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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (can)
 In the last glorious years of the
Qing dynasty, China is poised on the brink of change. Western powers will soon force the
country open for the opium trade and against this sweeping historic panorama, two women
struggles against their fate. The legendary warrior Li Mu Bai and his comrade, the
beautiful woman samurai Yui Hsui Lien , suffers the torment of undeclared love. Both have
pursued justice for their people and sacrificed personal fulfillment. Entrusting her with
his ancient sword, Li Mu Bai asks Yui Hsui Lien to deliver it to Sir Te in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the young and willful aristocrat Jen yearns for freedom from the confined and
enclosed world of Chinese noblewomen. Thus, the plot moves along at a breathtaking pace
towards a climatic finale.
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Zhi-Yi |
Movie Review by: Michelle Tan
Click here for pictures
Ang
Lee has certainly surpassed himself in this epic martial arts/action/adventure/romance.
Fret not if you are not Chinese speaking, the subtitles are very good and are not a
distraction as you feast on the breathtaking action scenes which will have you at the edge
of your seat, jaws agape in awe.
Due credit should be given to action
choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping, who cut his teeth on The Matrix. This film has the best
of martial arts films with fights in the air, on roof tops, on walls and in trees. And to
top it off, the movie has a brilliant story line and characters that you can relate with
and care about.
The title Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon draws upon an ancient Chinese saying, a proverb used to characterise situations
and places where hidden heroes and legends dwell; a place where nothing is as it seems.
And so it is that within a legendary
warrior (Chow Yun Fatt) lurks a man unable to declare his love, and the seeming calm of a
woman samurai (Michelle Yeoh), in fact, conceals her inner turmoil of undeclared love.
Together, they help shape the destiny of a troubled young woman, played by Zhang Zhi-Yi,
who is definitely a young star to look out for. Plucked from obscurity, Zhang Zhi-Yi
carries herself confidently with seasoned actors Chow and Yeoh.
The ending to this tale is definitely one of the most beautifully
written, totally unexpected and unpredictable to come out of the Chinese movie genre. In
fact, the whole movie is unpredictable, which is the reason I am not revealing much.
With its wonderful characters, awe-inspiring landscapes and
fabulous action, it is a film to be watched over and over again. Just as I am going to see
it again. |
  
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