A remarkable martial-arts achievement!

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2001)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has finally made its way to Columbus, OH in its limited release across America, and I am happy to say that this is a very enjoyable experience. Anybody who appreciates martial arts or stories of Eastern legend will love it!
Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh have made an impact in the U.S. already with movies like Anna and the King and Tomorrow Never Dies. In Dragon, they both demonstrate that they can perform ably as both martial arts phenom and dramatic actor of considerable depth.
While at first blush this story seems to surround them and the chemistry between them, it becomes evident that this is really a story about the young princess they encounter in Peking. While trying to recover a mystical sword, known in the subtitles as "Green Destiny", and dealing with the intricacies of dynastic honor and family loyalty, each of them discovers severally that this young woman has an extraordinary amount of talent and grace. More importantly, she is at a crossroads in her life, torn between family duty, true love, and her inward passion for a life free of responsibility, which is aggravated by the seldom-seen villain known as Jade Fox. The coarse of events in the movie ultimately centers around her transition into adulthood and the gravest responsibility of all; deciding for oneself what path to take in life, and dealing with the consequences thereto.
Enough about the characters for now. The story is very well told, at some times severe, at others uproariously funny, at others heart-wrenching, at others introspective. There is enough flashback and reference material that, even being thrown into the middle of the characters' lives, we can easily relate to the wide range of emotions and problems they face. The ending wasn't what I expected, but is typical of Eastern legend and is in truth the best way to bring the story full circle.
The cinematography is gorgeous, showing more than the standard wide-angle Forbidden City shots traditionally associated with China. Instead we are treated to a vast country with an astounding variety of climates, from lush green mountains to dense forests to barren deserts rivaling the most arid parts of central Africa.
But the true beauty of this film is in the action sequences. Coreographed by Hong Kong legend and Matrix guru Yuen Wo Peng, the fights are lightning-fast, expertly staged, and loaded with fantasy elements thanks mostly to Wire-Fu. All of the combatants are appropriately outfitted with superhuman elements of strength, speed and skill that make this a visual treat. The highlight of the film is easily the nimble treetop swordfight between Li (Chow Yun Fat) and his young would-be student.
If this film comes to your town, or ever goes to wide release, take all of your friends and go see it. Yesterday.