Today’s quick review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Famed warrior Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) leaves the solitude of her home to pay respects to a departed friend. But the visit turns violent when the warlord Hades Dai (Jason Scott Lee) sends his men to steal the Green Destiny, a legendary blade in the friend’s possession. To protect the sword, Shu Lien enlists Silent Wolf (Donnie Yen) and the last warriors of the Iron Way.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is a martial arts drama that picks up eighteen years after the events of the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Shu Lien has settled into retirement, the Iron Way has faded in prominence, and Hades Dai has grown in power. But the reappearance of the Green Destiny threatens to tip the balance. Only the loyalty and skill of the warriors protecting it can prevent Dai from claiming it for his own.
Sword of Destiny has many of the attributes that made its predecessor successful. The fights are a mixture of acrobatic wire stunts and grounded, weapons-based combat. The cast consists of talented martial artists capable of solid dramatic performances. The story weaves together old plot threads and new ones, expanding on Shu Lien’s story from the first film and using the newcomer Hades Dai to bridge the two stories.
Yet Sword of Destiny does not rise to the heights of its predecessor. The fights are engaging but not as masterful as in the original. The choreography trades speed and precision for a greater reliance on special effects. The story has interesting ideas but relies on contrivance to maneuver its plot into place. There are still traces of the subtle character motivations of the original, but they are no longer the driving force.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is a credible entry into the martial arts genre that lacks the superlative quality of the original. Taken on its own, Sword of Destiny is a solid martial arts film that benefits from a strong cast, decent stunt work, and a sober and reasonably complex story. But neither its action nor its drama has the artistry needed to match its predecessor, making Sword of Destiny a fine but unexceptional pick.
For a martial arts drama that uses the same formula to greater success, try the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. For a martial arts drama with plenty of intrigue and a heavier emphasis on romance, try House of Flying Daggers. For another martial arts movie with an intricate plot and a focus on wire stunts, try Hero.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a decent mixture of action and drama, without quite enough skill at either to truly excel.