An artful mix of chop-socky and lyricism

Rating: 9/10 (7 June 2000)

Ang Lee could very well prove to be the most chameleon-like director making films today. From "The Wedding Banquet" to "Sense and Sensibility" and "The Ice Storm," Lee has consistently opted to pursue a completely new aesthetic and genre with each new film. And yet, each film retains a unique sensibility that is completely Ang Lee. With his new venture, a Mandarin-language mythological fantasy starring two top Asian stars, Lee yet again makes a 180 degree turn from his last film. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is exhilarating, utilizing gravity-defying action choreography, exquisite locales and production design, and a plot that grounds the spectacle with convincing character development and motivation. The cast is strong, no doubt under Lee's supervision, and the result is something fully revolutionary: a kung fu film merged with character based drama. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," if given the chance by its North American distributors, has the chance of being a huge hit with audiences here, and deservedly so. The mythological lyricism and genuine pathos gives this film an edge that the clinical and somewhat forced "The Matrix" never had.