdoor café sets ubiquitous in so many old kung fu films made their appearance in grand style this time. The busy city streets didn't feel like a small set, but substantial with plenty of extras to add an additional layer of realism. Ang Lee made full use of the sets and scenery to bring about an energetic and beautiful atmosphere for the story to be told in. Unlike so many martial arts movies prior to CTHD the characters in this film were more important than the fighting. He not only succeeded in making a gorgeous framework for the story but also in developing characters we could feel empathy with as they struggled with their deepest feelings. They had depth and emotional weight to them instead of the thinly drawn characters of old. By paying attention to the smallest details and insisting on a quality presentation, Ang Lee set the bar higher for those who would follow him.
Michelle Yeoh was a revelation to me, and I will always be thankful for this film introducing me to her. She had been in the business for over 15 years at this point honing her craft and risking life and limb at times to do so. Though her fighting technique was fearless, quick, and agile, it was her expressive face revealing longing, fierceness, and tenderness that quickly drew me in and made me a life-long fan. Her portrayal of the mature and wise Yu Shu Lien was perfect. Chow Yun Fat as the spiritual warrior Li Mu Bai, showed how he was torn between his love for Lien, his desire for enlightenment, and his need to avenge his teacher. His calm demeanor was in stark contrast to Jen's firebrand personality always teetering on being out of control. Zhang Zi Yi in only her second film held her own with the veteran actors. As Jen she conveyed naivete, passion, and anger fluidly. Chang Chen as the ardent Dark Cloud resonated the wildness of the desert and his fervent love for Jen. Again, there was the contrast of Jen and Lo's fiery passion in comparison to Mu Bai and Lien's controlled, repressed love. Rounding out the stellar cast was Cheng Pei Pei as Jade Fox. I have gone on to watch her earlier movies where she had been the young female warrior who faced insurmountable odds, paving the way for other actresses. I'm so pleased they used her in this movie as the vengeful villain and gave the kung fu veteran a chance to shine.
Lien and Jen both sought freedom in their own way and both were bound by duty. Jen loathed being forced to marry wishing only to be free and Lien greatly desired to be with Mu Bai, but was prevented by a rigid sense of honor. The two couples were the inverse of each other emotionally and would gradually become more like the other whether a crouching tiger, biding its time or a hidden dragon of emotions. Lo and Jen, embodied the recklessness of youth with no regard for tomorrow. Lien and Mu Bai sought to guide them to more thoughtful actions. For restrained Lien and Mu Bai, they had reached the point where they were finally able to break through their control to unleash their feelings and unspoken words. True love trumped spiritual enlightenment as what was important became revealed in one last breath.
The only quibble I have with this magnificent film is with the long flashback interlude showing Jen and Lo's love affair. It was similar to The Taming of the Shrew and feels dated in the telling.
Yuen Woo Ping masterfully matched the fight choreography to the mood of the film. The actors did much of the fighting, check out all the face time during the battles. Instead of CGI, the floating and leaping, even in the bamboo forest-truly a thing of beauty, was accomplished by wire work. The fights were more elegant than brutal and more visually captivating than realistic. Aside from the bamboo forest fight, the fight between Lien and Jen was spellbinding. The experienced Lien used a variety of weapons as she sought to subdue the thief of the Green Destiny in a memorable fight choreography.
After my recent re-watch I found that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has stood the test of time. Though I have searched for its equal or better through the years I have yet to find a martial arts film to top this one. Only Hero's stunning aesthetic came close. Compelling characters, wonderfully acted, enchanting cinematography, a haunting score, and balletic fight scenes have made this the measuring stick for all other films. It is rare for a film to touch me deeply emotionally and this one has for over two decades. I need to remember to thank my friend again for encouraging me to visit this world of wonder.
3/31/23
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The concept of the movie is firstly the retrieval of the green destiny sword which then brings us to the Jade Fox; the villain of the movie.
ACTING: 9.5/10 – CHARACTERS: 10/10
Amazing acting abilities from Zhang Ziyi whom at the time of filming was just doing her second main role at the age of 20-21. The fight scene with Yeoh Michelle is so magnificent that I have to ask whether they use stunt doubles; and straight after she fights Chow Yun Fat. This fight provides the mastermind of the director’s (Ang Lee) ability to produce a worthy scene in weak looking trees.
MUSIC: 8.5/10
Such a calming ending song to a saddening conclusion.
