Rating: 
Summary: A true rounded film, great for everyone!
Review: This film has everything for everyone. Excellent acting, great storyline, and very awesome action scenes.I think this is the movie that would cross the gender boundaries in what movie you want to watch some night. Going for the stereo-typical route: Women want romance... Guys want action. This movie has both! There should be more movies in the future made like this. It'll make those movie nights at home much better varied in selection. I was surprised to find out that this is Chow Yun-Fat's first martial arts film. I'm not much of a foreign film buff, but I figured that most Asian action film stars started off in either martial arts films or gun-based action films and getting to do both as they grew as an actor. I've only seen a few films with Michelle Yeoh (Crouchin Tiger, SuperCop 2, a James bond film). I just love watching her kick butt and have a passionate emotional side to her acting. And since Amazon.com failed to add her to the "Cast list".. Zhang Ziyi (say it like it's spelled... there you go!) is a really sexy actress. I swear she's gonna do some very awesome films in English once she's learned the language a bit more. I think everyone should keep an eye out for her films. It's a shame about how her character in Rush Hour2 came to a conclusion. I would be nice to have some hope she'll come back and beat down on Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan some more. I just love martial arts films. I used to watch the horrid, but entertaining martial arts films on the USA Network when they had a "Kung-Fu Theatre" type show. I wish they'd bring it back. I haven't gotten to see the other movies Ang Lee has done, but after watching this masterpiece, I'm going to go rent some other movies directed by him. Putting in this DVD the first time was funny. The standard language is Mandarin/Chinese with English Subtitles. I'm sorry, but I prefer the voice overs in english with no subtitles. One day when I've learned more than one language, or when I'm bored.. I'll put it on Mandarin/Chinese with no subtitles. Probably even teach me to speak the language. heh. My other little problem was the wire work. Could have done a bit more in fluid movements of the actors as they're being pulled around on the wires. The kicking in the air like you're running on it isn't all that great to see. The actors should go from a crouched position to a entended jump pose, then on the way to a solid object to "bounce" or land on, have some sense of gravity and weight to the landings. The way it is in the movie, it's more like a fighting game than something that's more real. This title is a must for anyone who owns a DVD player. It's a sad thing if you don't have this in your collection. Everyone should get this movie so that their collection will grow as scarily large as my own. (as of Nov 2001- 45 DVD movies) "If you don't have one, get one!" - Tom Hanks, Toy Story 1. So go buy this!!
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of culture.
Review: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" brilliantly shows the Chinese culture dealing with the martial arts. The flying scenes during battle exemplify the belief that once a martial arts student has reached mastery, they gain extraordinary powers. This belief has been handed down through centuries of stories depicting the great martial artist of China. Also, the use of the straight sword by the protagonist is correct. According to ancient beliefs, the straight sword is the weapon for masters. However, this mastery not only deals with martial art skills, but also a mastery of moral character. This is shown in the film by Yun-Fat Chow who is a moral and upright citizen who demonstrates the proper way to live. This is the main reason why the Green Destiny must be returned to Chow. If you are looking for a wonderful film that shows part of a great Chinese tradition, look no further!
Rating:
Summary: Crouching Surprise, Hidden Jewel
Review: One of the most visually amazing/rewarding films I have ever seen. I love martial arts films for the coreography, but this one had a plot that superceded the fight sequences (if possible) to deliver one of the most surprising and enjoyable cinematic experiences in recent years. This movie exploits what makes film an art, justifying all of the hype!
Rating:
Summary: Delicate Passion
Review: Jen is at first a delicate flower with hidden talents and an exciting past. Her passion for fighting and adventure almost consume her. Her forbidden love with Lo holds everything she wants in life, yet by custom she must follow the path her parents set for her and resigns herself to their wishes and an arranged marriage. She then meets Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) who is in love with Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat). Yu Shu Lien and Jen (Zhang) alternate between being friends and enemies, but hold a deep respect for one another. Their sword fighting scenes are incredible. The sheer power they seem to possess as women would be astonishing in real life. This is of course fantasy and the flying scenes never for a minute seem out of place once you put them in a fairy tale perspective. Subtle tensions burn slowly in the characters causing them at times to burst into flames as the action awakens to new heights. The canyon cave with a hot tub warmed with heated rocks and horse riding in the dessert add such romantic appeal. When Yu Shu Lien says: "To repress one's feelings only makes them stronger." Li Mu Bai replies: "You're right. But I don't know what to do." They seem to have no restrictions in life, yet their hearts are chained. Not even the Green Destiny sword can cut through these chains wrapped around their hearts. Throughout the story, the sword makes its appearance and empowers the fight scenes. What I loved about this movie was that women can be strong yet feminine. They can reach for the stars and still enjoy the pleasures of love. For those who have always dreamed of flying through a forest or bathing in a hot tub heated with rocks from a fire nearby. Let your imagination travel to a different time and place. Become a character and you will never forget this movie. Some of the lines are filled with deep emotion and spiritual beauty. Only those who see beauty in the hearts of others will see the true meanings. If you have always received everything you wanted in life, this movie will hold little meaning for you. The final scene is one of the most beautiful and inspirational moments in any movie I have ever seen. Watch by candlelight and have herbal tea nearby. ;> This Review is exclusively for the Subtitled Version....
