Rating: 
Summary: The World of Films Doesn't Get Better Than This.
Review: We could just end this review now by saying in short that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a masterpiece. But, my brain was overflowing with things to say about the movie that I just can't keep them packaged.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not your ordinary Jackie Chan martial arts movies. There is hardly any kicking or punching or fist-fighting. Most of the arts used in the movie actually deserve to be called arts because they are filmed beautifully. The real key to this film was the flying, because surprisingly, Michelle Yoeh, Chen Chang and Yun-Fat Chow jumping from wall to wall unrealistically isn't silly or stupid, it's breathtaking. The fights are exhilirating, the effects are superb, the acting is excellent, Chen Chang is a really extroadinary find as the damsel in distress, and the script is poetic and proves that movies don't get better than this. You tell me one more thing you could want in a movie, and I'll give you more money than what you'd earn if you're lottery ticket won. It's funny, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon isn't only the best non-English film ever made, but one of the best films ever made. And that's out of a whole lot to choose from... Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A+
Rating:
Summary: Ang Lee Delivers One Of The Year's Best
Review: The legends and myths surrounding the martial arts are extended and brought dazzlingly to fruition in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," a sumptuous production directed by Ang Lee. When legendary warrior Li Mu Bai's (Chow Yun-Fat) meditations take him to a place beyond anything he's ever experienced, a place of darkness and sorrow, he decides to give up the life that has sustained him for so long. As a prelude to his new life he gives his sword, "Green Destiny," to long-time friend and patron, Sir Te (Lung Sihung). But when the sword is stolen and aspersions are cast upon the house of Governor Yu (Li Fazeng), who (with his family and entourage) is a guest of Sir Te's, Li Mu Bai goes into action to reclaim his sword and elicit justice for the House of Yu. To effect his goal he allies himself with the woman for whom he has long carried unrequited love in his heart, Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), who-- like Bai-- is a warrior. At the same time, he reaffirms his vow to avenge the death of his master, who was killed by a renegade named Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei), who remains at large. Ang Lee has created a visually stunning, lyrical, poetic film that is engaging on a number of levels: The brilliant choreography (by Woo-Ping Yuen), especially in the sword fighting scenes, is absolutely mesmerizing, as is the ability of the characters to defy gravity and literally soar up the sides of walls, across rooftops and into the tops of trees; there are sequences in this film that will literally take your breath away. And then there's the story itself, which is nothing less than a meditation on life and the quest for that often elusive butterfly of inner peace and the resolution and acceptance of one's own destiny. Blended seamlessly together by Lee, it becomes an artistic triumph of the silver screen that is truly magical; the sheer poetic nature of the film is unforgettable, the images of which will remain in your mind's eye forever. The charismatic Chow Yun-Fat is perfectly cast as Li Mu Bai; there is a subtle, introspective quality he brings to the character that is sublime in it's sensitivity-- that of a man of strength and integrity, worthy of the legendary status accorded him as a warrior, and the respect bestowed upon him as a man of principle. It's an honest portrayal that rings of truth, which Yun-Fat conveys so succinctly and credibly. Michelle Yeoh is outstanding as well, exhibiting adroit physical abilities in the action sequences, while also demonstrating her gift as a dramatic actress. Most importantly, she makes Shu Lien real, and there is a definite chemistry between her and Chow Yun-Fat that brings the story even more vividly to life. But the most exciting discovery of the film is the young Zhang Ziyi, who is absolutely magnificent in the role of Jen Yu, the Governor's daughter. It's an extraordinary performance, energetic and charming, and Ziyi has a screen presence that is riveting and commanding of attention. She has a tremendous physical dexterity, and her martial arts engagements with Yeoh and Yun-Fat are melodious and utterly captivating, as is her skill with a sword. The supporting cast includes Chang Chen (Lo), Gao Xian (Bo), Hai Yan (Madame Yu), Wang Deming (Tsai) and Li Li (May). Through the combined efforts of Lee's direction, the exemplary performances of his actors and the expertise of a number of technicians, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a film of ethereal magnitude that transports the audience to another time and another place. Rarely has the screen been graced with with a film of such grace and beauty, and seeing it is a truly memorable experience. One of the best movies of the year, it is not to missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Better for a beginner, but still exceedingly worthy
Review: The whole martial arts fantasy film genre has been done to death, but when presented with one done as painstakingly well done as this, it is completely forgivable. Chow Yun Fat is, was, and will always be "the man." Normally his film roles are limited to the gun-toting, cool as ice, one-man-gang, crusader for justice against evil (see The Killer, or A Better Tomorrow for his best work). When I saw that he, of all stars, would be playing a fantasy role, I was surprised. But CYF has something that many actors (of any nationality) do not have: charisma. The guy could play ANY role and make it compelling. It's just a shame we don't see more of him in this film. But, the gals are what makes this film go 'round, and one viewing of the fight scenes contained herein will show you what staggering talent Michelle Yeoh and Co. have. Whether it is the night-fighting scenes, the cafe battle, or the excellent weapons display at the training house, even the novice should see the dedication to craft and sheer amazing athleticism of these females. And it wouldn't be so impressive if they weren't such first-rate actors. Every line is delivered with a poise and elegance that surpasses most award-winning Westerners. I enjoyed this movie immensely, and appreciated the loving care that you could tell went into every stitch and every shot. The only reason I docked 1 star was for the wealth of fantasy martial arts titles that have provided the framework for films like these to be a success (Ang Lee has stated that this film is an homage of sorts to those that have come before it.) If you find your interest piqued by this film, may I also recommend Once Upon A Time In China (Jet Li), Iron Monkey (Donnie Yen), Fong Sai Yuk (Jet Li), and Drunken Master II (Jackie Chan). None are as romantically deep as this one, nor as high-budgeted, but the stories and action are second-to-none. p.s. I am also highly pleased that an American audience has warmed to a film such as this. Perhaps we, as a culture, have more taste and intellect than I previously imagined.