LIKED: I loved the sceneries used and do wish to see them for myself in this lifetime (not so much the desert).
DISLIKED: The ending just because of its sadness
CONCLUSION:
You should watch this movie if you enjoy genres such as SUSPENCE – MARTIAL ARTS – AMAZING ACTING – LOVE – SACRIFICE – SWORDSMANSHIP – PATIENCE.
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This review may contain spoilers
A great introduction to Chinese movies
First chinese movie to be watched ever, and actually had some expectations since it is critically-acclaimed and is considered by many to be a classic.The premise of the story was rather simple, yet it was interesting to know how the romance plot of shu lien and li mu bai would uncover and i thought it would really focus here but was wrong (and for good reasons, plot wise, but i also really couldn't connect with them immediately since they were not presented well enough to really root for them). The martial art scenes especially at the beginning was really thrilling, exciting to watch, and refreshing (since i was exposed more on the korean action story-telling before this movie). The pacing was rather good and it was moving as quick as i anticipated it to be, with the green destiny sword always being lost and then recovered and then lost again, to li mu-bai's plan to avenge his master's death by killing jade fox, and jian long/jen's romance with xiao hu (which i actually wanted more but the backstory was already good and gave ample background for their connectiom with each other). The highlight here would really the spontaneous yet gripping martial art scenes especially the "flying" transitions since it was executed really well and the bamboo fight scene between li mu bai and jian long, add to that the realistic and well-shot settings (just loved the scenery of xinjiang and the desert).
Aside from that, jian long/jen's character was notable in here. She really was the embodiment of a crouching tiger since she doesn't want to conform on her obligations as an aristocrat's daughter to be a simple and abiding wife to a "pompous aristocrat" (verbatim from her) and a hidden dragon with her skills as a swordsman and a martial artist. I really liked how her character (as bratty as she was) was developed. Also props on the emphasis of the movie itself in having strong women characters and the less dependence on men on having to save them, and how consistent their characters from start to finish.
One thing that i would've wanted the film to showcase more would be the reason why jade fox became the antagonist as she was, since li mu bai's master's death may have been justified by here, but the undercover police's death wasn't and i didn't heard anymore from his daughter after her father's death. Also, the ending, as realistic and sad as it was (was really hoping that jian-long did not die and xiaohu's story would also apply to her), but was less impactful as i would've anticipated it to be.
Nevertheless, a great watch for the most part, it is actually a great movie, but to be considered a classic is still something i personally couldn't agree, for now. However, this movie is an eye-opener for me to watch more chinese movies.
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Classic indeed. They don't make them like this anymore.
I can easily see why this was a hit with western audiences at the time of it's release, and is considered a classic masterpiece. The story is very reminiscent of some favorite western fantasy films being released around the time (DragonHeart being a personal favorite of mine), as well as having all the characteristics of a Wuxia production.The story is simple but action-filled. The motivations for the conflicts went beyond greed - instead erring towards the desire for a better future and justice for the past. It allowed the characters to have ample depth. Even when you were wholeheartedly against them, you could understand where they were coming from. And the action sequences were gorgeously choreographed and told stories beyond just "this is the characters fighting." There were some things that were not explained, as they would in several modern wuxia dramas, but it didn't make the story hard to understand. I wish modern wuxias would do similar, so that we are not bogged down by explanations, world-building monologues, and character introductions all at once.
Even the ending was well-done. It was very true to the story being told. And the one unanswered question being left open like it was makes it a perfect ending for divided watchers.
It's a perfect starter wuxia. A classic if you will. That even long-standing fans may go back to for the actor performances and exquisite fighting sequences (which are numerous).
The only reason why this didn't get a 10 from me is because of the lack of one subplot that deserved a few more minutes of attention.
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How is it that I haven't watched it before?
In the flood of films, the wuxia series, in which heavily painted actors with white faces and skinny figures fly on the lines in the air, where after "battles" are reigned by impeccable costumes and hairstyles, where an overtly mock kiss or a long camera shot of the heroes' hands are sometimes called chemistry, this the film is still an island in the ocean of kitsch.
There is a story about a woman and a man. There is a story about a girl and a boy. About the search for perfection and the search for freedom. About righteousness and meanness. Without lofty screams and verbal declarations (such as "I'll never leave you"), the plot itself carries silent values. Silence can also be a scream, but for that you need the right direction. And here the camera work is perfect. Shows as much as you need.
