CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (PG-13)

Reviewed February 15, 2001 - Check out the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Website.

Studio Synopsis: Known for making films about familial relationships, director Ang Lee surprised everyone with his martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Based on a novel by Wang Du Lu, Crouching Tiger starts with the revenge plot common in the wuxia stories that Lee loved as a child, then adds a feminist twist. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) is a legendary martial artist who has decided to pass on his sword, the Green Destiny, to a friend. Soon afterwards, the sword is stolen by a masked female, setting in motion events that test the bonds of family, love, duty, and sisterhood. Chow appears with three generations of female stars: Cheng Pei Pei, a 1960s action heroine; Michelle Yeoh, the beauty queen turned 1980s action goddess; and newcomer Zhang Ziyi, who smolders as the princess who wants more than domestic tranquility. Famed action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping (The Matrix) stages jaw-dropping zero-G fights across rooftops, rivers, and bamboo trees, while Yo Yo Ma punctuates the fisticuffs with dramatic cello solos. Described by Lee as "Sense and Sensibility with martial arts," Crouching Tiger recalls the best wuxia films of the 1960s and pushes the genre in new directions.

Fuzzydog Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an all out feast for the senses. As exhilirating and exciting as it is beautiful, this film by Ang Lee takes the cinematic "fight scene" and raises it to a whole new level. Matrix what? Keanu who? Though Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh are the marquis names in this picture, newcomers Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen easily steal the show with some of the wildest, fastest, most stunning martial arts sequences ever put on film. Action, adventure and an epic love story are all rolled into a single package with Crouching Tiger, and the result is truly impressive. Ang Lee writes regarding this film: "It was a tremendous privilege for me to make this movie." No no, Mr. Lee, the privilege is ours...

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

blue@jones.com gives this movie  star: "Jump, jump, chop, chop, stupid, stupid" (9/14/01)

zulki999@yahoo.com gives this movie  stars: "its not that good u guys should check out jet li's once upon a time in china" (9/8/01)

embiggen4you@netscape.net gives this movie  stars: "I am perhaps overly critical of movies, and foreign films have never been my favorite, but thsi film is one of the most incredible movies I have ever seen. If you appreciate great acting, incredible action sequences, and stunning scenery, this movie is necessary for you to see. I have heard people say they would not watch this movie because of the sub-titles. I would be willing to bet that anyone watching this movie would be so absorbed within the first 10 minutes that they will forget they are reading the dialogue. There are only 3 other movies I would give 5 stars, so it is not a rating I give out lightly. WATCH THIS MOVIE!" (5/15/01)

Jon gives this movie  star: "this movie was !$@#. i dont know what the hell you are talking about it being 4 1/2 stars , i mean , get with it guys. The movie sucks. ive never seen a movie as lame as this one. i wouldnt recommend it to anyone. you will feel the same as me when youve seen it too, a complete waste of money . id rather go to mc'donalds and buy myself a happy meal. i mean really ......... to put a long story short it sucks and dont go and see it " (4/27/01)