Rating: 
Summary: Well worth it
Review: As you watch this film, the reason for the Acadmey Awards will become very clear. This action, love story, and wild stunt movie will appeal to all. Have fun
Rating: 
Summary: Best film i've seen for a long time
Review: This is probably the best film i've seen for ages, it's up there with the matrix as my all time favourites. I might even like this film more than the matrix for first impressions, but it's debatable. There was one thing that dragged the version i watched down though, so please take note if you are buying the VHS version. The dubbed version is pretty awful, you can tell that what the characters are saying in mandarin chinese is so much more intelligent and natural than the english that has been superimposed to try and fit into the lip movements. Not that i can understand mandarin chinese, but the subtitled version allows you to appreciate the actors and actresses talents. As usual the english speaking actors stress and tone some of thier lines as if they were in a play or clearly reading it from a script. This clashes rather dissapointingly with the obvious acting talents of yeoh and Chow yun fat, and come to think of it, most of the actors and actresses in the movie. Although it is still possible to appreciate this movie and be astounded by it as a dubbed movie, the subtitled version is so much better. So my advice would be to buy the subtitled version, it's like a different movie altogether. The movie itself is a masterpeice. It's 5 oscars are well deserved. The cinematography is breathtaking, beautiful landscapes, as well as beautiful people and buildings. Ang Lee has carefully blended a number of things into this film, which is predominantly a film which centres around a couple of romances. The fight scenes are incredible. Lee and Pau have worked together to successfully recreate and illustrate what the old martial arts movies used to try and do for example crazy flying kicks, and well, flying in general. But in this day and age, the technology is available to make these fight scenes believeable. Therefore we get a taste of how the old school movie makers wanted thier movies. Be careful though, because after the movie the natural progression is to turn to your nearest friend and try and Karate chop him, or try and fly across the room! Get this movie, and if you can't afford it, rent it, and remember to get the subtitled version every time. Later Johnny Bravo
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful film, briliantly capturing a theme
Review: This movie has taken all the good points of martial arts/chinese mythology films and successfully used them to make a statement.Firstly, this was not a romance film, it is an alegory. The movie used a delightfuly straightfoward but unpredictable "gotcha" plot, with a background of many fresh, non-cliche, sequences of martial arts expressionism. Going one better, the movie even showed the aftermath of one salloon brawl (a minor point, but interesting for its thoughtfulness). Between the two relationships in the film, three if you count the unwanted marraige, I have read a few reviews here on Amazon by people who were disappointed that there wasn't enough development. But this film is not about romance, or couples, it is a brilliant expressionist essay on being true to yourself. Absolutely brilliant. (It sounds like somebody was upset that the english version didn't match the chinese-speaking actors. The DVD allows you to use subtitles.)
Rating:
Summary: Deserved the Academy Award for "Best Picture"
Review: When "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" first hit theatres in Asia in the summer of 2000, audiences were beyond pleased - because for the first time, what could be considered a kung-fu film included within itself a moving story. This film manages to be so philosophically deep that it subconsciously stirs emotion and feeling within the audience - without ever being corny. Not to mention that this is probably the best film ever that features the geography of China. Shots were absolutely stunning. Music was also beautiful, with one of the best cello performances given by Yo-Yo-Ma, and a smash hit song by Coco Lee - "A Love Before Time." The film consists of various types of relationships - everything from forced-hidden love, children to parents, and disciple to a kung-fu master. Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, and Zhang Zi-Yi together made the best acting performances seen for years. Cinematography was impressing. Each shot was meticulously perfected - exactly why "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" took two years for world-famous director, Ang Lee, to shoot. One shot of the rooftops for the film's previews itself took five months. The original version is much better than the dubbed, so take the time to read subtitles - it can't be that hard. Get ready for flying kicks, tears, and beauty. Get "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" today. (Original version.) - Priscilla
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous, well-acted, wonderfully written
Review: I can't ever recall feeling this way when watching a movie...I was in awe of the gracious beauty of the actors, the intriguing locations, and wonderful story. I honestly didn't know what to expect because I hadn't succumbed to the hype and seen the movie in the theaters, but now I wish I had. Unfortunately, the last time I succumbed to hype, I went to see the dreadful Titanic. This movie is 100x more romantic and 100x more interesting to watch than that other hype of a movie! If you are a human being (and I assume that's the case!) with any emotion at all, I bet you'll like this beautiful movie. I have one little gripe (sorry) about some reviews on this page where people have said that the dubbing doesn't match the mouth movement. To be frank, that is an ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC observation! Please, this is an Asian film, something so trivial as mouth movement, when you're aware the movie was not in English, should NOT even be a factor in a movie as wondrous as this. PLEASE tell me that these people were kidding! Do you actually think the people in non-English speaking countries complain about the actor's mouths in, say, the Godfather not matching the dubbing in their native language?
