Advantages: Believable romance, Good action sequences, Breathtaking backdrops Disadvantages: Some won't like the 'flying'
...I decided to buy the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon DVD on the back of several excellent reviews, various Oscars and an excellent offer in the local video shop. With my only previous knowledge being an absurdly drunken affair culminating in the video of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Penis’ I was right to be somewhat apprehensive this time round. However I’m glad to say now with abject derision that Ang Lee’s masterpiece is clearly nothing to do with crouching ... ...Yu Shu Lien.
In Crouching Tiger, these two characters played by Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh act like good friends but it is obvious that there is something more between them and have been pining for each other for many years. Even Sir Te has a one to one chat with Li Mu Bai and reminds him that he should take his chance rather than not know her feelings but it is the ancient honour that is holding them apart, as Li Mu Bai was once friends with ...
srtom 17.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Brilliant five star viewing Disadvantages: Subtitles, but don't be put off by this please
First of all I would like to tell you that even if you aren't a martial arts fan it doesn't mean that you won't like it.
This is a brilliant film from the brilliant director Ang Lee, who funnily enough was also the director of Sense And Sensibility (which by the way if you don't know is a very different film altogether). The choreographer was the total genius Yuen Wo Ping (means nothing I bet). How about if I tell you he also choreographed The Matrix? ... ...a fine blend of love, courage and a strong sense of honour and loyalty beyond anything you could imagine. It is set in the 19th century and is based on two main characters who are martial-arts masters. Li Mu Bai is played brilliantly by Chow Yun Fat, who was in replacement killers I believe.Then you have the other master played by Michelle Yeoh, she also starred in James Bonds Tommorow Never Dies Which I might add She was Really good in.
Yes there ...
KRISPY13 02.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic setting and great acting Disadvantages: Flying scenes may be too much for some
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is, in essence, something of a novelty in Holywood circles, but a refreshing change from all the action car chases and gunfights produced by the standard film makers. The film is an attempt to re-invent the martial arts films of old, while at the same time introducing audiences to the fairy-tale style mythology of China. The story itself comes from a famous Chinese set of novels and is based on the 3rd book in a series ... ...film, which is both haunting and dramatic. Also included are a couple of trailers and a nice photo gallery. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is probably the most breathtaking film I have had the pleasure to watch this year and I recommend this should be in everyone’s DVD collection. ...
pbyron 06.02.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Great film and equally great DVD Disadvantages: -
There aren't many crouching tigers and the dragon?? Well it was very well hidden I can give you that, but what an epic! The winner of 4 oscars is now available on DVD for those unfortunate enough to have missed it out when it was on the big screen.
The film is directed by Ang Lee and co-written by James Schamus and is a truly epic film of great proportions. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was so good and on so many levels as it serves as an historical ... ...by Yuen Wo Ping of Matrix fame),a story of magic and a story of revenge Set during the Qing dynasty, 19th century, the film follows the warriors Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh. These two love each other but keep their feelings to themselves and in turn deny their love. However, disaster strikes when Li Mu Bai's legendary sword, Green Destiny, is stolen Jen (Zhang Ziyi, who is in rush hour 2 which is out now, though the roles ...
daredevil852 11.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic fighting skills and an epic scenery which takes the breath away Disadvantages: A bit too balletic and dreamy for my tastes
Ok, we all know that this film has been one of the longest awaited with baited breath movies for quite a while. I feel like I'm being a little bit irreverant and blasphemous but I have to say that its all been done before, in some ways better, in some ways worse.
You can't take anything away from the film makers or the actors, the choreography, particularly the women, and the landscapes were absolutely stunning. I have rarely seen female martial ... ...see them as almost an apologetic addition to stop the feminist uprising of the female martial art society. Also the fact that for once whilst following women being strong, the women were not portrayed with the hatred stemming from outrage at sexism (apart from the jade fox, but we can forgive her that because she is not the main character). Instead the emphasis is on a young persons curiosity and defiance that creates setting (and the fact that she ...
marsden 24.07.2001 (26.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Compelling, intriguing, gorgeous Disadvantages: Questionable depiction of death?
