Wo hu cang long

Rating: 9/10 (2 March 2016)

The action of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon comes fast and thick. It is under the direction of the master Yeun Wo Ping that they are staged, in the manner of the old Wu Xia novels that have entranced generations. The fighters float effortlessly and gracefully over rooftops and across crevices. They fling objects like they weigh nothing at all and their bodies are powered by a strange, otherworldly power. They cartwheel off walls with an accelerated elegance and ease (though the footage does seems sped up). They have names like Iron Arm and Southern Crane, and carry their signature weapons and tools with pride. Some detractors might express the opinion that this depiction of martial arts seems fetishsised and catered primarily to a Western audience. But the movie does not just exist to serve the action - the narrative is the stuff of legends and fable.
It starts with a legendary sword, as always. Li Mu Bai is played by action royalty Chow Yun-fat as a dedicated Wudang swordsman whom has given his life for his art. His performance is dignified and composed as his swordplay is (see how he matches Jen stroke for stroke with a sheathed Green Destiny, and then as he unsheathes it, there is a ringing and shimmering gleam that signals his true mastery of the blade), but there is an undercurrent of weariness and desire for a quieter, more normal life. There is an underlying romance with fellow fighter Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) that is expressed not through words, but longing looks. And there is revenge, and loyalty, and honour, ideas that are found within the roots of Chinese imperialism periods. We understand that after her escape and subsequent crimes, that Jen Yu will no longer be able to face her parents for the shame she has brought to her family name.
It is Zhang Ziyi that is the star here. She is one of those actresses that seems to have an eternal youthful vivacity about her, even in her more recent films. This was her breakout film and she excels; there's an element of roguish rascalism that reflects her age, and which contributes much to her disobedient character. Her fighting skill allows her this type of arrogance, along with a dismissive tone to her speech that suggests experience but which does not match her youthful face. This is to be expected; she seizes power and turns on her elders, and in a moment of perfect characterisation, jumps after the legendary Green Destiny because the loss of it would represent a license to do whatever she please and beat whomever she turned its blade on. And there is no usual redemption for her here; in a poetic twist, her surrender to the gods of fate and judgement highlights a new vulnerability and acceptance of her actions. It is open-ended, but in the best way, as if beckoning us to make our own conclusion on her heat's purity, and it feels like a fully realised and fulfilled arc (although it loses points for the over-long flashback sequence that almost makes us forget the main storyline).
But most of all it is the action that excites and pleases. There is the classic one master against hundreds, and Lee manages to tread the fine line between comic and dramatic and as such the goofiness and B-action-esque of the Qinggong style become thrilling and captivating. There's a nice little moment of vulnerability where Jen clutches her wrist after repelling the first challenger, as if studying the book for years does not equate to mastery in reality. And then she draws Green Destiny and proceeds to beat them all soundly. There's a brilliant awareness of the surroundings, not just as eye candy, but as an element of the action itself - Jackie Chan is another who knows this. Lee knows he can cut to a man being flung out of the window, smashing much more of the building than necessary in order to provide comic relief - and then to use the same method in the delay of the collapse of the floor in the final wide shot, after a brief lull as Jen dispatches the last combatants.
But the best of them all must be the showdown between Jen and Yu Shu Lien. It seems very convenient for them to drop into what is basically a square weapons playground, but the action switches into overdrive and we soon forget this. What makes this more than just a flashy fight scene is the emotional undercurrent that charges both of them; past the polite pleasantries, the faux declaration of sisterhood, and the betrayal and bloodshed Jen has brought upon the area all ring in their minds, and it isn't just a showy clash of techniques, but a deadly dance. The percussion slowly builds in intensity, and their blows become more frantic, and less guarded. It is masterfully shot and choreographed - we see fluid full body movement and acrobatics that defy physics. And Lee will use choice closeups to indicate moments of turning of the tide; a thick iron bar with deep gashes to show the Green Destiny's wicked edge, and the shaking, inexperienced, young hand that clutches it. How could this be any less thrilling?