Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

A movie by Ang Lee

With Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi

Christina says:

China in the 19^th Century. Sword fighter Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) wants to quit his bloody trade. Circumstances beyond his control force him to once more face his archenemy Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei) and her mysterious young apprentice. Jade Fox killed Li Mu Bai’s master and stole the secrets of his martial arts school. Now her apprentice stole Li Mu Bai’s sword that his friend Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) handed over to Sir Te (Lung Sihung). It is Shu Lien who discovers the true identity of Jade Fox’s apprentice, young noblewoman Jen (Zhang Ziyi), who wants to break out of the narrow traditional life her parents planned for her.

Taiwanese director Ang Lee proved his versatility with movies like THE WEDDING BANQUET, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and THE ICE STORM. His latest movie CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON takes the western viewer into a strange world. Martial arts movies are not really my thing, but the reviews and previews and especially the names of the director and lead actor made me curious.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is well worth watching. My knowledge of Chinese history is sketchy at best, but I was still able to follow the story without difficulty. Furthermore Ang Lee proves that an action movie can work very well with female protagonists. He manages to do without explosions and – to my great delight – without unnecessary slow motion shots. The fighting sequences were superbly choreographed and enhanced by ingenious music.

The movie not only boasts breathtaking and yet poetic fighting sequences but also a real plot and excellent actors. Apart from Chow Yun-Fat who impressed me in ANNA AND THE KING and Michelle Yeoh especially Zhang Ziyi stood out. At one moment she embodies the Chinese woman as westerners imagine her – fragile and wrapped in silk – and then she’s the rebel who doesn’t want to do her parents’ bidding and surpassed even her mentor in her search for her own way.

Only the plotline about the police officer and his daughter was just as confusing as it was dispensable.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is an elegant movie. The fight scenes aren’t linked by a weak string of plot but rather part of a harmonious picture comprised of good acting and grandiose and poetic images.

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Christina Gross

Last changes: 01/04/03