If you've heard anything about this film its the 'better fight scenes than The Matrix' line that rather diminishes the potency of the work. Sure, the wire-work is impressive and the choreography of the combat amongst the best I've seen, but its the combined strengths of the other elements that elevate this work above the crowd. In brief:
Characterisation
Lee can hold the camera so long on his protagonists because he has provided them with a host ... ...driven by unresolved passion, rage and pride and while watching them unfurl you can sense each of these struggling for the upper hand within the combatants.
Narrative
At first I had a problem with the long digression in the desert - the central story seems to go for a 5-fag break - but on reflection I think it works, like Proust being transported by his Madellines. After watching it, try and jot down the plot and you'll find that the straightjacket ...
oedipus 03.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: great action shots and scenery is breathtaking Disadvantages: epic, some scenes could be editted better
...the world. Now, through Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, we get a rare chance to taste one of the most wild and inventive forms of cinema ever produced. Legend of the action film, Chow Yun-Fat (Hard Boiled, The Killer) plays Li Mu Bai, a legendary Wudan swordsman who’s grown weary of the martial arts life. He returns home to profess his love Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh: The Heroic Trio) and hand his sword, the Green Destiny, over to Sir Te.
However, ... ...as the infamous Jade Fox, a female assassin who killed Li’s master, is about and the Green Destiny has gone missing. However, things aren’t quite what they seem — Jade Fox isn’t working alone.
The film is an epic Chinese fable comprising of unrequited love found, then lost, betrayal, sadness, coming of age, and last but not least, some outstanding action scenes.
Director Ang Lee has created a visual masterpiece which is as varied in its content ...
CareBear 09.03.2001 (12.03.2001)
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I was very surprised to find the cinema packed for a subtitled Chinese film. This is not your common-or-garden blockbuster so it is great to see mainstream multiplex cinemas showing it. As I looked round the audience though, I couldn’t help wondering whether they knew what they were letting themselves in for, and some of the reactions later on seemed to confirm my suspicion that many were expecting something else.
The story involves a very ... ...arts warriors. The other main character is a very-agile-for-her-age arch villain. These main characters have supernatural powers, which basically involve the ability to fly in addition to incredible fighting ability. The story begins with Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien who are the two mature and respected warriors. They share an unspoken love for each other, which developed after Li’s friend, and martial arts master (who was Shu’s lover) was ...
gilby 22.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Film for all ages. The beauty lies in the stillness. Disadvantages: None
Dir: Ang Lee with Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh.
Ang Lee has one other important film under his belt: "Sense and Sensibility", with a brilliant screen play reworking from the novel by Emma Thompson. It seems that this recipe worked well between director and screen play writer James Shamus. This is not your average common garden variety run of the mill Chinese martial arts film. Indeed, the film has the fingerprints of Lee's brilliant directing ... ...Sensibility" both in its skilful directing of the actors as the wide, sweeping visual feast of landscape and the rich texture of the "still" scenes. Like an artist, Ang Lee has painted some scenes which, were it not that one is watching a moving picture, would uncannily resemble a still life. There is a stillness, an economy of movement about the characters that screams "aliveness" or "life", a great sense of movement and emotional attachment which ...
vanhunks 14.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Everything - one of the best films I've seen Disadvantages: None
I had wanted to see this film ever since I heard about it and the tremendous praise it had been getting. Finally, last week, I got to see it at the cinema. My anticipation and expectation levels for this film were at an all time high so it really had to deliver.
The film is set in a fantasy version of ancient China and begins with a lengthy conversation between the two principal characters. Both are warriors played by Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh ... ...his warrior life and his legendary sword. The first thing that you will notice about the film is that it is subtitled, the actors speak Chinese throughout. Please, please do not let this put you off the movie. After a couple of minutes you won't notice, promise. As the film began, I found myself waiting for something to happen. It's not that I'm not a fan of a slow build up but I wanted to see some of the action sequences. The first one is a chase ...