The game is brilliant. Sparse facial expressions reflect surprise, surprise, rage, wildness without unnecessary contortions or the stony face that we now have in c-dramas.
The fight scenes are the best I've seen so far (apart from the comedy with Jackie Chan, love you Jackie). There is movement, speed, efficiency, naturalness. Of course there is also flying in the air, in trees, in water, but this is not a mainstream fight.
And there is chemistry. Actually, I can call it chemistry. There is sexual tension, there is passion, wildness, kisses between a girl and a boy, and the maturity of feelings between a woman and a man.
Music perfectly suited. First of all, it doesn't bother you. It blends into the film, it is an immanent part of it.
There is nature, views, but shown casually. Without turning to the nature and landscape film.
In a word, I am "for". And my heart was stolen by Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng. A beautiful, mature, talented woman. Chapeau bas Michelle.
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After all this time has gone by I recently re-watched it because I wondered if I'd still love it as much. I was relieved that it really did hold up after all this time. It might sound a little extreme, but there are certain scenes and choreography that are so beautiful to me that I actually get teared up. The fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi is one of the best things I've ever seen. Just so impressive - both the choreography and the performance.
The plot is kind of typical of wuxia and a bit uneven. It is the weak point of this movie for me. But it's elevated by the stunning scenery, cinematography and choreography. Two stirring love stories - one young and passionate and the other deep and mature - give the story emotional resonance.
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Film at its best!
Women can be absolutely amazing sometimes. In Ang Lee's classic and glorious martial arts film, they are the ones responsible for all the action, all the rescues and villain roles. The men are mostly allowed to be contemplative and stand silently by. It simply couldn't be better.The story itself has several spices of old myths and legends, but is also a very current and moving love story where looks mean more than a lot of empty words. Actually, you probably shouldn't reveal too much of the plot, the film works best to be experienced without as little prior knowledge as possible, but when Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon kicks off, a disguised youth steals an important sword, called the Green Fate. But everything doesn't go quite as it should, an old villain named the jade fox - Totally crazy cool! - Forge evil plans and the real heroes, the master Li Mu-bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and his friend Yu Shu-lien (Michelle Yeoh) soon find themselves in both conspiracies and wild chases through the trees.
Now that martial arts movies have had a real boost in the western world in recent years, the pictures have become increasingly colorful, Hero or House of Flying Daggers to name just a few, but Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon shows that the story itself is at least as important. The film was also something of a breakthrough for Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, who plays Princess Jen here, and who managed to combine both strength, arrogance and shyness with a single tear.
To mention some of the best first, the fight scenes are absolutely huge. When Zhang Ziyi and Chow Yun-Fat jump between both treetops and water, it is visual and fighting aesthetics at the highest level. But the coolest thing of all is when Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh lock themselves in a cramped room and try to destroy each other with all kinds of weapons. Incomparable and gorgeous!
At the same time, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a great movie because there is so much else to gripe about. Especially the love story between Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh's characters. They treat each other with the greatest tenderness, but through their looks you can read love of the deepest nature. Well acted and above all, well captured through Ang Lee's sensitive camera and his use of silence.
On the whole, it's really hard to find anything to complain about in Ang Lee's rich film. Sure, it may be a bit slow at times, but on the other hand, it highlights even more the exquisitely choreographed fight scenes and gives weight to a film that otherwise continues to run when most of the reels have already stopped.
In short, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is cinema at its best. Exciting, surprising, lustful and tragic. Seeing it is like going through a whole palette of emotions and that is exactly what makes the artist Ang Lee create a tableau out of the ordinary.
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Good fight scenes
So there were good fight scenes in this movie and I actually really enjoyed the first part when the premise and the characters were being set up. However, as the movie went on, it just started to lose me. It followed characters I didn't really care about or had enough information on, and honestly, I just did not think the story was very interesting. As the title says, though, I did like the fight scenes (Michelle Yeoh!), even though sometimes it admittedly broke my immersion because I couldn't get behind the random flying.Was this review helpful to you?
To be honest I think I had so-so thoughts about the movie. I liked all the lead characters and the actors did a great job portraying them. I liked the action and fighting scenes, they were good (expect the fight scene in the bamboo forest, that was weird for me). I didn't like the part of the plot that took place in the desert and the ending just puzzled me even more.
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