DVD Movie Rating for: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

4 out of 5

Movie Plot of: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The disappearance of a magical jade sword spurs a breathtaking quest for the missing treasure. Li (Chow Yun-Fat) is embittered by the loss of his jade sword, and his unrequited pursuit of Yu (Michelle Yeoh) is further complicated by the mysterious intrusion of an assassin. The identity of the assassin is gradually unveiled as another poignant tale of love begins to ravel with that of Li and Yu against the backdrop of Western China's magnificent landscape.

DVD Production Details of: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh

Director: Ang Lee

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby

Studio: Columbia Tri-Star

DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002
DVD Features:
Commentary by Ang Lee and James Schamus

Production notes

Theatrical trailer(s)

The Making of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Conversation with Michelle Yeoh Featurette

Photo Montage

Talent Files

Link to website

Widescreen anamorphic format

Cast of the movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

• Yun-Fat Chow .... Master Li Mu Bai
• Michelle Yeoh .... Yu Shu Lien
• Ziyi Zhang .... Jen Yu (Mandarin version)/Xiou Long (English dubbed version)
• Chen Chang .... Lo 'Dark Cloud' (Mandarin version)/Xiou Hu 'Dark Cloud' (English dubbed version)
• Sihung Lung .... Sir Te (Mandarin version)/Be-La-Ye (English dubbed version)
• Pei-pei Cheng .... Jade Fox (Mandarin version)/Be-Ah-Hui 'Jade Fox' (English dubbed version)
• Fa Zeng Li .... Gov. Yu
• Xian Gao .... Bo (Mandarin version)/Yo-Shi (English dubbed version)
• Yan Hai .... Madame Yu
• De Ming Wang .... Police Inspector Tsai
• Li-Li Li .... May (as Li Li)
• Su Ying Huang .... Auntie Wu
• Jin Ting Zhang .... De Lu
• Rei Yang .... Maid
• Kai Li .... Gou Jun Pei

Photo Gallery of the movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution photographs

Reviews of the movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity.

By Blake French: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a stirring, sweeping, engaging, and action-packed epic achievement in filmmaking; it is one of the best foreign films I have seen in a long time. It demonstrates martial arts is not about fighting or daring stunts, but about personal achievement, honor, and dignity. The villains in this kind of story are almost always people who use their artful abilities for evil or selfish completion. The heroes are overcome by duty and achievement, and often defy limitation of physiology and mental solicitude. This movie confirms those ideas in such a method that we cannot take our eyes off the screen even for a second.

Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a massive giant over movie landscape of previous attempts to portray the art of martial arts in a meaningful voice. Jackie Chan is the most popular of today's martial artist actors, but I cannot figure out why. Jackie Chan's movies are stupid, contain thin and distant stories, and almost regularly fail to engage or provide anything but a few shallow laughs and dozens of action sequences. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is the perfect tool for me to express my resentment with Jackie Chan movies.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" does contain such absurdities as seen in Jackie Chan productions; there are sequences where the characters defy the laws of gravity, glide over rooftops, rush up the sides of walls, and leap from one house to another. These scenes are so much more convincing than Jackie Chan aimlessly scampering down the sides of lofty structures, though. Why? Because what happens is in the spirit of the characters' convictions and possibilities. When Jackie Chan does these stunts, he does them simply because he can. There is no realization in mindless action, but there is in such sheer physical grace of the scenes in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The fight sequences can also help determine the difference between this movie and "The Legend of Drunken Master," "Shanghai Noon," "First Strike," "Mr. Nice Guy," or any other recent Jackie Chan action frolic. Chan uses fast-paced fighting to provoke laugher of disbelief, but the scenes are not defined within the context of the plot and are always contrived and feel forced. Like the scenes in Jackie Chan films, long training hours went into preparation, and they are beautifully choreographed. But the unique content in that separates "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" from other films of this genre is the great depth and rhythm of how they connect with the story.

Unlike Chan films, the script and character motives are not just clotheslines for senseless action, but are idyllic, ethereal and meaningful to advance the story. Chow Yun-Fat, who finally redeems himself after some extraordinary failures, co-stars with Michelle Yeoh, whom both are experienced martial artists. Yun Fat plays a warrior named Li Mu Bai who vowed to avenge the murder of his master done in by the evil Jade Fox (Cheng Pei Pei). This villain also stands between two characters' affectionate feelings for each other. She has arranged for the capture of a soulful sword one belonging to Li Mu Bai's master, and only Li Mu Bai can return it to its rightful owner.

Screenwriters James Schamus, Wang Hui Ling and Tsai Kuo Jung amazingly capture the deep sentiment of the human love story, which is not the usual hokum, but touching and uplifting. Ang Lee allows for an unusual long but necessary flashback that is more of a separate story than a sequence. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh dazzle on screen as they master the delicate martial arts techniques. The fight sequences are so enticingly photographed, the sheer image of the characters battling on screen acquires unmatched escapism. Before watching "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," first examine the qualities of a Jackie Chan production, the overwhelming achievement of this film will be even more apparent. You may never look at martial arts films the same way again.