 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Jesse Taliaferro - Friday, January 12, 2001
Director: Ang Lee
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Zi Yi, Chang Chen
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Date of Release: 12-08-2000
Reviewed by: Jesse Taliaferro
Our Rating: * * * * *
It’s a love story, it’s a kung-fu movie, it’s in Chinese….it’s awesome. Forget all the comparisons to Matrix, because it is nothing like it. This movie stands on it’s own.
Chow Yun-Fat plays a monk from Wudan mountain monastery who is the keeper of an amazing sword called Green Destiny. It’s important to remember where he comes from because it’s the legendary home of tai chi and a famous Taoist school. This being the case, Chow Yun-Fat doesn’t fight with the big kicks and punches. He is more subtle and serene. Michelle Yeoh, the follower of a different school and the object of Chow’s affection, flies, kicks, spins, and punches in many amazing displays of martial arts. Zhang Zi Yi plays a spoiled daughter of a rich family and causes the troubles in the movie. She too shows tremendous command of martial arts in her different confrontations with Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat.
But don’t see it just for the kung fu! See it for what it is- an amazing combination of cinematography, story, romance, characters, and martial arts. Yes, it is subtitles- but I guarantee you won’t care! Ang Lee’s direction makes this movie not just exciting, but beautiful to watch. Highly recommend it!! | |