Rating: 
Summary: But Chinese People Can't Fly
Review: It may well be that this story comes to us from the great and time honored tradition of Chinese epic sagas, but for this American movie-goer, it seemed to come more from the tradition of the old Hercules movies, or perhaps some exaggerated continuation of the Bruce Lee series. I've known many Chinese people in my life and if any of them could fly, one of them would surely have tipped me off to this fact. . Personally, I found all of the flying around and the incredible fighting skills to be distracting, but I had prepared myself to see one of the year's greatest films. Perhaps if I had begun the movie with no preconceived ideas and lower expectations, I'd have enjoyed it more. I'd recommend that you see this movie, but don't get into it expecting greatness, unless, perhaps, you are much more familiar with the genre and the tradition than I am.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Script , Bad Title = Bad Film
Review: I suppose that characters running up bamboo trees the size of 30 foot broom sticks appeals to some folks. However, for those of us who prefer our action heroes in tights and technology, you probably should pass on this film. As for the DVD itself, it was not up to the standard of Academy Award winning films. Hey and how about the sound track? Wow, blew me away, not! If we have to suffer though the lip sync thing, why not put in a real Chinese track so we can brush up on our Mancow (that's a Chicago thing)? Basically, this is a hyped film that disappoints and the DVD is about the same level of quality . . . poor! Perhaps in the sequel, the actors could blow up some crouching tigers or Kung Fu a couple of hidden dragons. Now that would be something!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, Bad Video (DVD)
Review: This is a great movie. I don't buy many movies but I enjoyed this movie so much, I had to own it. I bought the DVD. I was anxious to see the English dubbed version to see if it would add or subtract to the enjoyment of the movie. What a disappointment. The sound track was just bad. The relative levels of the music, sound effects and the voices were all wrong. To top if off, the levels varied from scene to scene and would drop off in places. I spent so much time adjusting the volume I could not enjoy the movie. I checked the Mandarin version and it was better. I read some of the other reviews (after I bought it) and some of the suggestions that would have made this DVD perfect. I would have been happy with the current content if they had just gotten it right.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Movie
Review: It is magical, it is beautiful, it is remarkable. Ang Lee directed this, and it is one of the most amazing movies ever created. You have to see this movie. It is a martial arts film, but it is more epic than gladiator. Even the scenes without fighting are poetic. If you liked Braveheart, you will like this. It is a story about love, truth, and the art of living. If for nothing else, the actions scenes are without a doubt the best fighting scenes ever recorded on film. The guy who choreographed the scenes choreographed the fighting scenes in the Matrix.
Rating:
Summary: Cool effects - way too much wire work
Review: I loved most of the fight scenes, but there was just way too much wire work. EVERY move seemed to rely on wires. It had a plot, good acting, and a very non American ending (well, it's not an American movie, is it?) The CD sound had some problems - the vocals were lost in the music, so the volume hat to be cranked to hear what was being said. What was really bizarre was that the English Subtitles were not even close to the English voice-over. Hard to guess what was the accurate translation!
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