Rating: Summary: AWESOME! NOT A CRITIC, JUST A REGULAR PERSON! Review: I am not a critic, but just a regular housewife looking to be thoroughly swept away from "housecleaning, kids, husband, bills, etc..." THAT is what I look for in a movie! This movie delivers feeling. It is not as good as Star Wars or The Matrix, but it is still a wonderful story that captures you and sweeps you into the lives of these extraordinary fighters. Women are impowered in this flick which I like to see. Not the everyday "I care too much about being stick thin-how's my hair" type of character, the women are strong and lethal.... Great fair, not too much of the red blood stuff, and one minor scene "hand goes down pants" that is questionable for the preteen set. I highly recommend this movie for its swashbuckling aura, be swept away, watch this movie! PS I got a dubbed DVD from an auction, so I did not have to put up with nasty subtitles! If you don't like subtitles...which my kids don't like....make sure that the DVD that is coming out is dubbed. The dubbing was done very very well....not the Godzilla type dubbing!
Rating: Summary: GREAT CINEMATOGRAPHY! Review: One of the best shot films that I ahve ever seen. Along with the special effects of this, it was one of the greatest looking movies of all time. However, the flying was too unbelievable. I know it was fantasy and that you have to use your imagination, but mine only goes to a certain extent. Also, the plot was a little uncertain to mje as tpo what was happening. A love affaior with the man in the desert did not seem like it was relevant to me. Good film overall though.
Rating: Summary: Quick and Beautiful Review: The remarkable thing about this movie is not its narrative. Taken from a book by Du Lu Wang (which has been described in more than one place as "pulp"), there are elements within that we've all seen before: the headstrong young girl not wanting to go through with her arranged marriage; the smoldering but never realized love between two friends; the "you killed my master twenty years ago so now you must die" plot device. These are not original. Doesn't matter.Take a look at what director Ang Lee puts on the screen. On one hand, it's just gorgeous. Witness the first crane-shot of Peking, the labyrinthine compound of Governor Yu, the desert, the reed forest, and the peasant village. All are presented with wonderfully composed shots, which calls to mind haiku poetry rather than cinema. On the other hand, it's kinetic and exhilarating. I'm talking, of course, of the wonderful fight scenes. Akin to "The Matrix", yes (same choreographer), but different in a very important way. Whereas "The Matrix" was riddled with bullets and explosions, "Crouching Tiger" works well with its silences. The Wudan warriors are economical in their movements, whether they are gliding on air, or wielding a sword. Thus, the fight scenes are compact and quick, rather than flashy and fast. And they are just astounding to watch. My favourite pits Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) against Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) in the reed forest. If you can suspend your disbelief, then I guarantee you'll see nothing as wondrous in the cinema this year. The forest bends and sways as the combatants perform a samurai-like duel as if walking on tightropes. Not to be outdone, Jen has two magnificent fights with Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), one at night in the courtyard and one in Yu's training ground. They are both balletic and engrossing. The actors here are all top notch. Chow is strong as steel, yet manages litheness unparalleled in my memory. There's a quiet scene near the middle of the film, where he practices Tai Chi like movements (with a warrior's edge) alone in a courtyard. It's almost as thrilling to watch his power and grace in this scene than in his fight scenes. Throw in his thespian eyes and you've got a real charismatic star. Only he's not really the star, is he? He takes a backseat in terms of screen time to the two women. And they surely deserve it. Yeoh is all quiet dignity, fierce intelligence, and repressed emotion. Yet she can kick your ass six ways from Sunday if provoked properly. Contrast this with the determination and passion that newcomer Zhang brings, and you see why Chow wasn't needed all that much. Throw in a charismatic Chen Chang as Lo (he supplies both the love interest and comic relief), and you have a fine ensemble cast.
