Brilliant ****/****

Rating: 10/10 (18 January 2005)

CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON is a captivating film in many aspects. The film creates a unique universe that the viewer becomes involved in, from watching the film. The universe created in CROUCHING TIGER is one of traditional virtues and values, but also one of harmony, but unbelievably well-done fighting sequences at the same time. The beauty of CROUCHING TIGER is that nothing is forced, -even the fighting sequences are the right amount of time- the story and plot flow perfectly. The continuity, cinematography, and acting performances enhance the effect of CROUCHING TIGER's unique universe.
Prior to viewing CROUCHING TIGER, I envisioned an overrated Chinese action flick, similar to a Jackie Chan movie, with a little more seriousness, and countless action sequences with cool special effects that lasted too long and subtitles. I was fortunately surprised to discover that my initial judgment was proved wrong. The action sequences where Li Mu Bai and Jen Yu fly and glide are absolutely amazing. These scenes capture the spiritual meditation of the CROUCHING TIGER universe. Although these action sequences are fighting scenes, each scene has a graceful spiritual feel to it; this is enhanced by the serene cello solos of Yo-Yo Ma. The fight scene on the treetops between Li Mu Bai and Jen Yu was particularly brilliant in its execution. The cinematography eloquence of this scene produced breathtaking experience.
The acting performances delivered by Chow-Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Ziyi Zhang were spectacular. The power, nobleness, and honor of Li Mu Bai's character was successfully expressed through Chow-Yun-Fat's great performance. The beautiful Michelle Yeoh also delivers as Li Mu Bai's close friend and ally, as she gives a strong and emotional performance. Ziyi Zhang plays the young and fiery Jen Yu, who is searching to find her real self. The emotions and aura's projected by each character more than make up for the film's subtitles. In fact the Chinese language heightens the film's effect on the viewer, as the viewer need not pay attention to the words, but the flow and emotional quality of the dialogue.
CROUCHING TIGER did not have one wasted scene. Each and every second was enjoyable as the next. For all the uniqueness of the film, it in many ways tells the story of a typical adolescent girl and her quest for true identity and self trust and discovery, but in abstract ways. Jen is like many teenage girls: worrying about whether she is with the right man, adopting a rude and fiery attitude and temper, and committing juvenile acts such as stealing and running away from home. Jen's story is in many ways a rite of passage as she goes from being a kind and polite aristocrat's daughter to being the Dark Cloud's mistress in the wild desert, to working and training with the evil Jade Fox, to taking lessons from Li Mu Bai and making friends with Bai's close friend, Shu Lien.
Jen's experimentation with various people and lifestyles is like experimenting with drugs and alcohol. She had exiting intense experiences with each experimentation, but at the film's conclusion she finds her true self, and what she was meant to be, and who she was meant to be with. I will not reveal Jen's final conclusions, as to not ruin the ending.
All in all CROUCHING TIGER is a masterfully crafted film, definitely worthy of every second of its 120 minutes.
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON ****/****