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the subtitles put you off...
Review: Watch it, watch it, watch it! Don't be put off because it's a foreign film! This is the most epic-ly epic film I've seen since Lawrence of Arabia... the settings, the actors, the action, the music, just everything was mind-blowing. You have to see this on the big screen to really appreciate it. Fantastic acting all round, especially by our hidden dragon. Chow Yuen Fat can't make a bad film (Chinese one, that is) and Michelle Yeoh has real screen presence here. Rent it, buy it, borrow it, whatever, just make sure you see it, if only for the fantastic pub-brawl halfway through!
Rating:
Summary: The Combat Artist, or: When Worlds Collide
Review: If there were any justice in the world, *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* would stand alongside Mary Harron's *American Psycho*, Alison MacLean's *Jesus' Son*, and Steven Soderbergh's *Traffic* in the Best Picture category of the Y2K Oscars. (Yeah, I know. Dream a little dream.) Director Ang Lee has given us an epic post-*Matrix* fantasy that treats our suspension-of-disbelief like saltwater taffy, stretching the limits of what an intelligent audience is emotionally susceptible to. The film is surreal and ridiculous, based on a mythic China that never even remotely existed, powered by hidden axioms and kung-fu magicks that seem absurd in the trailers, yet come together in the completed film as a dream almost religious in its intensity, a catechism for tender yet violently obsessed souls. Where (post)historical fantasies like *The Matrix* and *Gladiator* came on vulgar, excessive, at times idiotic (the former influenced more by comic books than science-fiction, the latter by WWF pro-wrestling over Roman history), the sequences in *CT, HD* are an aesthetic miracle, a cinematic godsend, a landmark achievement of the choreographer's art. For every second of martial-arts surrealism on screen, there must have been hours of storyboarding, discussion, rehearsal, reshoots, tweakings, alternate edits, digital wire-removal, sleepless nights agonizing over aerial maneuvers and metronomic combat-dance patterns. It seems scandalous that Ang Lee shot this incredible film on a chump-change budget of $12.5 million. The literary theorist Harold Bloom wrote a wonderful chapter in *Agon*(1982) that tried to account for the legitimacy of fantasy narrative, its unique power to confront truths (via phantasmagoria) that "mainstream" literature could barely scratch the surface of. But the line between phantasmatic sublimity and wish-fulfilling bathos is a thin one, and only the strongest of modern fantasists can cross this aesthetic tightrope unfazed by melodrama. *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* succeeds on almost every level, staying brilliantly on target from beginning to end, making an extraordinary case for the religious dimension of martial arts (the emphasis on character, purity of heart, meditative speculation, spiritual justice), driven by a dramatic undertow of romantic yearning and hyper-balletic violence, all packaged in a format a commercial audience can extol and appreciate. The warriors Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, despite their mutual yearning for post-combat, post-intrigue peace and love, are much too worldweary to make for much of a plot. It takes the emotional firecracker of Jen Yu ("the hidden dragon") and her master Jade Fox , to shake things up for spectacle-dependent modern audiences. Although the viewer tends to be annoyed from beginning to end with Jen's snobbish, ungrateful, egocentric behavior, actress Zhang Ziyi (born 1979) is nevertheless at the center of the film, and assures us that greater things will come of her character, even in the wake of violent death and reprisal. (Sigh.... If only there were women as elegant, as spiritually mature, as dedicated to the arts of psychical and martial combat, as Michelle Yeoh and her future protege. What a ... culture we have made for ourselves, and for our women....) In the end, the American moviegoing audience will be attracted to *CT, HD* mainly for its post-Keanu fight scenes, indifferent to the film's moral vision, the idea that excellence is coeval with endless spiritual and meditative combat, that there is a crucial difference between martial arts on the one hand, and simple-banal-everyday violence on the other. (*CT, HD* is a profoundly non-violent film.) As Michelle Yeoh says early on, the beauty of Green Destiny (the mythical sword at the heart of the narrative) quickly vanishes whenever blood defiles its blade. The essence of combat-training is spiritual freedom and virtuosity, not the macho stylings of beefed-up Marine Corp posturing. As such, the movie speaks truths about the human spirit far beyond its escapist parameters. It is a true millennial art-work, pushing directors to meld their surreal action-sequences with a depth of spiritual engagement mostly unheard of in the post-Christian post-industrial West. The best of both worlds, when worlds collide.
