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| Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
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Genre
Martial Arts Fantasy
Length
120 minutes
Director
Ang Lee
Major Stars
Chow Yun Fat
Zhang Ziyi
Michelle Yeoh
MPAA Rating
PG-13
Year Released
2000
Review Posted on
7/28/2006
Rating
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Review by Mark Pollard
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a masterpiece of world cinema combining the technical precision of Hollywood, the character pathos of British acting, the noble tradition of a mythical China, and the kinetic grace of Hong Kong's action choreography. Transcending borders, Taiwanese director Ang Lee has created a film set in China yet with a universal theme that transcends cultural identity.
Based upon a serialized novel by Wang Du Lu, the film is a beautifully rendered tale of love denied and the acceptance of responsibility. Chow Yun Fat plays Li Mu Bai, a celebrated warrior of Wudan who dreams of a peaceful retirement with his comrade in arms, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Both dreams are hindered by an incident involving the theft of Mu Bai's sword, The Green Destiny which was to be a gift for his father's friend, Sir Te. Jen Yu (Zhang ZiYi), daughter of the local magistrate is suspected. Finding her to be adept in kung fu Shu Lien and Mu Bai are both drawn towards this headstrong young woman hoping to cool her reckless passions. Yet the Jade Fox, a notorious thief and nemesis of Wudan hopes to have Jen Yu follow in her footsteps. Frustrated by an arranged marriage her father has set up, pining for an unquenchable thirst for freedom and confused by Mu Bai's intentions towards her, Jen Yu sets out on a destructive rampage that has serious consequences for all.
The story is based upon a long running Chinese novel by Wang Du Lu. Its a tale of wuxia pien, a genre of storytelling in China akin to American tall tales of the Old West or Greek legends of gods and monsters. Popular in Chinese stories, heroes could develop the ability to fly or perform superhuman feats through training in martial arts, particularity the internal kung fu. In this case, the style of "wudan" kung fu deals with the development of internal strength rather than external. This is what accounts for the ability to climb walls and balance from the tips of bamboo trees. In one humbling scene, Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) confronts Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) who believes having the indestructible Green Destiny signifies true power. She is defeated by Mu Bai who wields only a thin tree branch.
Dozens of locations throughout China were used to shoot the film. The cinematography led by Peter Pau effectively captures the beauty of the scenery which adds tremendous depth. A memorable scene comes to mind where Mu Bai and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) sit in a well lit building in front of a large window. This is the one moment the two seasoned warriors have to truly contemplate a life together living in peace. Outside, a forest of green bamboo trees sway serenely with the breeze. One cannot help but feel the same sense of quiet comfort that both characters desperately seek.
An old form of Mandarin, perhaps best compared with Old English is used by the characters. This proved a difficult task for the Cantonese speaking Chow Yun Fat and the predominately English speaking Michelle Yeoh. The acting may have suffered from the awkwardness of using such a difficult language, yet from an English speaking viewer it didn't seem to have a visible effect. Both Yeoh's and Yun Fat's performance appear intentionally understated, highlighting the fact that both characters must suppress their true feelings. Zhang Ziyi as the troubled youth with devastating skills gives a stand out performance. Only her second role at the age of 19, Ziyi imbues her character with a combination of arrogance and naiveté that creates a paradox of emotion where one feels both distain and compassion for her which seems to have been Ang Lee's intention. Veteran actress, Cheng Pei Pei offers a memorable role as the lead villain, Jade Fox. In a tale this emotionally complex, even Jade Fox can be empathized with as Cheng effectively conveys the bitterness that fosters her anger towards the noble path of wudan.
Yuen Wo Ping has taken his now trademark choreography to new leve
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