Rating: 
Summary: What else can I say?
Review: I haven't much to add to the praise already written. I just want to say I've seen it in the theatre three times. Once with English subtitles, once dubbed in French, once with French subtitles. I am going to acquire it once the price comes down in my area. (I've already spent a "fortune" on movie tickets!)
Rating:
Summary: Perfect in every way
Review: Watching 'Crouging Tiger' has made me a fan of wuxia movies. Ang Lee has surpassed his other movies by telling a story of deceit, romance, honor, integrity, and bravery in a way that is very accessable to a worldwide audience. When I saw this film in the theaters several people got up and left never to return. I think some people had a difficult time keeping up with the subtitles (even at the ticket booth there was a sign that indicated that the movie would be subtitled). Hey, I love foreign films and knew that everything about this movie would live up to my expectations. And I read the subtitles while keeping up with the action very well. :)Anyways, when I saw 'Crouching Tiger' in the theaters I was eager for it to be released on DVD. I picked up the DVD the day it came out and was in awe juat as if I had seen it for the first time. This movie has everything - beautiful cinematography (the fight scenes in the trees are breathtaking), a wonderful story, and surreal fight scenes ( the 'floating' effect puts a person's sense of reality on hold for this movie). The DVD has some nice features such as two behind the scenes featurettes with Michelle Yeoh and a nice montage of photos from both production and the actual film accompanied by Yo Yo Ma's flawless cello performance. Once in a while does a film come along and engross you with brilliant images and a beautiful, haunting score. I found this movie to be one of the best films ever made.
Rating: 
Summary: what more can you say about this
Review: Everyone must have seen it at least once by now, so what else is there to say. Maybe that the only downside to the DVD is that for some reason it starts playing using the dubbed version, whereas I think the only way to fully enjoy it is in the original language and with subtitles. Apart from that I was very happy to have bought the DVD. When it was playing in the theatres I didn't go to see because I assumed I wouldn't like it becasue I don't like these martial arts films. Although I still have some reservations about these flying skills of the characters, it is a beautiful film. The only thing I can add is that you should definitely see Ju Dou and Raise The Red Lantern. They are much slower and without action scenes, but the cinematography is at least as beautiful as in this film.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, sub-par DVD
Review: Let me begin by saying that this movie is NOT a kung-fu movie, it is NOT an action movie. It is a love story, plain and simple. A love story that includes action and kung-fu elements, to be sure, but a love story nonetheless. I bought this movie without having seen it previously for one reason: it's action sequences. And believe me, they do not disappoint. These are, despite my claims that this is not an action movie, the best action sequences I have ever seen. Though I bought it for the action, I watched it a second time for the story. The relationships between the characters are fascinating and I won't ruin them here for you. Suffice it to say, everyone has something to do with everyone else and it is all interesting. The characters are all very well cast. Chow Yun Fat should have been nominated for an Academy Award, Michelle Yeoh and the startling, brilliant newcomer Ziyi Zhang should both have been nominated as best actress, with Zhang winning. I have not seen acting like this in years. You have genuine feelings for the characters long after you leave the theater. Director Ang Lee draws performances so strong from these actors that a simple look from any of them lets you know exactly how they feel. Ang Lee was robbed of a Best Director award. With performances as strong as they are and the stunning, beautiful way in which the movie was shot, there is no doubt that he was deserving. The cinematography and score both won Academy Awards and deservingly so. Finally, I, quite obviously, believe this movie should have been named Best Picture. Everything about it is so good it is hard to believe. I've seen only three movies that have surpassed my high expectations of them: A Clockwork Orange, The Sweet Hereafter and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. To address some of the complaints I have read here, I'll say that the movie is NOT hard to understand at all. At no point is the movie confusing. Ever. And the people complaining about not enough kung-fu or that it is "not believable" that is not the point. It is a romantic fairy-tale, not a historic recreation of a non-fictional kung-fu event. Enjoy it for what it IS, not what you EXPECTED it to be. Now to comment on the DVD itself. The picture and sound are excellent and even the English dubbing is done quite well (though I recommend you watch this movie in Mandarin with English subtitles, as it was meant to be.) That is the good. Now for the bad. There are not enough "extra features." There is a short "behind the scenes" documentary on the making of the movie, as well as an interview with Michelle Yoeh who, interstingly, comments on the possibility of a prequel, an idea about which I have mixed feelings. Also, there is the mandatory directors commentary. But that's about it. With a movie like this, which has both a cult and mainstream following, I expected much more. Very noticable is the lack of deleted scenes. Also, showing some behind the scenes of the making of the fight scenes would be appreciated. I think they're just trying to make as much money as they can. In a while they'll likely release a "Special Edition" DVD with all the features above and then some. I hope so. I'll buy that too.
