![]() ![]() Once again, though, the dramatic exploration of action is what makes the film so unique. Now, this is no surprise for those of you who have seen the film, and those who are watching for the first time will likely be able to put the clues together (little is done to hide Jen’s eyes under her mask). A lengthy flashback sheds light on a forbidden romance that had occurred years prior, and we discover that she has been studying the Wudang manual and is preternaturally gifted for combat. The more Yu unravels the Green Destiny, however, the more it becomes evident that Jen is so much more. She’s introduced as the daughter of a rich and powerful man who has nary a reason to worry about her future. The clever wrinkles continue with the characterization of the aforementioned thief, Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi). The character disappears for long stretches, but the subversion of a more traditionally heroic path lingers throughout as a clue that the film has more on its mind than one might expect. ![]() Instead, Li is posed as a supporting character, a man who has spent his life in the service of his craft and is finding that he’s unsatisfied with what it has yielded. That’s not what “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” does. He’s cool under pressure, famed for his efficiency and mastery in combat, and played by one of Asia’s biggest stars. In a typical wuxia story, Li would be the protagonist. She launches an investigation into the mysterious thief and unravels a vendetta against Li that goes back years. Master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) gives his legendary sword, Green Destiny, to his longtime friend Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), but the sword gets stolen before Yu can secure it. For one, its premise is simple, and its McGuffin is ingenious. Let’s break down the components that make “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” such an effective film two decades later. It may sound cliche to state it as such now, but he elevated the wuxia genre in such an undeniable fashion that the film managed to crossover and became a hit with western audiences. He infused characters that were typically one-dimensional with a gravitas that informed each of their victories, as well as each of their failures. ![]() Lee effectively brought the intimacy and emotional depth he showcased in his earlier films to a film that boasted dazzling action set pieces. However, this incongruous marriage of styles makes “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) such a triumph. The Taiwanese filmmaker had made his name on intimate, small-scale dramas like “Sense and Sensibility” (1995) and “The Ice Storm” (1997), so the odds that he would be able to pull off a genre that stretches entirely different artistic muscles were slim at best. THE TEAM – Ang Lee (Director, Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus & Tsai Kuo-jung (Writers)Īng Lee was not an obvious choice to helm a sprawling martial arts epic. ![]() THE CAST – Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Lang Sihung & Cheng Pei-pei The search leads to the House of Yu where the story takes on a whole different level. THE STORY – In 19th century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior (Chow Yun-Fat) gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover (Michelle Yeoh) to deliver to safe keeping, but it is stolen, and the chase is on to find it. ![]()
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