Ork1927 03.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Those fight scenes! Those locations! Those effects...Get the picture? Disadvantages: Novel boiled down to film-length leaves simplistic yet confusing plot
...this review was unashamedly based on Steve Martin’s joke when he hosted the Oscars, this year. He joked that he was surprised not to see any tigers or dragons when he saw the film, until he realised they were all crouching and hidden! Steal from the best, I always say! ...
Crazy-Christian 03.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: superb performances from the actors.good action scenes. Disadvantages: subtitled alough they are easy to keep up with.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is, for lack of a better word, AMAZING!!! **An interesting aspect of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is the smooth incorporation of martial arts into a tightly-knit, engrossing plot. The plot/focus of the movie is a sword, "the Green Destiny" an ancient saber wielded by a hero, and the circumstances surrounding its continual theft and return... With the invaluable sword as the bone of contention, Love, Honor, and Sacrifice ... ...And so, to sum up this review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of those rare movies that satisfies your heart and your head.You have to see this to know what all the fuss is about!Do not be put off by the subtitles.
** main part of opinion ...
Airwalk2001 31.08.2001 (03.09.2001)
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Advantages: high-action and amazing scenery Disadvantages: subtitles
Zero gravity is the most amazing ingredient of Ang Lee’s martial-arts adventure. Its characters are early 19th century mandarins, warriors and brigands. They don't walk if they can run, don't run if they can leap and don't leap if they can float. One minute their feet are on the ground. The next, they're airborne, as if gravity never existed! Truly amazing - I've never seen anything like it! The fantastic mountain scenery of mid-China adds ... ...skill and reactions of the cast in the fight-choreography is incredible! Fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping should be credited with a truly outstanding performance! I myself have a black-belt in karate and have also done sword-fighting for several years. The fight scenes are well performed, with good technique (which I can look upon with envy!!). I find it very impressive that almost all of the scenes are shown at actual-speed without being speeded ...
Curlylady 23.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: just watch it Disadvantages: none that i have seen
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a wonderful mix of a classis chinese fairy tale and classic kung fu action.
Whereas most Kung fu films don't make it to the big screen outside of Hong Kong, it was easy to see Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was something special. For a start it is a very beautiful film, rarely do films present this nice a look and feel, and thats big budget Hollywood films. The genre that this film comes from is notoroius ... ...will know this, but before Crouching Tiger, Chow Yun Fat had never starred in a Kung Fu film! He is a legendary Hong Kong actor, but is known for doing fantastic John Woo action films such as; "Hard Boiled", "A Better Tomorrow" and "The Killer". So all the fabulous sword play and kung fu you see at the hand of Chow Yun, was all learnt specifically for this film. I think he is superb in it. Both from an acting and kung fu point of view.
Michelle ...
martinwright 19.07.2001
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Advantages: Spiritual and moving, stunning locations and fight sequences. Disadvantages: Subtitles - the translation into English quite probably loses certain meaning.
...seen.
The story of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is fairly mystical, quite violent and strangely gentle. It tells the tales of a swordfighting warrior, his friend / lover and the daughter of a powerful Governor. From the start, I could tell that the film had Buddhist leanings - perhaps a Buddhist may appreciate this film and the parallels I think it tries to draw more than anyone else. I can only speak from a non-Buddhist point of view, but I do ... ...opinion...
This is an opinion on the film, rather that a synopsis on the plot and characters, so I'm not going to go into those aspects. To discuss those aspects in detail would take far more study than is allowed for here - after all, you all want to know whether the film is worth seeing, not what the story is, right..?
OK, very briefly then - It involves the characters mentioned above, the the theft of a sacred sword and a little revenge thrown ...
ndf9876 24.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (DVD)
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...
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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...
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...
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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...
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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
Production Year: 1994 - Martial Arts - Director: Toby Russell - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Sammo Hung, Bruce Lee, Cynthia Rothrock, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chow Yun-Fat
Production Year: 1985 - Martial Arts - Director: Cory Yuen - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kurt McKinney, J.W. Fails, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kathie Sileno, Peter 'Sugarfoot' Cunningham
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