Fresh air in the movie-world

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2001)

Crouching Tiger.. was the movie I wanted to see for quite a long time. It just recently opened in the Netherlands, and people at work, friends all started to talk about the film...I came to the movie theater already being prepared for a spectacular show. First part of the film can be a bit boring for some people, but those who are familiar with East-Asian theater traditions, they know that the action will not make you waiting for long time.. The plot seems to be too complicated at the beginning, but after half hour you suddenly realize that in this movie plot is not so important. Camera work, design, performances are great. At some point you realize that what is going on the screen is a real event in the cinema world. Some people are afraid of movies with subtitles. In Crouching tiger... I did not really notice them, so natural is the way the director tells us the story.. Martial scenes are beautifully shot. Some compare this movie with The Matrix. But Crouching tiger.. has so much more depth. The real culmination of the movie is already well-known fight on the tops of the trees. If you never had a feeling of flight, at this movie you will feel it. Ang Lee is a magician. The way he tells us the story of his characters has an effect of a magic spell: everyone who leaves the theater want to see the movie again. The film is so multi-leveled so you can hardly understand it at once. Return to this movie like to a good wine which needs time to be matured. I am sure we are present at the birth of the new movie-classics. In couple words: Don't waste your time and just go find this movie in your theater.