Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
…………………………………………………
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Movie Review
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee and starring Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-fat and Zhang Ziyi. It’s such a great movie.
………………………………………………….
“No growth without assistance.
No action without reaction.
No desire without restraint.
Now give yourself up and find yourself again“
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
The storyline is very strong. It deals with this magic sword which is hugely important and goes missing so they have to retrieve it. But above all else, this is a movie about honor and dishonor which poison best represented. It’s also about teachers and students and how that relationship was very important and could be complicated during this period.
The film is also a big feminist picture, quite progressive for its time. A lot of the characters are female, and literally all are main and important characters. But it portrays women as flawed human beings and their interpersonal relationships complicated just like the male ones so in that regard it’s realistic and very respectable.
Although the plot itself is very good in its own right, the characters themselves make this movie great in my opinion. The characterization is so amazing that it’s the driving force of the entire picture. Each one of the characters has their purpose and they are all so well realized.
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
Let’s start with the main character. Jen Yu is an amazing protagonist, one of the greatest in the history of the martial arts/wuxia genre. She’s so well developed, so complex and her switching from the good to the bad side and vice versa was so well established. She betrayed everyone, she was genuinely unlikable, but at least she redeemed herself near the end. Her arc is superb and following how cockiness can destroy a person and all of her potentials was emotionally rewarding.
Jade Fox is such a good, fun villain. Li is the most likable character and this wonderful mentor of the main character. Michelle Yeoh wonderfully plays Yu who is such a dignified woman. The romance between those two was excellent. And all of the performances here are terrific as are all of the characters.
I found the central romance a bit lacking. It was fine, but overly emphasized, and that entire western act dragged a bit. It was easily the least interesting part of an otherwise very entertaining movie where the first act is an intriguing introduction and the third act is such a fantastic, moving and epic conclusion.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has some terrific action sequences. I personally wasn’t the biggest fan of its flying sequences. This walk on air was a bit awkward and much more suitable for animation/anime. But otherwise the battles are truly extraordinary and providing everything I love in terms of action – one on one duels which are extended, detailed and perfectly executed across the board. Each duel here was jaw-droppingly entertaining.
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
The film is technically phenomenal as well. The score is absolutely fantastic, thrilling and sometimes even beautiful, with the drums being my favorite instruments being utilized here. The costumes are absolutely superb as are the sets and some of the scenery – the bamboo trees are so memorable. The visuals are stunning as are the special effects. Thus it easily deserved all of its ten Oscar nominations, especially those technical ones. I personally would have rewarded ‘Amores perros’ over this film in the foreign category, but it’s still a worthy winner in its own right, and one of the greatest in the history of the category.
Visually arresting with beautiful costumes, great sets and perfectly executed action sequences, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is also exceptionally scored and superbly directed by Ang Lee. Its story is intriguing and constantly engaging with the exception of a somewhat dragged second act. The flying does not suit live-action all that well, but otherwise the duels are simply incredibly entertaining and superbly realized on every level. But the film’s highlight is its characterization with each one of its main characters being very well developed, deep and important with the protagonist being one of the greatest in the wuxia genre history.
