As a self-professed Asian film addict (or enthusiast as I prefer to be called), I've seen more than my share of Chinese cinema. Ang Lee's latest and critically acclaimed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a splendid film.
Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh star as two ageing warriors who can't seem to retire. Their stiff, traditional romance is juxtaposed against Zhang Zi-Yi's (playing an aristocrat's daughter, awaiting marriage) and a desert pirate's savage, lustful relationship.
What makes this film great is that action sequences play a large, crucial and spectacular part. Choreographed by the Matrix's Yuen Woo-Ping, they manage to be both graceful and exhilarating simultaneously. The characters punch, kick, wield blades with breath-taking skill and fly across rooftops effortlessly. While it becomes slightly irritating when they fly around for extended periods, it does add an extra dimension (literally!) to the action and puts most Hollywood combat choreography to shame.
There are lots of superb performances in the film. The delicate, pretty Zhang Zi-Yi, unknown to most Western audiences, must be singled out for particular praise; hopefully this will put her in the frame for even bigger roles in the future. The two older, more established stars do not disappoint either.
The film is in Mandarin throughout, and while subtitles are not ideal, they are acceptable. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is an unmissably potent combination of adventure and romance. Be prepared to miss a few jokes though, unless you know Mandarin!
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Production Year: 2003 - Martial Arts - Director: Paul Hunter - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, James King, Karel Roden
Production Year: 1972 - Martial Arts - Director: Bruce Lee - Original Language: English\Cantonese\Chinese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall, Jon T. Benn
Production Year: 1991 - Martial Arts - Director: Tsui Hark - Original Language: Cantonese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Donnie Yen, Jet Lee, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Biao, Mok Sui Chung
Production Year: 1981 - Martial Arts - Director: Kenji Misumi, Robert Houston - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida, Masahiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama
Martial Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Sho Kosugi, James Ryan, Jim Kelly, Jimmy Wang Yu, Bolo Yeung, Christopher Lee
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![Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78543493.jpg "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]")
Jan 13th, 2001
(Jan 14th, 2001)
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