Just back from an excellent 6 months in various S.E. Asian countries and I'm now passing the time un...
Just back from an excellent 6 months in various S.E. Asian countries and I'm now passing the time until I head up to Durham to read English. Into music, going out, football and reading.
Member since:30.11.2000
Reviews:70
Members who trust:22
I think someone on Ciao has already described this film as an ‘epic’. Well I’m going to go right ahead and plagiarise him I’m afraid, as this is the word that sprang straight into my mind as I left the cinema after watching this film of truly gargantuan proportions.
And I mean this in several different ways. Firstly, putting aside the obvious fact that this is a pretty long film at well over 2 hours in total (although it felt a lot longer), the storyline seems to cover so much and takes the viewer on such a monumental journey that it has distinctly ‘epic’ overtones. I really felt after watching this that I had been through almost a lifetime of experience with the characters of the film. I had experienced love, hate, violence, peace, adventure, death, good and evil. Rarely does a film manage to encompass such a spectrum of emotion and experience without it feeling stretched and over-played, but CTHD does just
that, and more.
Secondly, CTHD is ‘epic’ in its wondrous use of contrast. You cannot fail to be awestruck at the range of the film and how it moves seemingly effortlessly between exhilerating fight sequences and the sense of serene calm derived from, for example, the sight of two lovers holding each other in their arms or the immense beauty of ancient China. One prime example is a fight scene that takes place up amongst the swaying tree tops, hence combining aggression and calm, depicted by the quietly rustling leaves and the gentle breeze swirling about. I think also it’s the graceful and silent way in which the characters seem to ‘fly’ about that adds an eerie calm to contrast the shrieks and clashing of metal.
On the subject of the fight sequences, I might point out that while they are a major part of the film (and would quite probably sustain it on their own) they by no means should cloud out the other, perhaps more ‘intelligent’ aspects of CTHD. For while these scenes are undoubtedly breathtaking and are handled impeccably, I found that they were, while in no way a distraction, perhaps the least subtle of the many delights that this film has to offer.
I was, however, particularly impressed by the way in which these sequences were woven so seamlessly into the general fabric of the film and, rather than detracting from its sense of ‘reality’ (some may find the ‘flying’ swordsmen a little hard to accept) I felt they actually added to the film’s pervading sense of mysticism. Impressively, I felt they manage to make the fighting and ‘flying’ credible, despite giving you no real explanation for it all. I found myself suspending disbelief for no good reason - and just sitting back and enjoying the visual splendour of it all.
Perhaps the greatest single aspect of the film, however, is it’s photography; some of the shots here are simply inspiring. You are taken seemingly from pole to pole with the breadth of visuals on offer here - right from the nobility ‘compounds’ of ancient Peking to the arid and harsh (yet, as you will see, in some ways liberating) deserts of China, through to the breathtaking shots of Chinese mountain ranges. Perhaps it is the powerful effect that this photography has that allows you to, as I said, ‘suspend your disbelief’ as you find yourself almost numbed and de-sensitised by the sheer beauty of each, carefully crafted shot.
As I hope I have got across to you, I think you could probably enjoy this film even without the subtitles.
Aah, subtitles. If you didn’t know that CTHD is subtitled you’re heart has probably just sank - but don’t be put off. Although to begin with you’ll probably find yourself highly conscious of the fact that you’re having to read, rather than just listen, I found that quite you quickly stop noticing and it feels quite natural. I’m sure that a lot is lost in the translation of the Chinese into English text, but unless you can speak the language you’re never going to know and never do you get the feeling that you’re missing out on a major part of the film - probably because all its other aspects are so good that it all just flows effortlessly over you.
Please, don’t be put off by a silly thing like subtitles: go and see this film. Today if possible.
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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
I'm gonna get this out next time I'm at the video shop, everyone's said it's wicked :) Gr8 op aswell :)
Connoisseur_Haggler 30.08.2001 20:52
I've seen this film and realy enjoyed the photography and flying scenes! A well written account thank you. (Good to see you back -comment left in your guestbook- yes, Ciao has had a lot of new features added since you left!)
yamswheelyr1 14.08.2001 20:06
Well except for the subtitles part i really really want to see this film now!! (although im used to subtitles as i watch mostly hong kong films - Jackie Chan !) well writen.. i wish i could write like that... thanks! Craig...
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Advantages: Spiritual and moving, stunning locations and fight sequences. Disadvantages: Subtitles - the translation into English quite probably loses certain meaning.
![Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78543493.jpg "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]")
Feb 1st, 2001
(Feb 3rd, 2001)
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