Rating:
Summary: This is review #18 out of an eventually possible 3,000.
Review: An enchanting Chinese fairy tale filled with adventure and romance. Drop-dead spectacular fight scenes with awesome special effects. Stunningly beautiful cinematography that makes you feel like you're in China. A powerful ending charged by lots of subtlety that makes you want to see the movie again. When director Ang Lee mixed these elements together REALLY REALLY WELL (and added a dash of humor for kick), voila! A masterpiece was made. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' is honestly a very difficult movie to dislike. It is one of the most-talked about films of the year--or any year, for that matter--and it will continue to be talked about for years and years and years to come. The fight scenes are unbelievable, the plot has its twists, the romance will make teenage girls cry, and the hidden deepness will make you feel like you ought to see it again, in order to understand it. In fact, even if you do understand it, the action and romance will still make you want to see it again! (and again, and again, and again.....)Rated PG-13 for awesome martial arts scenes and some semi-unnecessary sex scenes. A mature 10-year-old should be able to handle it.
Rating:
Summary: Some answers...
Review: It is unfortunate that a little lack of knowledge of the 'wuxia' genre has prevented some viewers from truly enjoying the film for what it is. I suggest to read about Ang Lee's motivation in making this film in his director's statement and the transcript of conversation with him and James Schamus. Hopefully you can then really appreciate what Ang Lee has achieved with this film. Briefly, the wuxia novel is a kind of fantasy literature that young Chinese grow up with, not unlike the 'Superman' and 'Batman' fantasies that western audience are familiar with. To make their heroes larger than life, wuxia novel writers created 'qigong' (literally 'levitation skill') - the ability to lift oneself against gravity for short moments of time through some breathing techniques. This of course is not to be taken seriously, just as one is not to believe that a man can fly just by putting on a cape or a set of wings. What Ang Lee did was to instil some grace and aesthetics into the 'flying' process. You won't believe how badly this has been done in the wuxia films so far - some have flying at such speed that would make real bats blush! Trust me, or go and rent any wuxia film and see it for yourself. (SPOILER WARNING - Why Jen needed the horse.) As for those who still cannot get over why Jen needed a horse instead of using her 'flying' skill to get the antidote, the answer is: she was drugged, remember? And remember that Li's effort to restore her strength was interrupted by the ambush of Jade Fox?
Rating:
Summary: Visually stunning and emotionally moving adventure story
Review: This is a great film. The story contains many familiar elements, but seldom are they handled so well. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh are wonderful as veteran warriors who are unstoppable in battle, but cannot admit the deep love they feel for each other. Zhang Ziyi more than holds her own (both as actress and as martial artist) as the firebrand whose overwhelming spirit and thirst for adventure cannot be constrained by tradition. This film boasts incredible landscapes and fantastic fight sequences in which the combatants fly and leap without regard to the limitations of gravity. I've read that director Ang Lee may shoot a prequel to this film, which is based on the fifth in a sequence of five novels. I, for one, hope it's true.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie
Review: When I went to see the movie I did not know that it was subtitled However, it was an excellent movie that you get so into that you would not realize that you were reading. Everything is well explained in detail and the fighting scenes are excellent. It is a movie that draws you in and tugs at you heart at the same time with awesome action.
Rating:
Summary: The best martial arts movie ever!
Review: When you think of a martial arts movie, you usually think a lot of fighting, guns, gory stuff, and not really a good story line. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is not really a martial arts movie. Well it is but it's more than that. I'd call this movie a part martial arts, part drama, part fantasy, and part dream. The story is set in ancient China. Veteran warrior Li Mu Bai lays down his legendary sword to live a life of peace. Mu Bai gives the sword to Shu Lien, his soulmate, to give to Sir Te in Beijing. Muu Bai and Shu Lien are deeply in love with each other. They just don't want to admit it to each other. Even though it's so obvious to everyone. When Shu Lien gives the sword to Sir Te, it's stolen. The theif turns out to be the governer's daughter, Jen. Want to know more? Go watch the movie! I gurantee that it'll be great!
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