Today’s quick review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hoping to live out the rest of his days in peace, famed warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) gives his sword Green Destiny to his friend Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) for safekeeping. But when the sword is stolen by Jen (Zhang Ziyi), the governor’s daughter, Li must come out of retirement to reclaim his sword and take his revenge on Jen’s master: the notorious Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei).
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese martial arts drama and romance. The story involves a pair of veteran warriors who have yet to acknowledge their love for one another and a talented but reckless young thief led down by a dark path by her master. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon delivers spectacle and story in equal measure. High-flying stunts, nuanced characters, and a rich story make it a robust movie with plenty to offer.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is most notable for its action. The fight scenes are a combination of graceful wire stunts and sharply choreographed exchanges with a variety of weapons. These direct exchanges help ground the action and show off the actors’ considerable skill. The mixture of the two styes of fighting gives the movie a healthy balance between flash and substance. Clear, uncluttered camerawork does justice to the quality of the stunts.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon invests just as much in its story. The conflict centers on Jen, a young noblewoman torn between her family, her master, and her love. The depth of the character, the tangle of plot threads she is involved in, and Zhang Ziyi’s able performance all make Jen a worthy lynchpin for the story. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh are also excellent together: calm, disciplined warriors whose love is tempered by duty.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an excellent pick that stands out among a crowded genre. Its combination of top-notch action and solid storytelling will be enough to please a wide variety of fans. Skip it when you’re in the mood for an action movie that’s lighter, has a simpler plot, or sticks solely to realistic action. For another martial arts drama of similar caliber, try Hero or House of Flying Daggers.
7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for sharp, imaginative stunts and a well-told dramatic story.