Visually stunning, a timeless fantasy tale

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 2003)

Mild spoilers.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts fantasy tale set in China in the feudal period. It is the story of the legendary warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) and his quest to retrieve his powerful sword from a thief. That provides the setting for a number of subplots, including Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) and their forbidden love; the Jade Fox, killer of Li's master and to whom Li owes a debt of revenge; and of course the betrothed but rebellious young noblewoman Jen Yu. Part Shakespearean tragedy and a part fairy tale, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts fantasy film on an epic scale.
The story is a tragic one, in the sense that the plot revolves around the characters' being without what they desire, and tragically seeking it. For example, Li's desire to leave the warrior life and live a peaceful existence. Li and Shu Lien's love is forbidden (and similarly, that between Jen and Lo), because Shu Lien was engaged to Li's master before he was murdered. Li's desire to avenge his master by killing his killer. Jen's (the stunning Zhang Ziyi) desire to live an adventurous life as Shu Lien has.

The story is told as it might have evolved as it was passed down through generations, a fantasy tale of sorts about an invincible sword and powerful warriors with a supernatural edge. Some may be put off by the jumping abilities of the especially skilled fighters in the film, but it is important to keep in mind that Crouching Tiger is much like a sort of fairy tale. I felt it lent a quiet elegance to the ancient heroes and reinforced in the viewer the idea of how exalted the warrior caste was in the world of the time.
The masterful storytelling aside, it would be impossible to summarize the film without praising the action sequences. The choreography is nothing short of amazing. From the first action sequence, a night battle in a city square and across rooftops, to the best in the film, a confrontation in a dojo between Jen and Shu Lien (with plenty of weapons at hand), the action scenes grab hold of you and don't let go.
The symbolic meaning of the sword is also an interesting latent theme in the film. The Green Destiny, Li Mu Bai's powerful green sword, could be a symbol of the characters' own destinies. Li tries to give the sword away as he leaves the life of the warrior, but is unable to avoid its influence. Jen attempts to sieze control of her own destiny through the sword, and Jade Fox is unable to avoid her destiny, which is the sword in a more literal sense. At a first viewing, the sword seems little more than a prop, but each subsequent viewing brings the viewer to appreciate more the role of the sword in the story and what it might be made to represent.
A triumph of the genre and an instant classic that blossoms more each time I see it. Definitely in my top 5 films, if not my favorite.