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: Great movie. Good to watch in the original score or the dubbed English. Though they change some of the words between the two, it's still not your hokey dubbing tha tyou're proably used to from older movies. They did a real good job and seemed to avoid that mouth-moving-but-he's-already-done-talking problem. I liked it! The musical score was good too, I shall have to find the soundtrack somewhere...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Simply outstanding - I hope this is the movie that breaks the ice and encourages more martial arts films from Ang Lee aimed at a US conversion
Rating:
Summary: i think it is the best movie out
Review: i Like the way the did the movie and how they put differnet kinds of fighting in the movie and i gave it 5 stars but. I think it should be a 10 stars film because it is the best film i will every own
Rating: 
Summary: What is everyone going nuts over?
Review: I really don't know what to say, other than "Crouching Tiger.." wasn't anything special. The entire movie revolved around the possession of an ancient sword. To me that was little ridiculous, and the sword didn't look all that impressive. Also, the film doesn't show many of the past events which developed the characters; they are simply mentioned. The fight scenes were ok, but the movie indulged too much in them. In the end, I found myself not caring for the characters nor their fates....There is not much here.
Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Beautiful
Review: There's no other word to describe this film other than beautiful. Despite that sounded clichéd, it's very true were 'Crouching Tiger' is concerned. Ang Lee revolutinises the martial arts film by making it accessible to a much wider audience. He does this through making the plot similar to that of a thousand films these days - the feminist standpoint, love through the social classes etc. Conventional this may be, but it's entirely absorbing and you will find yourself mesmerised by the entire spectacle of it. The tale of love never fufilled is gorgeously played by Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh (who proves that she's much more than a Bond girl). Also impressive is the stunning photography of empty deserts, solitary mountains and lush forests. Obviously stand-out though are the fight scenes, which are choreogrpahed by the same guy as in 'The Matrix', and it shows. Especially impressive are the fight scenes between Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh and the fight in the treetops. Yet what is most memorable about this is the fact that it is, quite simply, cinema at its very best. It goes all out and it delivers in style.
Rating:
Summary: Columbia Dropped the Ball, Again
Review: As I wrote in the review for the CTHD's first release on DVD, Columbia dropped the ball for not including the Chinese subtitle and omitting the two music videos by CoCo Lee. Another release (this time the SuperBit version) of the same movie, Columbia still didn't do it right the second time around. As far as the video quality is concerned, I couldn't see too much improvement over the original release. As the video of the original release already looked darn perfect. There is not much room for improvement even with the SuperBit processing. I thought to myself that with the new SuperBit edition, Columbia should give us the "ultimate" edition. Sure enough, Columbia did it again - for the second time in a row - dropped the "BIG" ball again. The SuperBit version only has ONE audio track Mandarin. Even though the Chinese subtitle is included; however, Columbia dropped the English dubbed track, still omitting the two music videos (in English and Mandarin of the title song), and also not providing the additional Cantonese track which was recorded for the movie personally by Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh and the rest of the cast members. These additional track and music videos should not used up or occupy too much disc space anyway I would love to get the Cantonese track on this SuperBit version. Columbia should have include all three tracks (original Mandarin track, original Cantonese track - all recorded by Chow & Yeoh and the rest of the cast members, and the English dubbed version). Just let consumers pick their own favorite track. Empowering consumers and NOT to dictate what they want to choose. (Even though I do own the Cantonese track version of this movie on an official 2-disc VCD set (UPC 4893031007898) I ordered from Hong Kong - put out by Columbia Tristar's Hong Kong arm. It includes both the Cantonese and Mandarin tracks but no English dubbed version).(Note: VCD is popular in Asia and Europe with better VHS quality. However, VCD never picks up its popularity in the U.S.) The bottom line is that the SuperBit version is too limiting - only one Mandarin track and seven subtitles (English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Thai). I still give the movie a 5-star rating, but the SuperBit features only a 2-star rating.
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