A simple story, beautifully told

Rating: Null/10 (15 November 2001)

The world presented in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a world of fairytale. It's inhabited by larger-than-life characters--legendary heros and cunning villians, spirited aristocrats and noble theives--who are governed by broad, big-ticket emotions like Love and Honor. Their story is painted in sharp, abstract lines that don't leave much room for subtlety. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. Rather, this artsy martial-arts film directed by Ang Lee is like an abstract sculpture, beautiful in its simplicity. Lee called his film "a dream of China," and a lovely dream it is, set against rich palaces, imposing mountains, and stunningly verdant forests.
Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh carry themselves with great dignity as a pair of seasoned warriors trained in Wudan--the discipline that apparently enables the effortless leaps and weightless flight which is the film's trademark. (The gimmick is not a new one in the Asian cinema, but it is well-used here) Zhang Ziyi has the most standout performance as the young noblewoman who feels confined by her assigned role in life. Sweetly demure one moment, fierce and vibrant the next, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is really about her journey to find the true desires of her heart.
For all it's artistic merit, "Crouching Tiger" is still a martial arts film, and as such the fights take center stage. These are choreographed and filmed with expert skill, and the resulting product seems at times less of an action sequence and more of a passionate dance, or a surreal acrobatic display such as might be viewed in Cirque du Soleil.
The Acadamy-Award winning score is a perfect compliment to the film. It adds the perfect touches at all the right moments, and like the movie ends up being both exhillarating and tender.