A true gem

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2003)

Once in a while, a movie comes along that combines all the elements that make motion pictures such an enjoyable experience. Ang Lee's epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one such film. A dazzling tale of swords, sorcery, and powerful drama, Crouching Tiger is truly a sight to behold.
Lee Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), a highly skilled warrior, has given his legend ary sword, the Green Destiny, to the elder Sir Te (Lung Sihung). However, one night, while Mu Bai is staying at Sir Te's palace, a young thief named Jen (Zhang Ziyi) steals the sword. A chase throughout the grounds ensues, and Jen is eventually cornered by Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), Mu Bai's good friend and fellow warrior.
It seems that Jen, a governor's daughter and bride-to-be, has secretly been taught martial arts by the infamous assassin Jade Fox, who killed Mu Bai's master. What ensues is a gripping and lifelike drama, as we learn of Jen's past and her passionate romance with a desert wanderer (Chang Chen).
The moving plot is simply amplified by the spectacular fight scenes, choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix). Each fight goes beyond the proceedings - they don't just consist of two or three people going at it like angry zebras. The bouts are stunning in their complexity, and are much like the martial arts themselves - balanced yet brutal, delicate but deadly.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of those movies that you must own simply for the fact that you can watch and rewatch your favorite scenes, and never get tired of them. The action is fantastic, the characters are deep and realistic (you can spend hours just questioning their actions and motivations, and figuring out what makes them tick), and the direction and cinematography are nothing short of top-notch. The soundtrack, which won an Oscar at the 2001 Academy Awards ceremony, is beautiful and evocative, and perfectly fits the mood and atmosphere of the film.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an absolute triumph of imagery and imagination. Finally, a move that not only looks great and sounds great, but feels great as well.
My Grade: 10/10