Sensational Kung-Fu Classic Of The Search For A Stolen Sword

Rating: 6/10 (3 February 2008)

Mu Bai Li is a master warrior whose sword, The Green Destiny, is stolen by Jen, an impetuous young woman who is the apprentice of Jade Fox, an evil witch and Li's sworn enemy. With the help of his friend Shu Lien, he must find Jen, save from her own folly, and avenge himself upon Jade Fox.
Whilst I really like this movie, I perhaps don't quite admire it as much as a lot of folks, purely because I've always loved Cantonese kung-fu movies, particularly those of Tsui Hark or Wei Lo. What's great about it is that because it was made by an acclaimed director of arty dramas (such as Yin Shi Nan Nu / Eat Drink Man Woman and The Ice Storm), it encouraged lots of people who wouldn't normally check out a chop-socky flick to go and enjoy themselves, made some critics sit up and pay attention, and encouraged other directors (such as Yimou Zhang) to branch out into action films. It's other great feature is its clever combination of dazzling wirework with digital airbrushing - during the fight scenes the actors fly around, run up walls, leap impossible distances and perform incredible spinning moves in real time, with Peter Pau's breathless camera following them through every amazing feat. This type of action had all been done before (for example, in Suk San: San Suk Saan Geen Hap / Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain), but never with such a freedom to choreograph and photograph it in any way the director might want. Lee turns in some astounding scenes; my favourite is the initial running fight between Zhiyi and Yeoh, and invests the characters with real depth, contrasting Jen's selfish immaturity with Mu Bai and Shu Lien's unspoken love for each other. The martial arts staging by Wo Ping Yuen is absolutely first-rate, and Tan Dun's score is rich and haunting, varying from period percussion to lush strings. All the actors are terrific (Yeoh especially), somehow managing to be both subtle and vulnerable in one scene and then performing their crazy acrobatics the next. A great international multicultural movie, with four excellent leads, all differing nationalities - Chinese (Zhiyi), Malaysian (Yeoh), Hong Kong (Yun-Fat) and Taiwanese (Chang). Shot in China, distributed by American majors and a well-deserved smash-hit success worldwide, both critically and commercially. Based on a book by Du Lu Wang; English title is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.