Rating: Summary: Perspective from an Asian film buff Review: I agree with another commentator Zhou Hanqing that this film is really not all that innovative in terms of this genre. There have been better Hong Kong films & TV series throughout the years by other directors. However, I still give it 3 stars for breathtaking scenes and original music. I can't give it 4 stars because Lee chose Chow Yun-Fat to play the warrior part. Chow does very well in almost any genre which include action, romance, comedy, drama & any combinations of those. However, Chow has not been in any martial art films prior to CTHD. There is a reason for that as evident in the sword play by Chow in CTHD. The biggest impact of the film on me is it really makes me want to take a trip to China to visit all the scenes. Below are comments or corrections to a previous commentator Zhou Hanqing: "This film may have been a success around the world, but it bombed terribly in China." This might have to do with the pirate VCDs rampant in China. I doubt the poor box office was due to the taste or liking of the mainland Chinese since the film did well across Asia. "Coco Lee would not have been my choice for the popular music track (which in the Chinese city-states and in much of East Asia is overdone melopoppy and sappy tunes lacking originality and true artistry) - but then again, she is Taiwanese." Coco Lee was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to San Francisco when she was young. She first went back to HK to jump start a singing career of which is popular among Asian stars. However, she wasn't initially embraced in HK so she went to Taiwan & got her break then she came to to HK & then back to the states. So she is not a Taiwanese. She is an Asian American. "Misinformation is a terrible thing." Try Disney's Mulan. What the heck was that? But I guess it goes well the Chop Sueys, the Pu Pu Platters & fortune cookies. Ang Lee did a pretty good job in this one though.
Rating: Summary: EYE POPPING!!!! Review: I found this film to have such excitement that I couldn't let my eyes leave the screen. The special effects were not your Bruce Lee kind of "Wha Pow" kind of acts. But, a sweet love story with warmth that made you really identifiy with the story line. I know when it comes out on "DVD" I will be one of the first to own this asian epic.
Rating: Summary: La mejor pelicula de artes marciales. Review: Hace ya tiempo que vi esta pelicula en el cine, la cual disfrute desde el principio hasta el fin, la historia gira alrededor de una espada llamada Destino Verde y una vieja hechicera, la trama puede parecer simple, pero vaya que no lo es, es mas compleja de lo que muchos pueden pensar, por otra parte tenemos lo que todos queriamos ver siiiiiiii, golpes y patadas con tal velocidad que dejarian a Matrix, con el ojo cuadrado (no se dejen llevar Matrix es mi segunda pelicula favorita, despues de esta) por que las escenas de combate estan bellamente coreografiadas, aunque me encontre que en cuanto salen las escenas donde los personajes vuelan (literalmente) se ve medio raro a mas no decir malon el efecto, pero es que todavia la tecnologia no da para mas (ya veremos mejores efectos en el futuro), pero, que acaso, no todos deseamos ver combates con personajes de carne y hueso corriendo a gran velocidad (con tanta velocidad que pareciese que flotasen) y no ver solo eso es los animes como en Ninja Scroll?, claro que si, y este es uno de tantos intentos por hecerlo ver real.
Rating: Summary: The Best Movie Of 2000 Review: For those of you still wondering if this lives up to the hype, it does. For anyone who thought Gladiator deserved the Oscar, you can stop reading now. Just go back with your crappy toga party and let people with taste read this review. Think I'm the only one, was it just me or did you notice when Gladiator was announced as Best Picture the reaction was luke warm at best. Crouching Tiger is one of those movies that does not come along very often. I urge everyone to buy this movie. For those that might be turned off by it beign a foreign language film I heard on the DVD there will be an English track. I hope that convinced you if you were not already.
Rating: Summary: The most beautiful action movie ever? Review: Crouching Tiger is a stunning blend of mysticism, martial arts and the usual Ang Lee character studies. There are no movies like this. When I first heard Ang Lee was going to make a kung fu movie I was skeptical, but intrigued. He had never made a movie I didn't like, but they are all so sluggishly paced and focused solely on character. Possibly the polar opposite to your average chop socky film. Nevertheless the outcome is nothing short of miraculous. After a purposely slow opening we are thrown into a spectaular fight sequence between Michelle Yeoh and a mysterious intruder. From then on the action is constantly mirrored by moving performances from Michelle, Chow Yun Fat and newcomer Ziyi Zhang. The story is really just a simple fairy tale complicated by real emotions. The action has a grace and fluidity to it that no western film (even The Matrix) has yet achieved. I cannot recommend this film enough. The proof of its power came at the end when normally people stand and leave the second the credits appear. The cinema was almost full yet no one moved, most sat right through to the very end. Buy this film!
Rating: Summary: Greatest movie of the year.....four thumbs up Review: Well this movie show the expectator an expirience in a world you never have seen. This magical ride is one of Ang lee's masterpiece. Is his best movie. You have to see it. there is nothing better this year. ACRR
Rating: Summary: Best movie i have ever seen Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the best film i have ever seen, it is by far my favorite movie! the filming and scenery is fantastic, not to mention breath taking! The cast was superb! i was in love with this movie from the moment saw it!
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