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James Schamus , Kuo-Rong Tsai and Wang Hui Ling Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality. RATING CANADA... Rated PG for martial arts violence. |
Romantic Fantasy A breath taking flight of fantasy. |
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Where to start? Where to start? CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is a great movie, period. It has something for everyone including English subtitles. While this will be fine for most Chineses speaking children, it will be a definite disadvantage to those children that can not. Most young children will probably not be able to read fast enough. I say this because the second time I went to see this wonderful film, I had to listen to little children constantly interrupting their parents wanting to know what was going on. To those who might be planning to take their young children to see this movie I would not recommend it because this small problem. I'm sure that you can let them see a english dubbed video release some day. Based upon a Chinese pulp fiction novel CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is a romantic fantasy for adults. The martial arts choregraphy is absolutely incredible. The man behind this is Yuen Wo-Ping, whose wire work for flying battles made THE MATRIX fight sequences so spectacular. He has also brightened up films by Jackie Chan and Jet Li. It is not hard to tell when wire work is used in this film but keep in mind it is a fantasy so you will see characters scamper up the sides of building, do short bursts of flight, skipping across water and fighting on the slim stalks of bamboo high in the forest. The scenes are lyrical and ballet like and will spellbound you. It will bring back those childhood dreams of flying. Most of all this is a story of love, loyality, revenge and great loss. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat), is the greatest martial arts master of his time in the Wudan style of fighting. He has decided to give up his ways and in so doing he has also decided to give up his 400-year-old fighting sword, the legendary GREEN DESTINY. He entrusts the sword to the care of his friend and secret love Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Li Mu Bai wants her to deliver the sword to the care of his friend Sir Te (Lung Sihung), a leader in Peking, who was a friend of Shu Lien's father. Sir Te takes the sword and puts it in a place of honour. At this time the governor arrives with his family. Governor Yu (Fazeng Li) arrives with his wife and daughter Jen Yu (Zhang Zi-Yi). At Jen's side is her personal mentor a mysterious woman who in reality is the infamous Jade Fox. In an earlier time she had killed Li Mu Bai's master; now she is in hiding from Li's revenge. During the night a mysterious ninja like figure steals the Green Destiny and leads the guards on an incredible dreamlike chase over the roof tops. It leads to a great fight sequence between the thief and Shu Lien. As they fight the two leap from wall to wall propelled like skilled dancers. They vault across the roof tops on tip toed silence. You watch totally excited and amazed; you may even have to surpress the urge to applaud by the end of the sequence. This is the first of many fights between these two warriors. One of the most important things in this film is that the majority of the fights are between women, and incredible fights they are. Shu Lien and Jen Yu form a friendship of sorts. Jen wants the exciting life that Shu Lien has instead of having to get married. Shu Lien wants the quiet life with Li Mu Bai which she feels she can't have. She and Li want each other but a family honour thing keeps them from expressing their true feelings. Shu Lien suspects someone in the Yu compound is the sword thief. She is sure that it is the infamous Jade Fox (Pei-pei Cheng) who stole the sword. Another mysterious couple are searching for Jade Fox as well. It is an undercover police officer, Tsai (played by Deming Wang, and his daughter, who want to bring Jade Fox in for the murder of his wife. The two accompanied by Bo (Xian Gao), a guard working for Sir Te, meet with Jade Fox for another incredible battle which is finally intervened by Li Mu Bai. Li is surprised at the fighting skills of Jade Fox's companion. Li tries to turn her over to the good side by offering to make her his student. He would teach her in the Wudan style. Even though she is amazed at his laid back fighting techniques and style she refuses and runs away saving Jade Fox. During the night Li Mu Bai waits and catches the young thief returning the sword. Once again his pleas for her to become his student go unheeded which eventually leads to a grace flight of fancy over roof tops and across water. The two battle and we see just how good Li really is. He takes the sword back with no effort but the thief escapes again. As we follow her we discover who she really is and who Jade Fox really is as well. In a flashback sequence we discover who Jen is in love with and why she does not want to marry the man she is to marry by pre-arrangement. She had become involved with Lo (Chang Chen) who was a desert bandit. This is one sequence that I have no intention of spoiling for you by telling you anything about it. They fell in love but he did not feel worthy of her. He decides to make her proud of him and then he would ask for her hand. He returns to her when she is about to be married but it may be too late for both of them. Once again the GREEN DESTINY sword is stolen and the thief leaves Peking to discover new adventures and to discover herself. She does so in some absolutely spectacular sequences. She crosses paths again with Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai who both try to convince her to give up her ways. During this time one of the most elegant and beautiful scenes occurs near the end of the film. Li Mu Bai and the young thief battle in a dream like setting that is obviously impossible in real life. As they sail through the air into the whispery tree tops of a bamboo forest, you are just pulled into lush fantasy of the scene. In another type of film this scene would be considered ludicrous but here it just enthralls you. When you see the film you will understand what I mean. The director, Ang Lee stated that during these forest top scenes no computer trickery was used except to remove the wires. The actual actors and a few stuntmen were used but because the faces of the actors are visible at almost all times Lee stated that the actual actors were suspended over the forest roof for these astounding scenes. All the characters come together for a final showdown with the sinister Jade Fox. Here the sets change from the wonderful fantasy like scenes to a dark, realistic setting where like in a Shakespearean play the characters are play out to their inevitable end. It is interesting how Ang Lee advances the idea of female equality, in a country where traditionally women are looked upon as a lower class. By putting this in a fantasy setting it just seems so natural. He has created a film that is short of spectacular and if CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON does not win the Best Picture Of Year at this years Academy Awards® I will be surprised. You would do yourself a disfavour if you miss this fantastic film. It will not be surprising if this film does great at the boxoffice. If you want to look for the book, it is written by Wang Du Lu. |
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