All I can say is WOW!!! This film is a piece of art. Before I go any further, I must confess to being a fan of Hong Kong cinema (may favourite action film of all time is Hard Boiled – another Chow Yun Fat success). I have tried to put my opinions of the genre aside and reviewed this film as an independent work. Having said that – WOW!
CTHD is one of those films that has something for everyone. Action, Suspense, fantastic settings, romance and a hellofaloada special effects.
Fighter, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh - Charlies Angels) is in love with the warrior, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat – Anna and the King). But due to the friendship between her late husband and Li, she does not reveal her feelings. Jen (Zhang Ziyi) is arranged to be married despite her feelings for a bandit leader. Add a masked ninja thief, a female villain who seems indestructible, a stolen sword and a revenge plot and you get a delightful mix.
The film has several levels to it, but don’t be put off and think that sounds like arty farty crap. You can subconsciously select whether to watch the jaw dropping action sequences or to look at the deeper story of forbidden love and the human condition. This is not a western film and not an eastern film it is a truly unique event that brings so many elements together successfully.
I have heard some people complain about the acting being wooden, but that is just not so. Well maybe a little. I think the tradition and honour the main characters feel masks their true emotions and what we see is how they feel they should act as opposed to how they are.
The special features for CTHD are pretty good. There are enough bits and pieces to keep you engrossed long after the film has finished. My only bicker about the extras is that there is nothing over exciting and doesn't add too much to the film itself. This isn't a problem though as the featurettes are good viewing and as I'm sure ypu're fed up with me saying - THE FILM KICKS ASS.
Features: "Unleashing Dragons: The Making Of" Featurette Feature Length Commentary by Ang Lee and the Film's Producer Conversation with Michelle Yeoh - Featurette 2 Trailers Photo Gallery Weblink Filmographies Animated Menus Language Choice: Mandarin, English Multiple Language Subtitles: English, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Hindi, Hebrew, Bulgarian, Greek, Arabic, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1
Quick Summary: This is what DVD’s were created for. Plug in the stereo and you will get fully immersed in the world Ang Lee creates. A must see film that has something for everyone.
Quicker Summary: Buy it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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
Good op.But could have done with a little about the quality of the DVD, e.g picture, sound and extras. This is an excellent film though. I'm also a fan of Hong Kong films, John Woo is the master.
LostAngel 29.08.2001 17:57
Nice op but this is a review of DVD and you need to give the details of DVD extras and picture quality etc to get a VH. If you add this, let me know and i'll re-rate it. Thanks.
tange 29.08.2001 16:10
Sounds like a great film...thanks for a good review.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragonis so many things: an historical epic on a grand scale, an ... more
Asian martial-arts flick with both great effectsandfantastic fighting (choreographed byThe Matrix's guru Yuen Wo Ping), a story of magic, revenge and power played w...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragonis so many things: an historical epic on a grand scale, an ... more
Asian martial-arts flick with both great effectsandfantastic fighting (choreographed byThe Matrix's guru Yuen Wo Ping), a story of magic, revenge and power played w...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) ... more
stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu B...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
In the most-talked about movie of the year, Director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility) ... more
brings together a breathtaking combination of high-flying action (choreographed by Yeun Wo Ping - The Matrix) and stunning visual effects, woven around a story of humo...
Advantages: Fantastically acted, brilliantly choreographed and directed. Believable and moving romance Disadvantages: The flying scenes are perhaps overdone losing any realistic feel
![Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78543493.jpg "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon [DVD] [2001]")
Aug 29th, 2001
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