Rating:
Summary: The best martial arts movie ever made !
Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is no doubt, one of the best international martial arts movies ever made, and I give a whole lot of props to Ang Lee for making this movie worth seeing over and over again. When you watch this movie, you will notice some weird stuff when the fighting scenes go on. People will start flying like Peter Pan from building to building. If you look at the making of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (it's on the "Special Features" menu), they weren't using computers to make them look like they're flying...they were actually using a group of people to pull on the string so it can look like they're flying (sometimes they use a truck). I don't really find the flying scenes stupid. People say that they look stupid when they fly, but to be honest, It was actually pretty cool. At least they do more fighting than flying. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon focuses more on fighting and drama, and thats a good thing, considering that Chinese movies have good drama in the first place. Now let me change the subject ! When I heard that Chow Yun-Fat was going to be one of the main characters in the movie, I was so desperate to see him in action again, including Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. When I saw them in action, I was very amazed with their fighting routines, including the part when Chow Yun-Fat practices with the Green Destiny sword. If I were you, I'd get this movie before they're fresh out of copies. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a must have !
Rating:
Summary: What an Honor...
Review: I must say that this is an amazing flick with amazing effects. The film seems somewhat hokey to most because of the flying and large jumps, but once one realizes that these are Chinese superhero characteristics, then it's much easier to appreciate the sharing of their unadulterated folklore; even down to the cantonese dialogue.. Great movie, guys, because the chicks can dig the love story while we dig the kung fu!
Rating:
Summary: Words cannot adequately describe this movie...
Review: ...to really appreciate it, you have to feel it. I cannot believe the shallow-minded reviewers who thought this movie was all about martial arts. The martial arts were great to watch but they were secondary to the story. CTHD is a tour de force which combines a terrific plot, two love stories, mind-blowing special effects, cinematography so exquisite it is almost off the planet, great directing by Ang Lee, and wonderful acting by everyone, even the minor characters. Zhang ZiYi as Jen is awesome to watch, but as great as she is, it is Michelle Yeoh as Shu Lien who really carries the film. Chow Yun Fat is excellent as the lead actor, Chang Chen is a delight as Jen's exuberant young lover who, in the end, can't hold onto her, and Cheng Pei Pei is total perfection as the evil Jade Fox. I saw this film in VHS, which, thank God, is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles (it's a crime to mess up the purity of this film by dubbing it into English), and unlike the DVD version, the VHS edition has kept all the scenes of the original. The hatchet job Sony did on the DVD edition just goes to show that some things are worth waiting for. The VHS edition is the version to get. It's the only one that does justice to the magnificent masterpiece that is this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie with lots of A C T I O N
Review: This is one of the best movies ever, made! The movie is subtitled though if you have a DVD player you can DUBB it in English well overall this is a good, movie it's worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, story...not so great
Review: I love this movie. The fight scenes were excellently done and so good that they make you want more. The story on the other hand wasn't as great as I would have thought it should have been. It's really simple (most martial art films' stories are) and it doesn't quite satisfy you. It made me ending up hating the princess, and I don't think that it was their intention to do it. But this is no cheap kung fu film, it is well worth your money and time and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Great job with this DVD
Review: I had seen CTHD in the theater, so I knew this was going to be a must-have when the DVD was released. I wasn't disappointed. I liked the menu sequence and the ease of switching from subtitles to dubbed soundtrack (they did a good job with matching the English dialogue to the actors' mouth, not at all like the stereotypical "kung-fu" b-movie dubbing). The sound and picture clarity of the DVD was exceptional. There is a decent selection of additional features, including a commentary by Ang Lee (I haven't listened to it yet but am looking forward to it). Too many DVDs of great movies are a disappointment, poorly transfered sound or picture, useless added features, or badly packaged. This one was good across the board. A+
|
