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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON Send This Review to a Friend
First of all, do you like martial arts films? How you feel about them may dictate, although not entirely, your reaction to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Ang Lee's gorgeously filmed action epic set in ancient China and featuring dazzling special effects that ignore the laws of gravity. In this tale, the combatants fly over rooftops and treetops as they follow a traditional battle of good versus evil. What's more, women do a considerable amount of the fighting. These ladies are no Charlie's Angels, but there is a certain outdo--the-men similarity despite the very different setting.
Another attraction is the casting of movie martial arts master Chow Yun Fat, here as a weary warrior Li Mu Bai, who wants to lay aside his magical sword. He has long harbored a love for Yu Shu Lien, played with loveliness by Michelle Yeoh, but can't bring himself to a commitment. That's the beginning of the set-up, which soon escalates into a convoluted plot involving theft of the sword, duplicity, wickedness, plus a subplot with a younger romance.
The special effects are among the best and the special effects fighting seems like an action ballet. The film raises the martial arts form to an art house level. Lee has directed with the little boy in him, providing an homage to the sort of action flicks that have thrilled kids in their early movie-going days. The question is how much of this can you enjoy and admire? The level is high judging from the extravagant praise this film has been getting since its showing at the New York Film Festival. For me, a little martial art goes a very long way, so while I salute the skill with which Lee's film shot in China has been made, I'm less than enthusiastic about recommending it across the board. But for fans of the genre, the film is obviously a must. A Sony Pictures Cassics release.
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