Personal Experience of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Rating: 9/10 (15 July 2015)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts and drama film based on the life and death of Li Mu Bai. The film is eventually centralized around Jen Yu but Mu Bai is the noticeable western-like hero. Li Mu Bai is a well-known and heroic warrior. Even though Li is famous, he still struggles with his warrior identity. When Mu Bai returns home from his meditation, he feels a profound sense of 'sorrow' instead of enlightenment. In the early stages of the storyline, it is clear that Mu Bai and the next character introduced (Shu Lien) have strong feelings for each other. Mu Bai's sorrow may stem from his warrior life and potentially never acting on the mutual interest that he and Shu Lien have shared. Therefore, Mu Bai's solution is to rid himself of his old life by donating his famous sword, the Green Destiny, to Sir Te (a trusted close friend). The Green Destiny is inseparable from Li according to Shu Lien. Within a few moments, the sword is stolen, thereby forcing Li out of early retirement in order to retrieve the Green Destiny.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon takes place during the Qing Dynasty. Years earlier, Mu Bai's master was cowardly murdered with poison by a woman named Jade Fox. Mu Bai never forgives himself for not revenging his master's death. Coincidentally, Jade Fox is seen with a masked warrior stealing the Green Destiny. Setting the film with a crisis that needs to be solved by Li Mu Bai.
Personally, Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of this writer's all- time favorite films. Even though this film can be characterized as an action film, one can't help but notice the strong feminine undertone between the action sequences. The story line is well written and Chow Yun-Fat's performance was masterful. The action scenes are absolutely stunning in every fashion, especially the treetop scene with Jen and Mu Bai. It is a story about love, regret, passion, revenge, and transcendence. It is a journey that highlights Mu Bai's and Jen's fascinating skills as well as Jen's arrogance that ultimately indirectly kills Mu Bui.
On a side note, the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's story shifts from a well- trained and disciplined Li Mu Bai to an over-confident and self proclaimed sword goddess Jen. After Mu Bai's death, Shu Lien can't help but see Jen's life unfold without the love of her life (much like Shu Lien's life). Therefore, Shu Lien grants Jen to be with her lover from the desert (Lo). As an audience member, one can't help but perceive Jen as a villainess type of character in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her recklessness and rage only causes pain for those around her. At the close of the film, Jen realizes her mistakes and feels that if she 'sacrifices' herself Lo can live happily.